Incumbent Susan Beckman said wants to continue the important work she started in her first eight years as Arapahoe County Commissioner representing District 1 while challenger Jim Jackman wants to be there for the people who have told him they don’t feel they are being properly represented at the county level.

The contenders for the District 1 seat were among the guests at the Oct. 2 forum for Arapahoe County Commissioner candidates, sponsored by the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce. The forum was part of a chamber series with each focusing on particular state or county races on the November ballot.

Beckman and Jackman are contending to represent county commissioner District 1, which includes Littleton, Englewood and parts of west Centennial.

Beckman, a well-known Littleton Republican, is a two-term incumbent who is able to seek a third term because of last year’s voter-approved extension of term limits for county commissioners. Democrat Jackman is a retired railroad worker and former union officer who is seeking public office for the first time.

In his opening statement, Jackman said he is running for county commissioner because so many District 1 people tell him they don’t feel they are being adequately represented on the commission. He also said he expected to be running for a vacant seat until last year when the commissioners asked voters to extend term limits for commissioners from two terms to three.

Beckman said she is running to continue working on key issues like the environment, economic development and promoting public-private partnerships.

“In these turbulent times, we need to hold onto what we have and to continue to be the economic engine for much of the state,” she said. “We need to work to keep existing businesses and attract new companies to our area while maintaining the lowest property tax in the metro area.”

Both candidates agreed the commissioners should do what they can to support local businesses. Beckman said she would strive to keep taxes low and keep excess regulations off the backs of businesses. Jackman said he, too, would reduce business-related regulations and insure there were strong road and communication systems to serve the county’s businesses.

The candidates agreed commissioners need to work to establish good working relationships with all 13 municipalities in the county. They also agreed the system of commissioners overseeing county operations is working and there is no need to hire a county manager.

Jackman said he felt the forum was an opportunity for voters to hear from both candidates.

“I felt it was an opportunity to address issues and to let people hear my views on a variety of subjects,” he said after the forum. “I want people to know I’m just a plain-spoken guy who is going door to door to meet and talk to people about the issues.”

Beckman also agreed the forum was valuable.

“I felt it was the chance to speak about the issues. It would be valuable for voters if there were more forums,” she said. “I tried to talk about our work as commissioners and let people know we are a good team of administrators working to maintain the high quality of life here in Arapahoe County.”

— Jackman, retired railroad worker, seeking public office for the first time