Jeffco inumbent wants to stay on track - #lakewoodnews

Some people describe Casey Tighe as a non-politician politician.

"He's very personable," said Lakewood Mayor Adam Paul. "He's not just going to tell you what you want to hear. He'll have a conversation. He's always willing to discuss the pros and cons of an issue with anybody."

That, Golden Mayor Marjorie Sloan added, is what makes him a "gifted politician."

Tighe is running in the November election to be re-elected as the county commissioner representing District 2, which encompasses the central part of Jefferson County. Tighe, a Democrat, is running against Frank Teunissen, a Republican who is an active in the Jeffco business community with a background in the banking and finance industry.

Tighe's main reason for running four years ago was to improve the county's financial accountability, he said. And although he believes its financial position has improved, there's still a lot of work to do. He would like to continue a number of initiatives he started in his first term, he said.

Tighe said he also would like to continue working on conservation opportunities with the Jeffco sustainability commission and help coordinate a strong relationship between preservation of open space efforts and economic development.

"You need the strong business community to acquire open space," Tighe said, "and you need open space to attract businesses. Those two work hand-in-hand."

Tighe mentioned one accomplishment from his first term was supporting a pay increase for county employees. When he assumed the seat, employees --; and particularly the sheriff's deputies --; were leaving because their pay was not competitive, he said. The raise was modest, Tighe said, but enough to help retain employees

He also serves on the board for the Jefferson Center for Mental Health. Recently, he worked with the center and the district attorney's office to launch a new housing assistance program that helps people, who meet certain criteria set by the mental health court, become stabilized so they can gain employment and become productive members of the community.

Tighe said his biggest accomplishment was developing and maintaining good relationships with municipalities and other governmental jurisdictions.

"The county and the many municipalities in Jeffco rely upon each other to have strong collaborative partnerships," said Edgewater Mayor Kris Teegardin. Tighe "has a desire of forging relationships across the spectrum of Jefferson County. He has strong relationships everywhere."

Tighe, 56, has lived in Jefferson County since 1976. He is a graduate of Green Mountain High School. He earned a Bachelor's of Science from the University of Colorado at Boulder, then completed a law degree at Creighton University in Nebraska. He has been a small business owner, an attorney and, most recently, spent 24 years as the audit director for the Colorado Department of Transportation.

Sloan describes Tighe as possessing a mix of "personality, education and experience" that serves him well in his position, along with being "an easygoing communicator."

"He knocks on doors, attends public events and connects with constituents," Sloan said.

No matter if the issue involves a citizen, business, jurisdiction or neighborhood group, Tighe says it is important to find a common ground with all the stakeholders. Then "move forward to a solution."

If re-elected, he says he will continue to work toward developing a good plan for the county as it grows, he said.

"Jefferson County is so diverse in the people that live here," Tighe said. "That's what makes it so great."

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