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C. Dennis Maes
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C. Dennis Maes is an at-large representative on the Pueblo City Schools school board in Colorado. Maes won a first term in the at-large general election on November 7, 2017.
Maes was a Chief Judge of the Colorado 10th Judicial District Court. He served on this court for over 16 years.[1] He retired on May 31, 2012.[2]
Biography
Maes worked as a private practice lawyer, a Pueblo County public defender, and a director of Pueblo County Legal Services.[1]
Elections
2017
- See also: Pueblo City Schools elections (2017)
Two of the five seats on the Pueblo City Schools Board of Education in Colorado were up for nonpartisan general election on November 7, 2017. C. Dennis Maes and Taylor Voss won the election, defeating appointed incumbent R. Kenneth O'Neal and fellow challengers Dottie Calhoun and Margaret Wright.[3][4]
Results
| Pueblo City Schools, At-large General Election, 4-year terms, 2017 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 C. Dennis Maes |
42.66% | 17,281 |
| Taylor Voss |
20.14% | 8,158 |
| Margaret Wright | 15.04% | 6,091 |
| R. Kenneth O'Neal Incumbent | 12.52% | 5,070 |
| Dottie Calhoun | 9.64% | 3,906 |
| Total Votes | 40,506 | |
| Source: Pueblo County Clerk and Recorder, "2017 Pueblo County Coordinated Election Official Results," accessed November 27, 2017 | ||
Funding
Maes reported $21,559.59 in contributions and $20,119.50 in expenditures to the Colorado Secretary of State, which left his campaign with $1,440.09 on hand in the election.[5]
Endorsements
Maes was endorsed by The Pueblo Chieftain.[6]
Campaign themes
2017
Maes participated in the following survey conducted by The Pueblo Chieftain. The survey questions appear bolded, and Maes' responses follow below.
Why are you running for school board?
| “ | I believe Pueblo City Schools (D60) is at a critical juncture because of the serious problems it has experienced over the last eight years, many of which are self-inflicted.[7] | ” |
| —C. Dennis Maes (2017)[8] | ||
Why do you feel people should vote for you?
| “ | At 72, I have experienced what works, what does not work and what changes the passage of time requires to remain relevant. I believe I possess two critical qualifications to be a visionary board member: leadership and experience.
My past leadership positions provided me with the opportunity to experience what leading requires. I have a proven track record of making thoughtful, critical and difficult decisions throughout 24 years as a district judge, the last 17 as Chief District Judge under the leadership of three different chief justices. During my legal career, I served in leadership positions on the local, state and national levels. I have been appointed to serve on certain select committees by chief justices of the Colorado Supreme Court and governors of Colorado. I taught school in Gardner for two years, affording me the opportunity to experience what it takes to motivate and inspire children to meet their full potential. I understand that each child is unique to the educational system and requires individual attention by offering a vast array of learning opportunities. I also was instrumental in forming Project Respect, a highly successful and nationally recognized truancy reduction program. The primary purposes of the program were to define the cause or causes of truancy and bring the necessary resources to address the cause(s). Through this program, attendance, academic and behavior improved, which allowed teachers and administrators to do their jobs. A further extension of the program was Friday Afternoon Court Study Hall, in which students received help with studies and personal issues. Because of the urgency in addressing truancy, it was necessary to secure the permission of the Colorado Supreme Court to allow the truancy court to address the issues immediately instead of being burdened with time-consuming notice requirements. Under the leadership of Chief Justice Michael Bender, truancy courts are now designated as problem solving courts, allowing for immediate attention to school issues without the burden of court notice requirements. I continue to act as a consultant with the National Center for School Engagement, which conducts workshops across the country. I also continue to be involved in other local matters involving kids and education, with a particular interest in the delivery of mental health services to children. I have two granddaughters who attend D60 and two daughters who are graduates of D60. I am presently chair of the Colorado Lottery Commission, vice-chair of El Pomar Southeast Regional Council and have been involved with Pueblo Latino Chamber of Commerce, Mental Health America, East Side Child Care Center, Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center, the Pueblo Regional Planning Commission and the David and Lucile Packard Advisory Council.[7] |
” |
| —C. Dennis Maes (2017)[8] | ||
What problems, if any, does the board need to fix?
| “ | Constant budgetary problems, arbitrary personnel decisions, state scrutiny because of performance problems, failing to retain competent personnel and recruiting quality replacements, declining enrollment, a lack of transparency leading to community distrust and the failure to adequately engage the community in its most important civic responsibility: educating its children.[7] | ” |
| —C. Dennis Maes (2017)[8] | ||
How can you help in this regard?
| “ | I believe I possess the necessary qualifications, vision, passion and love for children to address and remedy these and other concerns.
By requiring the adoption of a budget based on present and future needs and being committed to the budget; determining necessary reserves based on sound data to ensure that the classrooms receive the necessary resources, including the retention and recruitment of outstanding educators, stopping the exodus of students by establishing D60 schools as the schools of choice; regaining the trust and respect of the community by being transparent and making decisions which are in the best interests of the students and not based on political and personal agendas; and by recruiting and respecting the help of the community, both inside and outside the classroom setting.[7] |
” |
| —C. Dennis Maes (2017)[8] | ||
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms C. Dennis Maes Pueblo City Schools school board. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Colorado 10th Judicial District Court, "Official biography of Judge C. Dennis Maes," accessed June 17, 2009
- ↑ The Pueblo Chieftain, "Chief Judge Maes to retire," February 9, 2012 (dead link)
- ↑ The Pueblo Chieftain, "Consultant seeking D60 board seat," September 6, 2017
- ↑ Pueblo County Clerk and Recorder, "2017 Pueblo County Coordinated Election Unofficial Results," accessed November 8, 2017
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "TRACER: Candidate Search," accessed December 18, 2017
- ↑ The Pueblo Chieftain, "Vote Maes, Voss for school board," October 19, 2017
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 The Pueblo Chieftain, "Candidate: Dennis Maes," October 14, 2017
| Pueblo City Schools elections in 2017 | |
| Pueblo County, Colorado | |
| Election date: | November 7, 2017 |
| Candidates: | At-large: • Appointed incumbent, R. Kenneth O'Neal • Dottie Calhoun • C. Dennis Maes • Taylor Voss • Margaret Wright |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Additional elections on the ballot • Key deadlines |
Federal courts:
Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Colorado • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Colorado
State courts:
Colorado Supreme Court • Colorado Court of Appeals • Colorado District Courts • Colorado County Courts • Denver Probate Court • Denver Juvenile Court • Colorado Municipal Courts • Colorado Water Courts
State resources:
Courts in Colorado • Colorado judicial elections • Judicial selection in Colorado
