STATE OF THE COMMUNITY TOWN HALL SET FOR THIS SATURDAY

NEWS RELEASE from Committee for True Prosperity

Heimlicher declines invitation

The Committee for True Prosperity (formed to elect Dave Gardner to Colorado Springs City Council in district 3) has scheduled a State of the Community Town Hall for Saturday, March 7, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Carnegie Reading Room at Penrose Library downtown. The Committee invited every City Council candidate (all districts, including unopposed incumbents) to attend this town hall.

Candidate Dave Gardner wants citizens to know they are welcome to attend. In fact, according to Gardner, “attendance of citizens is a vital part of this meeting. This town hall is designed to give the everyday citizen a voice in the destiny of our community.” Gardner wants citizens to come with suggestions as well as questions.

Gardner's opponent in the Council Race, Jerry Heimlicher, e-mailed Gardner on Feb. 27, declining to attend. He offered no explanation in that email, though in earlier e-mails to Gardner he had expressed some concern about how questions would be moderated. Gardner explained to Heimlicher that his intention is specifically not to have a gatekeeper censoring citizen questions and comments. Gardner indicated he hopes Heimlicher will reconsider and attend.

City Council candidate Dave Gardner has long felt the way citizens are treated in City Council meetings is not conducive to true community dialogue. Each citizen comment is limited to three minutes, and Councilors refuse to answer questions or allow any give and take. Gardner has set up the State of the Community Town Hall to give the community the benefit of that interactive dialogue missing in City Hall.

Of the other candidates, Bernie Herpin declined due to the wedding of his daughter, Scott Hente declined with no explanation, Darryl Glenn has not responded, and Tony Carpenter has indicated he will attend.

STATE OF THE COMMUNITY TOWN HALL
Saturday, March 7
2 to 4 p.m.
Penrose Library (downtown Colorado Springs)
Carnegie Reading Room
20 North Cascade Ave
Colorado Springs, CO 80903