Fire protection districts throughout Adams County are preparing for board member elections and appointments on May 6.
The Broomfield-based North Metro Fire Rescue District has two board seats open with three candidates in the running. One of the three candidates currently serves as the board president, and the other two are newcomers.
Dennis Day, Robert Nielsen, and John Beirise are residents of Broomfield. Nielson is the North Metro Fire board president now.
Elected board members will work to implement a newly adopted, five-year strategic plan that was presented in January by Fire Chief David Ramos, who also took office that month.
A few priorities of the plan this year include creating standards for primary emergency responses in fire, emergency medical services, technical rescue and hazardous materials, as well as establishing a wellness program for employees.
North Metro Fire responds in Broomfield, Northglenn and unincorporated areas of Boulder, Adams, Weld and Jefferson Counties. The full board has five at-large members who serve four-year terms.
Voters can fill out their ballots at four locations until 7 p.m. May 6. One voting center is the district’s headquarters at 101 Spader Way in Broomfield. The other three locations are: Station 62 at 10550 Huron St., Station 63 at 10941 Irma Drive and Station 64 at 13515 Lowell Blvd.
Absentee ballot applications can be picked up from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the district headquarters.
The South Adams County Fire Protection District in Commerce City is also having a special district election. There, three incumbents are running against one new candidate who hopes to take one of the three seats up for grabs next month.
The current members up for re-election are president Ken Koger, treasurer Robert Harpin and vice-president Randy Buckalew. Dave Berweiler is the challenger.
Fire Chief Ron LaPenna said the board will work mostly on balancing the budget and seeking out new means of tax funding for the district, which relies largely on volunteers and serves 75 square miles in Commerce City.
Ballots can be cast at two locations: Fire Station No. 1 at 4711 E. 69th Ave., and Fire Station No. 8 at 10326 Walden St. (in the community room).
At the Strasberg Fire Protection District 8, six candidates have filed applications for three board member spots.
Incumbents Donald Sherer and Curtis Duryea are running against residents Robert Yaich, Steve Gural, Matthew Reay and Jerry Sir.
District 8 protects 262 square miles in Strasberg. One of its most common calls is brush fires. The district board is working to fund and expand its fire prevention education program to students and residents. Ballots can be submitted at the district headquarters at 56821 E. Colfax Ave.
The Greater Brighton Fire Protection District had two seats up for election, but received applications from only its two incumbents, so the election was canceled.
Dean Morris, the current board president, and Don Rowe, assistant secretary, will assume their seats in May.
Likewise, the Bennett Fire Protection District’s elections were canceled due to lack of applications.
Three candidates — James Woods, Greg Kauffman, and Brett Price — will win by default. Woods is the current board vice-president.
Megan Mitchell: 303-954-2650, or mmitchell@denverpost.com