"We represent community members and taxpayers ... not political insiders!"

Welcome to Our Community Votes, a Colorado nonprofit and nonpartisan organization dedicated to supporting local candidates for the Douglas County Home Rule Commission.

Because our community turns out and votes, we want you to learn about our Community Slate of five individuals who are passionate about serving the community and protecting the taxpayers of Highlands Ranch and the rest of District 3.

In your June mail-in ballot you can vote for up to six District 3 candidates.

WE URGE YOU TO VOTE FOR JUST THESE FIVE.

Our Community Slate

Community Values ~ Taxpayer Focus ~ Expertise

Here is the Community Slate of five candidates for the Douglas County Home Rule Commission representing District 3, including Littleton, Highlands Ranch, Roxborough, Sterling Ranch, Louviers and Sedalia.

Bob Marshall

Home: Highlands Ranch

Bob represents Highlands Ranch in the state legislature. He's been voted "Best Government Official" and "Best Attorney" in Highlands Ranch.

Bob's Marine Corps career included combat deployments to Iraq & Afghanistan where he served as a Police Transition Team Leader and as the Officer in Charge of Governance for Helmand Province. A recognized tax expert and good-governance advocate, Bob has successfully held government entities and officials accountable under Colorado's Sunshine Laws, including the entire state legislature and his own party.

Bob and a former two-term Republican County Commissioner are now suing the current County Commissioners for developing the Home Rule proposal behind closed doors in violation of Colorado's Open Meetings law.

Bob's goal as a commissioner is to ensure an open transparent process that will establish good governance structures to serve the entire county well into the future and not the narrow current self-interests of a few.

Spud Van de Water

Home: Wind Crest Neighborhood
of Highlands Ranch

Spud's career covered more than 30 years as an analyst, developer, and evaluator of public policy. His policy consulting firm worked in 36 states on contracts from governors, legislators, business and citizen leaders. He holds degrees in public administration and public policy.

Now retired and a resident of Wind Crest, his goal as a commissioner is to ensure an open process that meets the long term needs of DougCo's citizens.

"In my view, our County’s rushed Home Rule proposal is a power grab by sitting County Commissioners that would, among other things, allow them to do away with term limits, set their own salaries, unilaterally take on new debt, and opt out of some state requirements. Why the rush?"

Alicia Vagts

Home: Wildcat Ridge
In Highlands Ranch

I am a licensed attorney with experience as a small business owner and molecular biologist. My career has spanned both corporate and academic environments.

I believe in the rule of law, and the right to education and due process. This is my initial foray into politics to defend these rights.

Dissatisfied with the rapid advancement of the Home Rule Initiative, I am running to promote transparency, accountability, and fairness.

As a member of the Home Rule Charter Commission, my goal is to be a non-partisan advocate for the people, championing transparency, accountability, and fairness in local governance.

Lee Frame

I served in the United States Navy for 30 years and 11 years as a senior federal civil servant.

I was then elected to serve as a county commissioner in Virginia for 16 years.

I was a volunteer EMT and served on several local and state boards. Almost all of my adult life, I've provided professional or volunteer public service.

In serving on the Home Rule Commission, I want to ensure a process that is open and inclusive to Douglas County citizens and helps to restore trust in county government.

Home: Wind Crest neighborhood
of Highlands Ranch

Michael Lees

Home: Plum Valley neighborhood
of Highlands Ranch

I’m a longtime Highlands Ranch resident with over a decade of involvement in local politics and community advocacy.

I strongly oppose the rushed and undemocratic Home Rule Charter process being pushed by the Douglas County Commissioners. Their attempt to build a permanent political infrastructure with limited public input is deeply concerning.

If the voters choose to form a Charter Commission in June, I’m running for a seat on that Commission to ensure transparency, accountability, and true representation for all Douglas County residents. We need voices at the table who will stand up for good governance. Let's put people before politics.

Get Informed

Douglas County’s rushed Home Rule proposal is a power grab by three sitting County Commissioners who presumably think it would allow them:

to do away with their term limits,
to set their own salaries,
unilaterally take on new debt, and
opt out of some state requirements and protections they don't like.

What is the goal here?

Why did the County Commissions require taxpayers to provide $500,000 for a hasty June election when the question could have been decided in November without added cost?

Why the rush?

Stop the Power Grab

All five candidates in our Community Slate are pledging to vote no on Question 1 in this June's Home Rule mail-in ballot.

They're willing to be put out of a job as Home Rule Commissioner in order to Stop the Power Grab.

Learn More

Meet the Community Slate For Home Rule Commission District 3

"We represent community members and taxpayers ... not political insiders!"

Our Community Slate

Get Informed

Stop the Power Grab

Meet the Community Slate
For Home Rule Commission
District 3