Don Strickland, candidate for Arapahoe County commissioner, District 2

Party: Democratic

City or town of residence: Aurora

Profession: Retired

Contact: 303-349-1286

What makes you the best choice for commissioner?

I am an experienced public servant with cities, the county, and special districts with no further political ambition. I will be a proactive commissioner addressing problems before they become a crisis.

What do you see as the most important responsibilities of a county commissioner?

I will be a steward responsibly managing the budget of the county, addressing the needs of an aging infrastructure. I will save the taxpayer money by addressing problems before they become more costly. I will listen and respond to the voices of the citizens and not just to the moneyed special interests.

Has the board of commissioners responded well to population growth in recent years?

Overall the Arapahoe Board of County Commissioners has operated in crisis-management mode causing increased costs in the long run. It is less costly to manage problems head on instead of putting off action causing more cost to the tax payers or deferring it to their grandchildren.

What is the biggest challenge facing the county, and how would you approach that challenge?

The pace of growth is outpacing the county's infrastructure, which leads to many understaffed departments including the sheriff's office and county clerk. We need to expand and rethink how we address mental illness, offering new solutions and programs. It is time to stop the endless cycle of the mentally ill and those with drug addictions going back and forth to jail and help them become productive citizens.

What must you accomplish to consider yourself a successful commissioner?

I hope to complete my term with plans and solutions well under way to address the deficiencies of the aging infrastructure, create more effective mental health programs, and seeing that the sheriff's department, county clerk, and other departments are fully staffed. I hope to see the county moving forward dealing with the tremendous growth.