Special district elections in Aurora were sparse this year, and all were canceled.
There are two special metropolitan districts based in Aurora that were having elections, but neither will go through with voting because not enough candidates applied for board member seats.
The Heather Gardens Metropolitan District at 2888 S. Heather Gardens Way had four seats opening up this May, and only four people applied for those seats — all without a challenger.
Residents Jeanne Heizer, Twyla Gaugenmaier, Ed Kurtz and Larry Francone will be appointed to the board by default. Heizer is the only incumbent who ran, though Gaugenmaier has served on the Heather Gardens Association board in the past.
The Heather Gardens Metro District owns and operates all the recreational property in the retirement community. There is a public golf course, clubhouse, a fitness room and indoor and outdoor swimming pools. There is also a recreational vehicle lot where people can rent spaces, a restaurant that is leased out and a community garden to manage.
Board members oversee the operational expenses of the entire property and services.
The other metro board with a canceled election is the East Arapahoe Metropolitan District. Its headquarters are in east Aurora. There, only three people applied for four open board member seats.
Three seats will automatically go to incumbents Bill Bentley, Kevin Keator and Lonny Phelps. The fourth seat will be filled though an appointment process which will happen after the May 6 election. The board makes the appointment because the incumbent in that seat was term-limited and nobody else stepped forward to run.
Many other residential metropolitan districts that govern the amenities and budgets for Aurora homeowners are based outside city limits in Arapahoe and Douglas counties and in Centennial.
The Sable Altura Fire Protection District at 26900 E. Colfax Ave. also canceled its election because the two available board seats were assumed by unopposed incumbents.
Dale Barnes and Terie Robinson, who are both assistant secretaries, will begin their respective second terms in May. There are no term limits for Sable Altura Fire board members.
And there are no elections at the East Cherry Creek Valley Water and Sanitation District, which is based at 6201 S. Gun Club Road. Incumbents Peter Elzi, Martin Hill and Dan Bohl were the only applicants for the job this year.
The district provides water and sanitary sewer services to nearly 50,000 customers in the eastern portions of Aurora, Centennial and unincorporated Arapahoe County.
Megan Mitchell: 303-954-2650, or mmitchell@denverpost.com
