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When Steve Ward ran for county commissioner
in 1996, one of his campaign promises was that he would not
run for another term. After serving for four years as commissioner
to District 1, Ward kept his word. After serving one term, he
attended his last meeting as commissioner on Dec. 19. He was
presented with a glass ballot box; Ward says that he's always
been enamored with them because "you can watch your ballot being
dropped into the box," and it's highly unlikely that too many
ballots will be stuffed into a transparent box.
Former Littleton Councilwoman Susan Beckman
will take the spot he vacated when she is sworn in on January
8.
Ward, 41, is a former mayor of Glendale
(1992 - 1996), and a Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corp Reserves
who saw active duty in the first Marine division (1981 - 1984).
At the last official meeting he attended, his fellow commissioners
sang the Marine Hymn for him.)
He isn't sure yet what he's now going
to do (for a living), but he plans on spending more time with
his family and devoting time to his new work, whatever he decides
it will be. One thing's certain; the pilot who loves being around
airplanes and considers flying, as a hobby, to be his "first
love," will be spending a lot of his spare time flying.
Ward, who started flying 22 years ago,
has his private pilot's license and is rated for single-engine
land. He is hoping that next year, after he gets a job to pay
for it, he'll get his instrument rating. He is a member of the
Wings of Denver Flying Club at Centennial Airport, where he
is able to rent planes.
"They have quite a collection," says
Ward. Their collection includes the planes that Ward usually
flies, Cessna 172s and 150s, which are fixed-pitch aircraft
that he is checked out in. He's also checked out in variable
pitch prop.
Ward said that it is unlikely that he
will seek an elected office again, at least for the time being.
He believes that those in office should come from the private
sector, serve their term(s), and then return from whence they
came.
Ward's background is in real estate and
corporate finance, and he is considering going into one of these
two areas. However, he wouldn't mind if he landed a job in the
aviation industry, preferably on the operation or finance side.
Whatever he does, he would like to stay in Colorado.
Ward has an undergraduate degree in economics
(University of Delaware) and a law degree (University of Denver).
After practicing law for about six years with Holme, Roberts,
and Owen, Ward ended up back in commercial real estate, about
six years ago, before becoming a commissioner.
One of Ward's fellow commissioners said
that Ward's accomplishments including the initiation of a dress
code, or more accurately, dress down code at the county offices
that serves as home to the commissioners during their work hours.
Before Ward's trend setting arrival on the scene, fellow workers
only dressed casually on Fridays. It wasn't unheard of for Ward
to casually lean back and place his shoes (sneakers) on top
of the board's conference table during long meetings.
It was Ward's idea to begin board meetings
with the Pledge of Allegiance, and to invite the public in to
hear the meeting in progress, and for the commissioners to come
out from behind their windowless walls. That is, he persuaded
those in Arapahoe County who make such decisions to replace
the walls with large glass windows and replace the solid wood
door leading into the West Hearing Room with a glass one. Ward
said that the remodeling is a good example of "open government."
While in office, Ward supported TABOR
(Taxpayer's Bill of Rights) and often voted for exempting small
businesses from personal-property taxes. He also strived to
find ways to finance public buildings, and found a "new way"
to finance Arapahoe County's new jail, instead of upping sales
taxes. Partly through his urging, the jail was built out of
healthy reserves, and "out of pocket."
"You go to voters for tax increases when
you need it," says Ward. "Not just because it's convenient."
He can also be given credit for the county's welfare reform.
At the end of his lone term, Ward has accomplished what he set
out to do, and what all those in public office should wish for-he
made a difference.
"We have the most aggressive welfare
reform program in the state," says Ward, "in terms of welfare
caseload reductions.
While in office, he worked with the transportation
department to get well-needed projects under way, such as the
Broncos Parkway Bridge, the Peoria/Potomac extension to E-470,
near Centennial Airport, and the Buckley extension to Arapahoe
Road. He worked for the county to approve $14 million in funding
for widening and safety improvements on Santa Fe, in the area
known as the "ribbon of death."
Ward's ideas and actions weren't always
popular with the other commissioners. As a conservative Republican,
he was known to have a disagreement or two with the board's
only Democrat, Debra Vickrey, who respects him, all the same,
because he "believes in what he does."
As mayor for Glendale, Ward worked for
change as well. In 1995, he suggested that Glendale tie in to
the Denver water system, and then negotiated for the change
to be made. Before then, Glendale utilized well water. It wasn't
mountain spring well water, but water known to corrode water
heaters, as well as for its offensive taste.
Ward is also credited for helping to
get Glendale on a better footing with its residents by paying
attention to their needs.
Now it's time for Ward to pat himself
on the back and celebrate. I suggest he head over to Wings and
go flying!
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