SUSTAINABLE PEACE
To have a platform of issues for our county, we must first understand the goal. By understanding the goal, we can then take stock of where we are and then decide what we need to do to reach the goal.
A Healthy, Thriving, Sustainable Arapahoe County
Talking to voters, I’ve heard over and over again that people want to live in healthy, thriving communities as we live healthy, thriving lives. Too often things get in the way of that. Even for those in our community who are making a great living and have gorgeous homes, life can be hard. Take away a great income or good health and difficulties compound until it’s hard to have hope that life will ever be enjoyable again - that we’ll ever be healthy and thriving again.
Government has a role in shaping our communities and whether we’re able to access resources we need to stay healthy and to thrive or get back to that place. County government impacts our health, our safety, our wages and opportunities, our environment, our entertainment, our housing, and our safety net if hard times come.
As your County Commissioner, I will be pushing for policies and putting your tax dollars to work toward achieving Sustainable Peace. If living in a healthy, thriving community, living a healthy, thriving life is the goal, policies that move us toward Sustainable Peace is how we get there.
What is Sustainable Peace?
A society has achieved Sustainable Peace when the “probability of using destructive conflict, oppression, and violence to solve problems is so low that it does not enter into any party’s strategy while the probability of using cooperation, dialogue and collaborative problem-solving to promote social justice and well-being is so high that it governs social organization and life.” *
What is needed to achieve Sustainable Peace?
Sustainable Peace requires justice, equity, acknowledgement and manifestation of human rights, good governance, effective and accountable public institutions, self-determination, the rule of law, inclusivity, free, credible and peaceful elections, and security enabled by inclusive and sustained socio-economic development.
There is no Sustainable Peace without development.
There is no development without peace.
There is no Sustainable Peace without human rights and justice.
There is no human rights and justice without peace.**
How do we assess sustainability?
Sustainability is meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Sustainability is broken down into four pillars:
1. human sustainability,
2. social sustainability,
3. economic sustainability, and
4. environmental sustainability.
By examining whether our policies are sustainable, we can determine whether we are on the path toward sustainable peace.
HUMAN SUSTAINABILITY
This pertains to how we maintain and improve the human condition in society. It involves investment in health and education systems, access to services, nutrition, knowledge, and skills.
It recognizes the impact of business activities on communities and requires the well-being of anyone directly or indirectly involved with the making of products or the provision of services be central to business decision-making.
It aims for the good health and economic well-being of everyone which are not to be sacrificed to economic growth and development.
SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
This pertains to our social framework and health of our society. It looks at the big picture, aiming to preserve a healthy society for future generations and acknowledges that what we do impacts others, now, locally, globally, and in the future.
It ‘focuses on maintaining and improving social quality with concepts such as cohesion, reciprocity and honesty and the importance of relationships amongst people.’***
It is encouraged and supported by laws, transparency and information, and shared ideas of equality, rights, and justice.
ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY
This pertains to improving the standard of living. It recognizes that economic growth is a factor in and fuels sustainable development while considering the quality of the growth as well.
Importantly, it recognizes that economic growth that causes damage to our ecological and human systems is to be avoided as it does not lend to long-term, stable economic growth.
Therefore models of economic growth that are shown to increase the standard of living for those in the scope of activity should be preferred.
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
This pertains to improving human welfare through the protection of our natural resources. Operations and programs meet the needs of the current population without compromising the needs of future generations.
For society, this means we are living in a way that is not causing short-term or long-term damage to the environment.
This also emphasizes the need for business to achieve positive economic outcomes without doing any harm, in the short- or long-term, to the environment.
How does this all relate to the role of County Commissioner?
Arapahoe County Commissioners are responsible for managing a $450 million budget that covers our public health, elections, Sheriff’s Department, workforce development, housing initiatives, and safety net programs. They are also responsible for directing the many departments and programs that budget covers. The goals and perspectives your County Commissioners have will dictate how they allocate your tax dollars and prioritize the activities of those departments and programs. Below I connect County Commissioner responsibilities with these four pillars.
HUMAN SUSTAINABILITY
This pertains to how we maintain and improve the human condition in society. It involves investment in health and education systems, access to services, nutrition, knowledge, and skills.
Arapahoe County is setting up a new public health department. The new Board of County Commissioners will be responsible for appointing the permanent Board of Public Health as well as evaluating the delivery of services and success of programs. How a commissioner views health and the goal of a public health department will impact who they appoint to that board and how they judge the performance of a new department. Be it providing preventative services for mental health, environmental health, reproductive health, behavioral health, or responding to an extreme weather event - your County Commissioners are responsible for funding and evaluating this department and thus responsible for the level of investment our county is making into your health.
While the County is not directly responsible for education, that’s our school boards, it has a role to play in supporting our schools. It can partner with our school boards and allocate state or federal funds to our schools so our teachers have the tools they need to help our students achieve educational outcomes that prepare them for the future.
County Commissioners are responsible for our Human Services Department which administers assistance programs for food, heat/energy, medical services, housing support, and other financial assistance. How a commissioner views the role of government in providing these forms of support can impact the priority these programs receive in the budgeting process.
It recognizes the impact of business activities on communities and requires the well-being of anyone directly or indirectly involved with the making of products or the provision of services be central to business decision-making.
First and foremost, the County employs over 2,000 people. How County Commissioners view the rights and humanity of our staff has a direct impact on how your County government works for you.
The County also fosters workforce development, connecting residents not only to employers but also to programs to obtain the skills needed to thrive in our economy. How a County Commissioner prioritizes the well-being of our workforce can impact the types of jobs they will direct our workforce development program to focus on.
It aims for the good health and economic well-being of everyone to balance economic growth and development.
Broadly, but importantly, whether a County Commissioner is working toward good health and economic well-being for everyone or for just the select few will impact almost every decision they make in allocating our budget, directing the administration of services, and judging the success of our programs.
Key to the health and well-being of Arapahoe County residents is housing security which requires being able to afford your housing. Through their authority to develop unincorporated Arapahoe County and work with local municipalities, your County Commissioners can increase our housing stock with housing that is affordable for people of all income levels. Alternatively, they could either not prioritize housing or approve housing that caters only to those in higher income brackets.
How a County Commissioner approaches economic development and growth can impact whether we preserve open space, parks, and trails which can impact our mental and physical health.
SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
This pertains to our social framework and health of our society. It looks at the big picture, aiming to preserve a healthy society for future generations and acknowledges that what we do impacts others, now, locally, globally, and in the future.
Sometimes, often, there are tradeoffs in the options in front of County Commissioners. They can make a decision that will benefit some but not others or that will have a short term benefit but long term costs. Or they can make a decision that benefits all but maybe the benefit is less, or maybe allocates a resource based on need. They can also make a decision that addresses a problem in the short term but doesn’t address the root of the problem or they can decide to spend a little more up front for something that will last longer or more fully address a problem, saving money in the long run. Your commissioner’s goals will determine what they decide on a regular basis when faced with these choices.
Through the impact a County Commissioner has on our local economy, justice system, housing, and workforce development, a County Commissioner can work to deconstruct the cycles of poverty and oppression that have been hurting Black, Brown, and Indigenous people in our country and county.
It ‘focuses on maintaining and improving social quality with concepts such as cohesion, reciprocity, and honesty and the importance of relationships amongst people.’
All public leaders, County Commissioners included, impact the tone in our community and set an example of what we should expect from each other. Their honesty, their desire to bring people together, and their sense of being a servant to the people they represent can increase the healthiness of our society. Alternatively, deceit, double standards, inconsistent expectations favoring only portions of society, and a view that the masses are meant to serve those with greater means erode and breakdown our social fabric. How a County Commissioner leads will influence how our county government operates and our social quality.
Housing, traffic, wages, and opportunities all impact our social cohesion and relationships. Whether a young professional can live near their work, parents can afford another bedroom for their growing family, or our elders can age in place enjoying their retirement years impacts our relationships, impacts our society. These are all things your County Commissioners can impact.
It is encouraged and supported by laws, transparency and information, and shared ideas of equality, rights, and justice.
All governments can foster transparency and the sharing of information or they can make information hard to find or access. Transparency is key to an informed population and access to information is critical for self-determination. How can we make informed decisions if we do not have information? Your County Commissioners direct the access to information about the County, its finances, its decision-making, its plans.
Whether a County Commissioner understands the role of equity in budgeting or acknowledges the equal rights of all and desires to lift up those whose rights have not been recognized or those who have been oppressed will impact the programming and budget decisions they make on funding our elections, the health department, the Sheriff’s department, small business support and more.
Whether a County Commissioner honors human rights and the diversity in a community will impact whether they direct county programs to be conscientious and affirming of ability, gender, sexual orientation, race, creed, or age, honoring the differing needs of our neighbors. Further, while a County Commissioner cannot make all people in a county or community respect each other, they can work to foster that respect and community safety or their work and words can harm and divide community.
Working with our Sheriff’s Department, County Commissioners can influence how law enforcement interacts with our community and the programs that are prioritized to keep all members of our county safe.
Our County Commissioners can work to repair past harms, as it has done with the Northern Arapaho Tribe, or it can ignore history and leave past harms unaddressed, furthering injustice and division in our county.
ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY
This pertains to improving the standard of living. It recognizes that economic growth is a factor in and fuels sustainable development while considering the quality of the growth as well.
Your County Commissioners can influence economic growth while prioritizing the well-being of residents. Whether your County Commissioner sees the purpose of economic development to generate profit for corporations or to improve the standard of living in our community influences the decisions a Commissioner makes on the types of businesses they invite, the development plans they approve, and the level of accountability they are willing to exercise over business.
Your County Commissioners have a role to play in fostering a vibrant local economy. Measuring and evaluating economic growth with the quality of the growth in mind requires a County Commissioner look at the breadth, depth, and long-term impact of that economic growth. This means we look at not just the number of jobs created, but the wages they pay, the future orientation of the work, and the impact they have on our workforce and environment.
Importantly, it recognizes that economic growth that causes damage to our ecological and human systems is to be avoided as it does not lend to long-term, stable economic growth.
Similar to the above, County Commissioners can bring employers to our county. A County Commissioner can prioritize profit regardless of the impact it has on our environment or workforce or the opposite. Extractive and exploitative employers and industries do not foster long-term, stable growth. Your County Commissioner makes decisions that impact whether those businesses come to Arapahoe County or not.
As we grow our economy, bringing jobs and people to Arapahoe County, demand is placed on housing, increasing the cost of living. Your County Commissioners have the ability to prioritize increasing our housing stock so teachers, sheriff’s deputies, and other workers who our community benefits from living within our community can afford to live where they work.
Therefore models of economic growth that are shown to increase the standard of living for those in the scope of activity should be preferred.
Where a Commissioner focuses their time and energy in regard to economic development - whether it is on bringing large multi-national corporations or on supporting locally-owned, small businesses can impact the standard of living for our residents. Increasing entrepreneurship, connecting residents to good-paying jobs, reducing tax incentives for large companies to move to Arapahoe County, and strengthening our local economy with a diversity of industries that are beneficial now and will be in the long-term can keep our money in the county and increase our standard of living.
With a focus on raising the standard of living for all people, County Commissioners can reduce incentives for criminal activity, making our communities more secure.
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
This pertains to improving human welfare through the protection of our natural resources. Operations and programs meet the needs of the current population without compromising the needs of future generations.
Our county is responsible for monitoring the cleanliness of our air and water. County Commissioners can impact the level of accountability polluters are held to as well as the positive incentives that exist for all of us to keep our environment clean. This protects the health of all of us, but most importantly protects the health of our most vulnerable populations.
County Commissioners are responsible for development in the unincorporated areas of Arapahoe County. Whether your County Commissioner believes in preserving open space and values parks and trails will impact the decisions they make regarding the development and protection of our open space.
County Commissioners can impact the environmental friendliness of our county buildings and vehicles, choosing to invest in green buildings and vehicles or not.
For society, this means we are living in a way that is not causing short-term or long-term damage to the environment.
County Commissioners can approve residential development plans that perpetuate the current, unsustainable use of our water resources, or they can start moving us toward residential plans that demand less water.
County Commissioners can move us toward increased walkability, bike-ability, and public transit, decreasing our human impact on the environment, or they can keep us tethered to cars.
County Commissioners can begin to move us toward a better waste management, recycling, and composting system, reducing the negative impact of our waste on the environment.
This also emphasizes the need for business to achieve positive economic outcomes without doing any harm, in the short- or long-term, to the environment.
Again, your County Commissioners can bring in or retain businesses and industries that harm our environment, or they can bring in business and industries that have a net neutral or net positive impact on our environment.
Your County Commissioners can hold polluters accountable or they can ignore violations, allowing polluters to harm our environment with impunity.
Okay, that’s a lot. What does this look like in real life?
Here’s the picture:
Arapahoe County can be an inclusive community where everyone feels welcome and safe. People of all ages can afford to live here so families can stay near each other. We can have great schools, with teachers who live locally, and students who are well-prepared for the future.
With a vibrant local economy and good paying jobs, we will be able to afford quality housing and have funds to enjoy life. By managing our growth, focused on sustainability, we’ll have communities that are walkable and bike-able, smooth flowing traffic, gorgeous parks and open spaces.
By bringing in industries and jobs with an eye toward the future, we can continue economic growth and reduce carbon emissions and protect our environment.
By addressing residents’ needs and being willing to repair past harms through truth, reconciliation, and justice, we will bring people together. We will have a just government that is transparent, accessible, and working to improve the well-being and standard of living for everyone.
This kind of community is possible, we just have to make the choices that will lead us there.
Why have you laid all of this out like this?
I have gone into this explanation for two reasons:
There are some who want to paint the County Commissioner’s role as not much more than a glorified accountant balancing a budget. I believe it is a much larger role that impacts many areas of our lives and I believe you deserve to know my understanding of the role.
I am putting myself before you as a choice for County Commissioner. Elections are about picking the person who you believe will make decisions with your tax dollars that will best serve you. By sharing my perspective on the ultimate goal of having a sustainable, healthy, thriving community and the framework I use to determine how we get there, you can trust and rely on how I will approach all issues that could come before me as your County Commissioner. Between my biography page and this explanation, you know my values, you know my aims, and you know how I see the role of County Commissioner plays in getting us there.
* The Missing Piece in Sustainable Peace, Peter Coleman, 2012.
** Parameters of Sustainable Peace: UN Frameworks and Practice, Martin Wählisch, 2020.
*** The four pillars of sustainability, RMIT University, 2017.