Board Election 2022

On May 3, the Evergreen Fire Protection District election will be held at the Administration Building for in-person voting. Under State Election Law the period to apply for an Absentee Ballot closed on April 26^th. Completed absentee ballots must be received by the Designated Election Official or Election Judge by 7:00pm on Election Day. In-person voting will take place on Tuesday, May 3, 2022 between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm at the Administration Building located at 1802 Bergen Parkway. 

Candidate Biographies
Candidates have submitted their biography and they are listed below in the order as listed on the ballot.


Wayne Hazeldine
Professional Plumbing HVAC Contractor. Lived In Evergreen for 22 years, Wife Heather, Ceri 18, Teagan 15. Volunteer Firefighter for 15 years. Previously EVFD President, Vice President. Board member of ECHO for 6 years. Member Of BBB of Denver, PHCC Member. Would like to see the EVFD & EFD work closer and more efficiently in the future. Continue the good work of this community to be Fire safe. Be transparent what is going on with the EFD & EVFD for the Community of Evergreen.

Michael Gregory
I grew up in Naperville, IL, a suburb near Chicago. I attended the University of Northern Colorado. I earned a degree in finance and administration. I returned to Illinois to join the family business of electrical contracting for the next 25 years. During this time I married, had 3 girls, and took classes at Northern Illinois University and
earned a degree in construction management. Always wanting to return to Colorado, my wife and I moved to Evergreen in 2002. I partnered with some close friends and began building custom homes and doing remodels.

I joined the Evergreen Volunteer Fire Department around the same time thinking what a great way to serve this community I now called home. I got to meet some amazing citizens who also volunteered. After serving as an active firefighter for about 12 years I became a district board member in 2014. I’m running again because I not only love this fire department but I want to continue to serve the community that I love and call home. While serving on the board I’ve learned that doing the right thing for the community and for EFR usually goes hand in hand. In order to provide the district with the greatest protection we need to supply our firefighters, EMS staff, and mitigation crews with the best tools and equipment possible so they can do their jobs efficiently and safely.

I currently serve as treasurer for the district board, am on the budget/audit committee, the pension and 401 board, and the building committee for Station 1, and am a retired reserve firefighter.

Jeff deDisse
My family homesteaded the area that is now Evergreen Lake in the 1860’s. I am the fifth generation of my family to raise cattle in the area. I was a volunteer fire fighter for 17 years in Evergreen with several years spent as an officer and a fire investigator. I am employed with W.L. Contractors traveling Colorado and the country to oversee installations. I contribute my experience with budgets, and time management to the EFPD Board of Directors.  

I was elected to the EFPD board in 2007 and have served that board as treasurer and president. With my knowledge of the community and the volunteer fire department I have served on the budget and audit committees of the board. As an elected representative I provide fiduciary oversight for the tax revenue that the community provides. 

I have firsthand experience with the fighting wildfires in this and neighboring districts. I have been actively managing and mitigating the forested areas of the ranch and contributing to the construction of a fuel break on the western side of the district.

If I am reelected to the district board I will continue to support the district in the development of long range financial planning and strategic management. 

Kenneth J. Erhardt
I joined my first fire department when I was 16 and started on 40 years of fire service. I know the importance of volunteers in small communities and understand the challenges to maintain the commitment of being a firefighter. I moved here 40 plus years ago and joined the Evergreen Volunteer Fire Department where I spent 35 years. I served in every office during that time rising through the ranks to Deputy Chief. During the Bear Tracks, Hayman, and other fires around Evergreen I stayed in our community to support calls here while others left this district to fight these wildfires. 

As the co-owner of Kittredge Auto Rebuilders for 32 years I am committed to the success of our community. We have always taken pride in supporting the events and special groups of Kittredge and Evergreen. Since my retirement from EFR I have continued to help with rescue training involving vehicles and extrication when possible. I believe I can contribute to the continued success of EFR as a board member through my understanding of the volunteer model. As a successful local businessman I also feel I can offer sound judgment in support of the strategic plans and goals of the district. 

Stacey Ballinger
My name is Stacey Ballinger and I have been a resident of Jefferson County my entire life. I grew up in Applewood, raised my family in Lakewood and now live in Evergreen where I plan on living the rest of my days. My husband and I are second generation owners in a family-run company that has been in business for 49 years, we’ve owned it for 19. I manage the human resources and financial department. We have 4 daughters. 
 
In addition to being a business owner I was a dispatcher for Evergreen Fire until they consolidated with Jeffcom then I was a mountain fire dispatcher with JeffCom for 2 additional years. During the transition to Jeffcom I also became a volunteer victim advocate for the Lakewood Police Department. Working in dispatch and as a victim advocate, I attained first-hand experience into emergency service not only through fire and medical but police response as well.  
 
I will be an asset to the board through my experience and knowledge I have as a business owner, concerning employee retention and business planning and execution. I will be a good steward and fiscally responsible for the community money ensuring it used properly, wisely and well rounded.  

Julie Ann Courim
I have been an Evergreen resident since 2017 and mountain corridor community member for 24 years. I have 8 previous years of fire board experience with neighboring Foothills Fire & Rescue. I currently serve on the Soda Creek HOA Board and am an ambassador for the Fillius Park/Soda Creek CWPIP. I am an Information Technology and Project Management consultant with over 30 years’ experience working with local governments and public sector entities.  I also have an MBA in Finance & Marketing from CSU.

Since I moved into the district, I’ve worked to utilize my fire knowledge, project management and grant writing skills to educate, organize events, and produce successful grant applications, one of which will bring the equivalent of $295,000 in much needed funds to my HOA in conjunction with 5 other neighborhoods throughout the Evergreen community. 

If I am elected to serve on the Evergreen FPD board, I will work to make sure the district is prepared to meet our community’s short and long-term needs by:
 Maintaining the health and viability of our volunteer fire department while representing the taxpayer’s best interests.
 Prioritizing high impact projects that provide for a more prepared department and safer community.
 Providing reasoned analytical approach to financial and legal issues.
 Ensuring complete board and financial transparency.
 Striving to build and maintain partnerships throughout the mountain community.

John F. Putt
My Name is John Putt and I have been a resident of Evergreen since December 1967. I retired as a paramedic/firefight after 35 years of service. I am Co-owner of Windermere Real Estate Services of Evergreen. My professional background includes the education and design of Emergency Management programs for Fire/Law/EMS/Hospital agencies funded by the Colorado Dept. of Public Health and Environment. I am a subject matter expert for the Colorado Division of Homeland Security, Colorado Department of Emergency Management and Colorado Department of Public Safety Emergency Operations Center.

As a resident of Evergreen, I have volunteered with my neighbors as a member of the Alpine Rescue Team, Evergreen Volunteer Fire Dept and Evergreen Volunteer Ambulance-Service. In 2017 I became involved as a Co-leader of the Upper Bear Creek Wildfire Improvement Project to organize grant funding for our neighborhood. In 2019 I founded the Wildfire Education Committee for the Mountain Metro Association of REALTORS. I am the Chair and co-founder of the Rotary Wildfire Ready - Safety Committee which is dedicated to improving wildfire evacuation planning, training, and roadside mitigation for all our mountain communities.

As a Director of The Evergreen Fire Protection District, I will explore all options to increase communications with the firefighters, paramedics, and community. Build an environment of trust between the volunteer firefighter and the Board of Directors to improve firefighter retention. Provide the proper direction and fiduciary guidance to ensure the firefighter are fully supported to respond and manage all emergency calls. Explore ways to provide community-wide emergency preparedness planning and training. Collaborate with community neighborhoods on the wildfire mitigation grants that are available to them