Nicholson seeks second term

1/12/2006 - Gilpin County, CO – Jeanne Nicholson announced her candidacy for District 2 Gilpin County Commissioner on Tuesday, January 3. Nicholson is in the 4th year of her first term as County Commissioner for District 2. Nicholson has lived in Gilpin County for 27 years and worked as the Gilpin County Public Health Nurse for 14 years. She says, “I have enjoyed serving the County as one of their commissioners and would be honored to work for the citizens for another four years.”

  During her first term, Nicholson chaired the Board of County Commissioners and the 911 Authority Board, and Colorado Counties, Inc. Behavioral Health Task Force. She served as the County liaison for Eagles Nest Early Learning Center, the Gilpin Ambulance Board, The Upper Clear Creek Watershed District, The Public Forfeiture Fund, and the Human Services Advisory Board. She represents Gilpin County on the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) Board, Jefferson Center for Mental Health Board, the Sub-regional Planning Committee for the Central City Parkway area, the Metro Mayors and County Commissioners Youth Awards selection committee, and the Parks and Recreation Board. Nicholson chairs the Health and Human Services Steering Committee for CCI and serves on the Governor’s CBMS Task Force and the Child Welfare Allocation Committee.

  During her current term, Nicholson supported the creation of a County Historic Preservation Commission, the Youth Action Committee, the Cornerstone Project for children with mental illnesses and the Public and Environmental Health Department. She was instrumental in organizing the Community Center’s summer day camp program, after school program, the learn-to-swim program, and the senior and disabled citizen property tax write off program.

  Nicholson voted to remove fees at the Transfer Station and to remove fees for senior citizens to use the Community Center facilities. She supported the fire mitigation program, the biomass study, the initiation of the reverse 911 service, and the I-70 Coalition alternatives. She promoted the hiring of the Emergency and Preparedness Director to improve the County’s readiness to respond to a wildfire or flood. She supported the hiring of the animal control officer to be more proactive about connecting separated animals with their owners.

  Nicholson said she is pleased that during her term the County paid the Library bond, leaving the County with no bonded indebtedness. Nicholson said, “The County is able to provide a wide range of services without increasing property taxes.”

  Nicholson says she is qualified to serve as a county commissioner because she understands the role, knows the community, and has a passion for good public policy development. She thinks the most important issues facing the County include managing growth, maintaining a sense of community, managing our financial resources wisely, diversifying the economy, and creating and protecting a healthy environment. Goals for 2006 include completing a new Road and Bridge building using a renewable energy heating source, resolving the majority of CBMS problems, offering public transportation, and providing home health services for north County residents.

  Gilpin County Commissioners are limited to two four-year terms in office. Nicholson is a Democrat. She is a member of the Peak to Peak Rotary Club and the Gilpin Arts Association. She volunteers for the Channel Nine Health Fair and she volunteered at the Gilpin School to read with second grade students and for the Moffat Tunnel Weed Pull. She and her husband, Craig, live next to Highway 46 one mile east of the Community Center. They have two adult sons, Shane and Boe Nicholson. In her spare time Jeanne likes to sail, hike, travel with her family, and read mysteries.