WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.600
Welcome to Empower You. I'm Amy Stevens. You may have heard Pastor Steve's podcast where we had a

2
00:00:07.600 --> 00:00:13.920
conversation about public policy engagement or civic engagement. You know, COVID changed a lot

3
00:00:13.920 --> 00:00:19.680
of things in our community and this is where the road really exploded in membership and where people

4
00:00:19.680 --> 00:00:26.080
began to get engaged. And so Pastor Steve came to me and said, hey, would you consider volunteering

5
00:00:26.080 --> 00:00:32.880
to help lead this effort? We have all kinds of views in our church, diverse views. And really,

6
00:00:32.880 --> 00:00:36.960
how do we make sense of that? How do we move forward? People are exhausted. A lot of people

7
00:00:36.960 --> 00:00:42.960
angry. Some just trying to raise their kids. How do we stay engaged? And I'm convinced it's through

8
00:00:42.960 --> 00:00:47.360
big, important little things, things that you and I can do every day. And that's what you're going

9
00:00:47.360 --> 00:00:52.240
to hear on these podcasts. You're going to hear from people in the community, school board members.

10
00:00:52.240 --> 00:00:56.960
You're going to hear from people that work in the life pro-life space. You're going to hear

11
00:00:56.960 --> 00:01:02.080
from legislators, people that are going to talk to us about what their lives are really like,

12
00:01:02.080 --> 00:01:06.720
what their jobs are really like, and actually how we can make a difference and or support them.

13
00:01:06.720 --> 00:01:12.240
And so that is the hope for Pastor Steve. That's the hope that I have. And we look forward to

14
00:01:12.240 --> 00:01:25.840
engaging with you. Hi, I'm Amy Stevens and you're listening to Empower You. I am so excited to have

15
00:01:25.840 --> 00:01:32.320
this guest with us today because I admire her greatly. Again, as I've had some guests and I

16
00:01:32.320 --> 00:01:40.320
said, I wish we had 10, 10, 10 of you, 10 of your husband, Tim. This is our County Commissioner,

17
00:01:40.320 --> 00:01:45.120
Carrie Geithner. Carrie, welcome. Thank you so much for having me. Yes, I'm so happy you're here.

18
00:01:45.120 --> 00:01:53.280
Okay. So for those, we, my husband and I know you and Tim and your boys. Give us some background

19
00:01:53.280 --> 00:01:59.920
on your life and prior to coming into office. Yeah, absolutely. So yeah, married to my husband,

20
00:01:59.920 --> 00:02:06.000
Tim for 16 years. Now we just had our anniversary. I have two boys, one that's almost 13 and

21
00:02:06.000 --> 00:02:11.360
one that's 15. So we're getting ready to do the driving year. So it's really exciting, but you

22
00:02:11.360 --> 00:02:18.400
know, Tim and I moved here with the army. He was active duty at the time and we fell in love

23
00:02:18.400 --> 00:02:22.800
immediately and decided to stay here. But we had a lot of adventures before that as well, that kind

24
00:02:22.800 --> 00:02:28.320
of shaped who we are. And I think a big part of why we're so engaged in the community, you know,

25
00:02:28.320 --> 00:02:33.680
militaries have very tight knit communities, but they move and they change a lot. And when

26
00:02:33.680 --> 00:02:38.320
we finally had a place that we knew we were going to stay, I think that really meant a lot to us.

27
00:02:38.320 --> 00:02:44.080
We wanted to have that same kind of feeling of really being engaged, but now it's a much longer,

28
00:02:44.080 --> 00:02:50.080
deeper, you know, kind of root system. You're all in. I mean, you're all in. Exactly. But before that,

29
00:02:50.080 --> 00:02:54.800
I taught high school for a little while. So that ignited a huge passion in me for education. Before

30
00:02:54.800 --> 00:03:00.480
that, I worked in nonprofits. I did fundraising and some marketing. So I have kind of a very

31
00:03:00.480 --> 00:03:04.880
interesting and diverse background and a lot of different things that have really sparked

32
00:03:04.880 --> 00:03:10.880
kind of all the interest that ultimately I'm involved in today. Well, I call Carrie the pioneer

33
00:03:10.880 --> 00:03:18.240
woman because seriously, I'm rejoicing over a cucumber this big that I grew. And then Carrie

34
00:03:18.240 --> 00:03:23.520
has corn in her backyard as big as Nebraska. OK, I don't know how this happens. You are the pioneer

35
00:03:23.520 --> 00:03:29.760
woman and you are a county commissioner and homeschooling your sons. Is this correct? Yes.

36
00:03:29.760 --> 00:03:37.760
And your husband, Tim, Tim Geithner, held the seat that I used to hold for House District 19 slash

37
00:03:37.760 --> 00:03:45.120
20 as we've gone through redistricting. And he is now very engaged in education. Yes, he's actually

38
00:03:45.120 --> 00:03:50.640
the president of a charter school board in our area, Liberty Tree Academy. Yes. Stepped in there

39
00:03:50.640 --> 00:03:55.440
kind of unexpectedly, but they were facing a recommendation for non-renewal from the district.

40
00:03:55.440 --> 00:03:59.920
And that was really, you know, really troubling. And he jumped right in and had really fantastic

41
00:03:59.920 --> 00:04:05.200
relationships and a reputation in the community that I think the board really saw as someone who

42
00:04:05.200 --> 00:04:09.520
could make the changes that were necessary and keep them on strong footing. So that was great.

43
00:04:10.240 --> 00:04:14.480
And of course, he works at the Daniels Fund now. He's a grant officer there and doing grants,

44
00:04:14.480 --> 00:04:17.920
doing lots of great things in our community from that private perspective, which I love.

45
00:04:18.640 --> 00:04:25.600
Philanthropic, the freedom to give. I have to tell you, I went to the civics education event

46
00:04:25.600 --> 00:04:32.880
they had in Denver that was sponsored also by the Colorado Chamber, and I was blown away. I

47
00:04:33.440 --> 00:04:40.400
cannot wait for this to be everywhere. I think civics education, watching kids, students come

48
00:04:40.400 --> 00:04:47.200
alive. Their families were so excited. It was such, it's like the spelling bee, but the civics

49
00:04:47.200 --> 00:04:55.360
bee. I was so taken with it. And I think it's a wonderful project. Daniels Fund does amazing work,

50
00:04:55.360 --> 00:04:58.880
but this, I think, is just so special. This was, uh,

51
00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:02.120
You know, the chamber was excited.

52
00:05:02.120 --> 00:05:03.640
The kids were excited.

53
00:05:03.640 --> 00:05:05.560
It was done well.

54
00:05:05.560 --> 00:05:07.960
I found out how much I don't know.

55
00:05:07.960 --> 00:05:10.760
And we all had to take a test.

56
00:05:10.760 --> 00:05:14.020
It was great, but it was so, it was so very good.

57
00:05:14.020 --> 00:05:15.600
It was just wonderful.

58
00:05:15.600 --> 00:05:18.520
Well, you have been a county commissioner for how long?

59
00:05:18.520 --> 00:05:19.440
Two and a half years.

60
00:05:19.440 --> 00:05:20.480
Two and a half.

61
00:05:20.480 --> 00:05:22.720
Okay, does it feel like two and a half?

62
00:05:22.720 --> 00:05:23.720
No, it doesn't.

63
00:05:23.720 --> 00:05:27.360
Some days it feels, you know, it's a lot like being a mom.

64
00:05:27.400 --> 00:05:30.920
Some days it feels like the days are really, really long.

65
00:05:30.920 --> 00:05:33.280
But somehow the time goes by very quickly too

66
00:05:33.280 --> 00:05:35.640
because there's just so much happening.

67
00:05:35.640 --> 00:05:36.520
Of course there is.

68
00:05:36.520 --> 00:05:40.200
And I want to make the distinction.

69
00:05:40.200 --> 00:05:44.080
We had a council woman, Lynette Crow Iverson on,

70
00:05:44.080 --> 00:05:47.280
who you know, she was telling us

71
00:05:47.280 --> 00:05:50.080
about the oversight for city.

72
00:05:50.080 --> 00:05:53.680
Tell us about the oversight for county commissioners,

73
00:05:53.680 --> 00:05:56.240
our El Paso County commissioners.

74
00:05:56.240 --> 00:05:57.200
What are you over?

75
00:05:58.040 --> 00:05:59.640
The complicated words here are that the county

76
00:05:59.640 --> 00:06:02.480
is a political subdivision of the state.

77
00:06:02.480 --> 00:06:06.360
And so we take on a lot of the functions

78
00:06:06.360 --> 00:06:08.160
that the state wants to do,

79
00:06:08.160 --> 00:06:09.360
and then they kind of push it down

80
00:06:09.360 --> 00:06:11.080
to the county levels to take care of.

81
00:06:11.080 --> 00:06:12.960
So things like DHS,

82
00:06:12.960 --> 00:06:14.780
that's technically a state responsibility,

83
00:06:14.780 --> 00:06:16.520
but then we have a version of the county

84
00:06:16.520 --> 00:06:17.560
that kind of oversee it.

85
00:06:17.560 --> 00:06:20.720
So we have a flow through of money to the county,

86
00:06:20.720 --> 00:06:21.960
but then we kind of oversee it

87
00:06:21.960 --> 00:06:23.640
that there are a lot of rules from the state.

88
00:06:23.640 --> 00:06:25.600
That's probably one of the most complicated things

89
00:06:25.600 --> 00:06:27.040
about working with the county

90
00:06:27.040 --> 00:06:29.240
is the close relationship to the state

91
00:06:29.240 --> 00:06:30.880
when you don't always agree.

92
00:06:30.880 --> 00:06:33.560
But we also have public works,

93
00:06:33.560 --> 00:06:36.360
which takes care of all of our streets and drainage

94
00:06:36.360 --> 00:06:38.640
and all those things outside

95
00:06:38.640 --> 00:06:41.080
of any municipality city limit.

96
00:06:41.080 --> 00:06:42.960
And a lot of people get confused about that

97
00:06:42.960 --> 00:06:46.400
because El Paso County obviously covers Colorado Springs.

98
00:06:46.400 --> 00:06:49.280
It covers Monument Fountain,

99
00:06:49.280 --> 00:06:51.600
Calhan Rima, Green Mountain Falls,

100
00:06:51.600 --> 00:06:53.280
and Manitou Springs.

101
00:06:53.280 --> 00:06:55.320
We have all of these municipalities

102
00:06:56.000 --> 00:06:56.840
that are autonomous

103
00:06:56.840 --> 00:06:58.200
and they take care of their own things

104
00:06:58.200 --> 00:06:59.860
inside of their jurisdictions.

105
00:06:59.860 --> 00:07:01.860
But then you have that unincorporated area

106
00:07:01.860 --> 00:07:02.700
outside of that.

107
00:07:02.700 --> 00:07:04.080
And that's where public works

108
00:07:04.080 --> 00:07:05.560
takes care of all of those things.

109
00:07:05.560 --> 00:07:07.000
So for example, as you know,

110
00:07:07.000 --> 00:07:09.200
you might have an address that is monument,

111
00:07:09.200 --> 00:07:12.360
but you don't actually live in the town proper of monument.

112
00:07:12.360 --> 00:07:13.920
And so in that case,

113
00:07:13.920 --> 00:07:15.480
even though your address is monument,

114
00:07:15.480 --> 00:07:17.020
your roads are gonna be taken care of

115
00:07:17.020 --> 00:07:18.960
in that unincorporated area by the county.

116
00:07:18.960 --> 00:07:22.000
So that's a huge one of our responsibilities.

117
00:07:22.000 --> 00:07:23.760
And confusing for everybody.

118
00:07:23.760 --> 00:07:24.600
Absolutely.

119
00:07:24.600 --> 00:07:25.840
And then we do,

120
00:07:25.840 --> 00:07:27.920
we control the purse strings, if you will,

121
00:07:27.920 --> 00:07:31.780
the budget for all of the county operations

122
00:07:31.780 --> 00:07:34.200
and also the other county elected officials.

123
00:07:34.200 --> 00:07:36.360
So while, you know, the DA's office

124
00:07:36.360 --> 00:07:38.200
and the sheriff and the clerk and recorder,

125
00:07:38.200 --> 00:07:39.640
the treasurer, all of those offices

126
00:07:39.640 --> 00:07:40.880
are completely separate.

127
00:07:40.880 --> 00:07:43.220
We do set the budget and control

128
00:07:43.220 --> 00:07:44.360
the kind of the money flow

129
00:07:44.360 --> 00:07:46.440
for all of those offices as well.

130
00:07:46.440 --> 00:07:47.880
Amazing, right?

131
00:07:47.880 --> 00:07:50.460
Oi, talk about the work.

132
00:07:50.460 --> 00:07:53.340
Now, on the commissioners,

133
00:07:54.340 --> 00:07:56.700
with your group when they're largely,

134
00:07:56.700 --> 00:07:59.260
I mean, they're a wonderful team of people.

135
00:07:59.260 --> 00:08:01.140
Are you assigned then?

136
00:08:01.140 --> 00:08:04.820
What are your assignments in terms of being a liaison?

137
00:08:04.820 --> 00:08:05.660
Sure, yeah.

138
00:08:05.660 --> 00:08:08.460
So of course, yeah, one of five, five commissioners.

139
00:08:08.460 --> 00:08:12.860
And we all sit on somewhere between 12 to 17,

140
00:08:12.860 --> 00:08:14.620
I think is the most boards,

141
00:08:14.620 --> 00:08:16.780
either as a liaison or as an actual voting member.

142
00:08:16.780 --> 00:08:17.620
Okay.

143
00:08:17.620 --> 00:08:19.420
So it's very busy.

144
00:08:19.420 --> 00:08:20.260
Lots of meetings.

145
00:08:20.260 --> 00:08:21.740
I thought I had committee meetings.

146
00:08:21.740 --> 00:08:23.220
I thought Tim had committee meetings.

147
00:08:23.220 --> 00:08:24.820
There's nothing over you.

148
00:08:24.820 --> 00:08:26.660
They are, they're pretty busy.

149
00:08:26.660 --> 00:08:31.020
So, but that can be everything from PPRTA,

150
00:08:31.020 --> 00:08:35.100
which is a joint authority that, you know,

151
00:08:35.100 --> 00:08:37.059
you have folks from the city who sit on that board,

152
00:08:37.059 --> 00:08:38.460
you have folks from the county,

153
00:08:38.460 --> 00:08:40.980
other small municipalities.

154
00:08:40.980 --> 00:08:44.220
But there are a lot of decisions made there.

155
00:08:44.220 --> 00:08:47.100
I also sit on the regional building board.

156
00:08:47.100 --> 00:08:48.700
So overseeing that, and again,

157
00:08:48.700 --> 00:08:52.700
that's a joint kind of regional responsibility.

158
00:08:52.700 --> 00:08:55.420
But then things down to the library district,

159
00:08:55.420 --> 00:08:58.340
which has been a really exciting one for me.

160
00:08:58.340 --> 00:09:02.060
And even down to, I think we have a noxious weed board.

161
00:09:03.020 --> 00:09:04.380
So.

162
00:09:04.380 --> 00:09:05.220
You know what?

163
00:09:05.220 --> 00:09:08.620
When those bills would come at the legislature,

164
00:09:08.620 --> 00:09:10.180
we would go, what?

165
00:09:10.180 --> 00:09:13.060
I mean, who wanna ag someone?

166
00:09:13.060 --> 00:09:14.740
Please help, explain.

167
00:09:14.740 --> 00:09:16.260
What are we doing?

168
00:09:16.260 --> 00:09:17.420
Or tumbleweeds.

169
00:09:17.420 --> 00:09:18.260
There was another one.

170
00:09:18.820 --> 00:09:19.660
Go on tumbleweeds.

171
00:09:19.660 --> 00:09:20.500
And tumbleweeds, you know,

172
00:09:20.500 --> 00:09:22.660
our public works department spends sometimes

173
00:09:22.660 --> 00:09:23.980
a lot of time on tumbleweeds.

174
00:09:23.980 --> 00:09:25.980
You just don't think about all of these things

175
00:09:25.980 --> 00:09:28.940
that can happen and create a whole lot of, you know,

176
00:09:28.940 --> 00:09:30.180
disturbance in our community

177
00:09:30.180 --> 00:09:31.500
and somebody's gotta deal with it.

178
00:09:31.500 --> 00:09:33.140
So yeah, it's a fun one.

179
00:09:33.140 --> 00:09:33.980
That's amazing.

180
00:09:33.980 --> 00:09:34.820
That is amazing.

181
00:09:34.820 --> 00:09:39.540
When you ran for office, what,

182
00:09:39.540 --> 00:09:42.500
well, first, what did you experience running for office?

183
00:09:42.500 --> 00:09:44.740
And is it what you thought it would be?

184
00:09:45.620 --> 00:09:47.380
Because I remember we had dinner one night.

185
00:09:47.380 --> 00:09:48.220
Yeah.

186
00:09:49.060 --> 00:09:50.620
And it was after Tim, your husband,

187
00:09:50.620 --> 00:09:55.620
had run for actually the seat you're in now.

188
00:09:55.820 --> 00:09:57.380
And he did not win.

189
00:09:57.380 --> 00:09:59.980
I remember we knocked a million doors.

190
00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:03.960
And his name ID was not as much up yet.

191
00:10:03.960 --> 00:10:06.620
And you said at dinner,

192
00:10:06.620 --> 00:10:10.240
well, I think someday I might like to run.

193
00:10:10.240 --> 00:10:14.120
And I said, you should, you should think about it.

194
00:10:14.120 --> 00:10:16.560
And then we never said really anything more.

195
00:10:16.560 --> 00:10:19.600
And then Tim ran for the seat that I had held

196
00:10:19.600 --> 00:10:22.480
and he won and he was off and running.

197
00:10:22.480 --> 00:10:24.920
And then we turn around and there you are.

198
00:10:24.920 --> 00:10:26.880
And you're like, I'm gonna run.

199
00:10:26.880 --> 00:10:27.840
Off you went.

200
00:10:27.880 --> 00:10:29.680
Yeah, you know, it's kind of like a bug.

201
00:10:29.680 --> 00:10:30.800
I think, you know what I mean?

202
00:10:30.800 --> 00:10:32.040
You know, when you catch it.

203
00:10:32.040 --> 00:10:33.040
Right.

204
00:10:33.040 --> 00:10:36.360
At that time, my kids were still pretty young,

205
00:10:36.360 --> 00:10:38.320
but there was something really exciting,

206
00:10:38.320 --> 00:10:40.160
the door knocking and the talking to people.

207
00:10:40.160 --> 00:10:42.360
That's the thing that really kind of got me jazzed

208
00:10:42.360 --> 00:10:43.280
in that situation.

209
00:10:43.280 --> 00:10:44.560
And there's something really neat

210
00:10:44.560 --> 00:10:46.520
about connecting with your community on that level.

211
00:10:46.520 --> 00:10:47.840
But yes, my kids were young.

212
00:10:47.840 --> 00:10:50.840
I got into campaign management and kind of stayed there.

213
00:10:50.840 --> 00:10:52.320
And that was wonderful and great.

214
00:10:52.320 --> 00:10:53.680
And I love working behind the scenes

215
00:10:53.680 --> 00:10:54.840
and helping people achieve.

216
00:10:54.840 --> 00:10:58.520
So I think that kind of was very satisfying to me

217
00:10:58.520 --> 00:10:59.360
for quite a while.

218
00:10:59.360 --> 00:11:01.000
And then when the seat came open,

219
00:11:01.000 --> 00:11:02.720
it was so important to me to make sure

220
00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:04.120
that we had someone that represented,

221
00:11:04.120 --> 00:11:06.360
especially the Eastern side, the unincorporated side.

222
00:11:06.360 --> 00:11:07.200
I'm the only commissioner

223
00:11:07.200 --> 00:11:10.080
that lives in the unincorporated part of the county.

224
00:11:10.080 --> 00:11:11.120
Lot of growth.

225
00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:11.960
Lots of growth.

226
00:11:11.960 --> 00:11:14.280
Lots of growth there and wanting to make sure

227
00:11:14.280 --> 00:11:16.800
that our roads stay, you know, up to par

228
00:11:16.800 --> 00:11:17.640
and all of those things.

229
00:11:17.640 --> 00:11:19.720
Cause I drive on those every single day, right?

230
00:11:19.720 --> 00:11:23.800
So that was a kind of a big shift and getting into that.

231
00:11:23.800 --> 00:11:28.800
But I think that the job and the work is so important.

232
00:11:28.880 --> 00:11:32.160
And that was really what drew me in in the end was,

233
00:11:32.160 --> 00:11:33.280
hey, I think I can do this.

234
00:11:33.280 --> 00:11:36.400
I think I can do a good job at representing folks

235
00:11:36.400 --> 00:11:40.520
and, you know, making the changes that I've seen

236
00:11:40.520 --> 00:11:43.280
from the outside that I want to make.

237
00:11:43.280 --> 00:11:45.080
And I think that's really what drew me in

238
00:11:45.080 --> 00:11:46.960
is just thinking, yeah, I can do this.

239
00:11:46.960 --> 00:11:49.700
Especially after talking to so many people at DOORS.

240
00:11:50.540 --> 00:11:51.380
Yes, that's big.

241
00:11:51.380 --> 00:11:52.200
It's really feeling like.

242
00:11:52.200 --> 00:11:53.780
That's big.

243
00:11:53.780 --> 00:11:56.540
I don't think you can win without door knocking.

244
00:11:56.540 --> 00:11:57.460
I agree.

245
00:11:57.460 --> 00:12:00.780
I think that it's so important.

246
00:12:00.780 --> 00:12:03.900
And even if you can, I would say it's not advisable

247
00:12:03.900 --> 00:12:06.140
because you lose that connection with the people.

248
00:12:06.140 --> 00:12:08.180
It's so easy in a campaign, as you know.

249
00:12:08.180 --> 00:12:09.220
There are lots of voices.

250
00:12:09.220 --> 00:12:10.060
Yes.

251
00:12:10.060 --> 00:12:10.880
It's very stressful.

252
00:12:10.880 --> 00:12:11.720
Yes.

253
00:12:11.720 --> 00:12:14.300
And lots of mail with voices coming to your home, right?

254
00:12:14.300 --> 00:12:15.140
Oh, yes.

255
00:12:15.140 --> 00:12:15.960
Right.

256
00:12:15.960 --> 00:12:17.260
There's so much and everyone's got an idea

257
00:12:17.260 --> 00:12:18.460
of what it takes to win.

258
00:12:18.460 --> 00:12:19.380
Yes.

259
00:12:19.700 --> 00:12:22.220
You can kind of end up being really busy in your head

260
00:12:22.220 --> 00:12:24.100
but not accomplishing a lot, if that makes sense, right?

261
00:12:24.100 --> 00:12:25.020
Yes, it does.

262
00:12:25.020 --> 00:12:27.620
Running in circles, trying to put out the fires.

263
00:12:27.620 --> 00:12:29.420
Oh, no, someone said this on social media

264
00:12:29.420 --> 00:12:31.140
and it can be very emotional.

265
00:12:32.220 --> 00:12:33.060
Oh, don't we know.

266
00:12:33.060 --> 00:12:33.880
They're not pretty.

267
00:12:33.880 --> 00:12:34.720
Oh, not pretty, no.

268
00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:37.540
People say all kinds of things.

269
00:12:37.540 --> 00:12:40.420
I had lots of stuff said about me that was not true

270
00:12:40.420 --> 00:12:42.340
and that's really hard.

271
00:12:42.340 --> 00:12:44.280
It's hard on the kids, too.

272
00:12:44.280 --> 00:12:45.200
Yeah, it is.

273
00:12:45.200 --> 00:12:48.020
And my kids have been through it a lot of times.

274
00:12:48.020 --> 00:12:52.220
So we've had to have a lot of conversations about that

275
00:12:52.220 --> 00:12:53.820
and just how to deal with that.

276
00:12:53.820 --> 00:12:55.780
But it's great life lessons because, you know,

277
00:12:55.780 --> 00:12:58.340
maybe not on the same scale if you don't run for office

278
00:12:58.340 --> 00:12:59.820
but we all experience that in our life,

279
00:12:59.820 --> 00:13:03.420
office politics or whatever that come forward.

280
00:13:03.420 --> 00:13:06.580
But so those are really hard things.

281
00:13:06.580 --> 00:13:08.580
Just how busy you are is really hard.

282
00:13:08.580 --> 00:13:09.980
It's exhausting.

283
00:13:09.980 --> 00:13:12.820
And making time for your kids win.

284
00:13:12.820 --> 00:13:16.440
I can tell you, I know, you know, in office,

285
00:13:16.480 --> 00:13:19.840
I would roar off and catch Nick's games

286
00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:22.560
and then have to go back up to Denver.

287
00:13:22.560 --> 00:13:25.280
And then it's just crazy.

288
00:13:25.280 --> 00:13:27.620
Creating boundaries is, I think,

289
00:13:27.620 --> 00:13:28.720
because there's so much to do.

290
00:13:28.720 --> 00:13:30.940
And when you are folks like you and me, Amy,

291
00:13:30.940 --> 00:13:31.880
I know you're the same way,

292
00:13:31.880 --> 00:13:35.280
which just can't wait to do all the things all at once.

293
00:13:35.280 --> 00:13:37.960
And there's just so much to do and so much to tackle.

294
00:13:37.960 --> 00:13:40.160
And there's so much enthusiasm for it.

295
00:13:40.160 --> 00:13:41.720
Yeah, creating those boundaries

296
00:13:41.720 --> 00:13:43.760
so that you can keep those spaces.

297
00:13:43.760 --> 00:13:45.880
Because my kids are absolutely the most important thing

298
00:13:45.880 --> 00:13:46.720
in the world to me.

299
00:13:46.720 --> 00:13:49.360
And so making sure that they're okay.

300
00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:52.840
Now, as they get older, and I know you've experienced this,

301
00:13:52.840 --> 00:13:55.920
they don't need mom around quite at the same level.

302
00:13:55.920 --> 00:13:56.760
That's right.

303
00:13:56.760 --> 00:13:57.580
That's right.

304
00:13:57.580 --> 00:13:58.420
They're so much more independent.

305
00:13:58.420 --> 00:13:59.840
Your youngest is 13.

306
00:13:59.840 --> 00:14:01.400
Nick was 13 when I ran.

307
00:14:01.400 --> 00:14:05.400
But we made sure, things like learning your laundry,

308
00:14:05.400 --> 00:14:08.000
folding, helping with dinner.

309
00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:11.800
I thought, you know, I waited really

310
00:14:11.800 --> 00:14:13.640
in the right kind of season.

311
00:14:13.640 --> 00:14:14.600
It was a season.

312
00:14:14.600 --> 00:14:16.880
And I knew it was right.

313
00:14:16.880 --> 00:14:21.280
And that's hard, I think, when you have to say,

314
00:14:21.280 --> 00:14:24.980
okay, so Ron is shopping now.

315
00:14:24.980 --> 00:14:29.540
And I don't get my flowered, you know, paper towels.

316
00:14:29.540 --> 00:14:31.440
I remember crying over that.

317
00:14:31.440 --> 00:14:32.440
Now, why?

318
00:14:32.440 --> 00:14:33.720
Probably a stressful day.

319
00:14:33.720 --> 00:14:36.960
But I was like, you didn't buy the flower?

320
00:14:36.960 --> 00:14:39.400
He's like, no, we have basic white.

321
00:14:39.400 --> 00:14:40.920
And I was like, okay, you know what?

322
00:14:40.920 --> 00:14:43.040
You are gonna have to give that up, right?

323
00:14:43.040 --> 00:14:45.240
You are gonna have to get over it, right?

324
00:14:45.240 --> 00:14:46.720
All the things that are very different

325
00:14:46.720 --> 00:14:48.080
in the different seasons of your life.

326
00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:52.560
Now, luckily, I'm a big fan of the Instacart shopping.

327
00:14:52.560 --> 00:14:53.680
So I get to still do my,

328
00:14:53.680 --> 00:14:55.560
now somebody else may not pick the right thing

329
00:14:55.560 --> 00:14:56.400
if they don't have it.

330
00:14:56.400 --> 00:14:59.360
But I have to tell you that the modern amenities

331
00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:00.200
that we have.

332
00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:04.000
Certainly, I've contributed to making it a lot easier on me.

333
00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:06.000
They're amazing.

334
00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:09.000
You've got Alexa wired and Amazon.

335
00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:12.000
You've got your lights, your this, your that.

336
00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:15.000
I don't even know. I can't even smart home.

337
00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:17.000
I can't even go there.

338
00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:21.000
When you got into office, I remember that transition

339
00:15:21.000 --> 00:15:25.000
because I don't think people sometimes understand

340
00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:30.000
that transition from campaigning into office

341
00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:32.000
are two totally different things.

342
00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:34.000
People don't understand.

343
00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:37.000
I am campaigning. I am knocking doors.

344
00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:38.000
I am listening.

345
00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:43.000
Now, listening is obviously always a part of your job,

346
00:15:43.000 --> 00:15:45.000
but they don't understand.

347
00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:48.000
I'm in campaign mode, but we can talk about that

348
00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:53.000
because now I think people are always in campaign mode, always.

349
00:15:53.000 --> 00:15:55.000
You are always campaigning,

350
00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:58.000
but the transition from when you've won a campaign

351
00:15:58.000 --> 00:16:03.000
into now the job itself, very, I think, different.

352
00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:08.000
Yeah, absolutely, and especially when you're a board of five.

353
00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:10.000
I wanted to accomplish certain goals,

354
00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:13.000
and I talked to my community about the goals I wanted to accomplish.

355
00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:14.000
I heard what they said.

356
00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:16.000
I wanted to help get those things done,

357
00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:19.000
but then you step into a role where you're one of five,

358
00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:22.000
and there are so many different interests.

359
00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:25.000
You have to figure out how to help the rest of your board

360
00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:27.000
understand the things that you're concerned about,

361
00:16:27.000 --> 00:16:29.000
share with them,

362
00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:34.000
and also balance all of the various different priorities across the county.

363
00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:38.000
I knew what the problems were with the roads specifically in my district

364
00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:42.000
and the things, but there were also and still are other roads

365
00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:45.000
that are in other districts that are also very important

366
00:16:45.000 --> 00:16:47.000
and are a high priority.

367
00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:50.000
Then going back and telling my community,

368
00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:52.000
hi, yeah, I'm still working on this for you,

369
00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:54.000
but I need you to understand that there are other priorities, too,

370
00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:56.000
that maybe we don't know about in our community

371
00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:58.000
but in other communities in the county.

372
00:16:58.000 --> 00:17:03.000
So I have to learn to, yes, I hear you, I work for you as my constituents,

373
00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:05.000
but I have to balance the well-being

374
00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:10.000
and the fairness of what it means to hear those other perspectives,

375
00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:12.000
just like I want them to listen to me about the concerns

376
00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:15.000
that we have in District 2.

377
00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:17.000
I have to be willing to listen to those concerns

378
00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:19.000
and balance those all.

379
00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:21.000
Because there's only so much budget to go around.

380
00:17:21.000 --> 00:17:24.000
There's only so much budget to go around.

381
00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:28.000
That's exactly right, and we like it that way in El Paso County, by the way.

382
00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:31.000
Well, you have fought for that, for sure.

383
00:17:31.000 --> 00:17:35.000
Not a wasteful budget, but really a working budget.

384
00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:41.000
At the state level, I would hear from county commissioners a lot about,

385
00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:45.000
you pass these unfunded mandates on to us, we don't have that money,

386
00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:48.000
and I get it.

387
00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:51.000
I remember the county commissioners.

388
00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:57.000
I ran a bill that said when we do a bill, every bill,

389
00:17:57.000 --> 00:18:01.000
there has to not just be what it will cost the state,

390
00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:06.000
but we need a section on what is it going to cost our counties.

391
00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:08.000
Oh, people just came out.

392
00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:13.000
Even the lobbyists for CCI said, I'm not so sure.

393
00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:15.000
We're going to take a lot more budget, people.

394
00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:17.000
And I thought, who cares?

395
00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:23.000
Because, frankly, at the end of the day, it does come down to the county,

396
00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:27.000
and the county with all these mandates,

397
00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:32.000
then where's the appropriate money, people, to help us accomplish this, right?

398
00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:35.000
Absolutely, and I think really what it comes down to,

399
00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:38.000
and I'm sure you probably had a similar approach,

400
00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:41.000
but when you're talking about all the different things

401
00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:44.000
that can be paid for or mandated and all the different rules that come down,

402
00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:48.000
it's really helpful for me to continually go back to,

403
00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:50.000
okay, what is the purpose of government?

404
00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:52.000
Because it can be really enticing.

405
00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:54.000
People will come at you with all kinds of problems,

406
00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:56.000
solve the problem, solve the problem.

407
00:18:56.000 --> 00:19:00.000
It's always helpful to pull back and say, is that our problem to solve?

408
00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:04.000
Is that what our residents want us to solve?

409
00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:06.000
And sometimes the answer is not always yes,

410
00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:10.000
and sometimes we want to leave space in that private market, right,

411
00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:12.000
just like the things that Tim has said.

412
00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:13.000
Exactly.

413
00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:18.000
Philanthropy helps solve so many community crises, right?

414
00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:20.000
And they can often be more flexible and nimble.

415
00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:24.000
And, again, we can never forget that every dollar that we spend,

416
00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:27.000
there's a forcing mechanism behind taxing.

417
00:19:27.000 --> 00:19:31.000
And so, of course, we want to make sure that we have the ability

418
00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:33.000
to do the necessary functions of government,

419
00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:37.000
that we don't step so far out that that forcing taxing function

420
00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:41.000
is becoming a burden to citizens,

421
00:19:41.000 --> 00:19:46.000
and that where private interaction can solve a problem,

422
00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:50.000
that we're not taking the ability away for citizens to just get together

423
00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:54.000
and solve their own problems through private solutions and nonprofits.

424
00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:55.000
Yes.

425
00:19:55.000 --> 00:19:58.000
So I think it can be really hard, as you know,

426
00:19:58.000 --> 00:20:00.000
when you frame things and you see things.

427
00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:05.120
in the media and I've heard why wouldn't you want to you know a decision that you

428
00:20:05.120 --> 00:20:08.680
know I had to make why wouldn't you want to feed the hungry so I do want to feed

429
00:20:08.680 --> 00:20:13.560
the hungry but I also have other priorities and and and so in a certain

430
00:20:13.560 --> 00:20:18.120
situation can do we have churches and nonprofits and other groups that can

431
00:20:18.120 --> 00:20:22.880
certainly step in there so that we can maintain our roads because that's my you

432
00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:26.400
know that's our job as the government is that's not something that the private

433
00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:31.120
sector can step in and do is maintain our road correct correct and also why we

434
00:20:31.120 --> 00:20:36.640
need to have freedom over you know nonprofit freedom to be able to help

435
00:20:36.640 --> 00:20:43.120
regulations that stranglehold nonprofits that worse for the community right and

436
00:20:43.120 --> 00:20:47.600
things that strangle hold us at the state level for wonderful foundations

437
00:20:47.600 --> 00:20:52.800
right not helpful in the least we need to always advocate for philanthropic

438
00:20:52.800 --> 00:20:58.640
freedom we always need to do that but there's there are issues that I think

439
00:20:58.640 --> 00:21:03.600
again some people so for example I want to take the election integrity issue

440
00:21:03.600 --> 00:21:10.000
because at the county level there is an oversight right with the El Paso County

441
00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:14.000
clerk and recorder right I would say there's not even really oversight he's

442
00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:19.680
an independent elected official so we have we have you know we can fund his

443
00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:22.440
office as an entirety but we don't actually get to make a whole lot of

444
00:21:22.440 --> 00:21:28.720
those decisions and yet you had I you know it's the reason I bring it up is I

445
00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:34.720
think there's a right way to approach elected officials and I think there is a

446
00:21:34.720 --> 00:21:40.640
wrong way and since this goes out to a body of people of faith and believers I

447
00:21:40.640 --> 00:21:46.520
think it's important you know when I'm when I'm coming to you or if I'm coming

448
00:21:46.520 --> 00:21:53.920
to councilwoman crow Iverson you know hopefully if I if it has to get to a

449
00:21:53.920 --> 00:22:00.640
public meeting those remarks are pretty curated hopefully I've contacted and we

450
00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:08.480
can discuss an issue prior so that I'm not sitting there telling you that you

451
00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:15.880
were going to the gates of hell which which I know you have experienced and and

452
00:22:15.880 --> 00:22:20.440
I I want to hear because I think people should hear it that I know they mean

453
00:22:20.440 --> 00:22:25.320
well but seriously absolutely and I always try to remember the emotions that

454
00:22:25.320 --> 00:22:28.200
come in with yes who are often so frustrated they don't know what to do

455
00:22:28.200 --> 00:22:34.200
yeah and you know there's I draw a lot of parallels to my life as a mom but you

456
00:22:34.200 --> 00:22:36.920
know it's kind of like you know when you get to the point where you're yelling at

457
00:22:36.920 --> 00:22:41.440
your kids you've you've let there's you're at your wits end because you have

458
00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:47.240
forgotten all of the strategies right how to get them to comply right right at

459
00:22:47.240 --> 00:22:51.120
that point you're you've you're that's where you are and sometimes we get

460
00:22:51.120 --> 00:22:55.840
people who come in and they're so frustrated yes and by the way there is a

461
00:22:55.840 --> 00:23:00.020
place for that absolutely you and I just heard of a situation yesterday taking

462
00:23:00.020 --> 00:23:05.520
place at council where where people are genuinely concerned for their children

463
00:23:05.520 --> 00:23:08.840
and they don't know what to do right and so and that's what I mean and when I say

464
00:23:08.840 --> 00:23:13.360
that is you you're you're you just really are out of tools right you you

465
00:23:13.360 --> 00:23:16.960
have gotten to the point where you really don't know how to make the

466
00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:20.000
difference or make the change and and maybe you're I don't want to say

467
00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:24.480
desperate but you're you're feeling unheard you're feeling all of those

468
00:23:24.480 --> 00:23:28.360
emotions so I try to always remember that in the context of what happens but

469
00:23:28.360 --> 00:23:35.360
we're human and the same things that would be hurtful or frustrating or feel

470
00:23:35.360 --> 00:23:40.680
like that's not fair you know that's not who I am those those things all

471
00:23:40.680 --> 00:23:45.800
happen to elected officials yes that can be hard you know I I made some

472
00:23:45.800 --> 00:23:49.800
statements at a meeting that was actually the redistricting Commission

473
00:23:49.800 --> 00:23:55.000
that were heartfelt to be honest we had a lot of opposition in the room

474
00:23:55.000 --> 00:24:00.040
honestly some some folks who were very angry at the history of El Paso County

475
00:24:00.040 --> 00:24:04.400
and they're on the different side of the aisle than I am so that's was kind of

476
00:24:04.400 --> 00:24:10.040
role but I made some heartfelt comments about that the skepticism can be really

477
00:24:10.040 --> 00:24:13.880
healthy in government right asking questions being concerned but when we

478
00:24:13.880 --> 00:24:19.000
cross over into cynicism where we're just certain that you're bad or you're

479
00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:22.960
making decisions because you know you are hateful or those kind of things that

480
00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:28.160
we hear it really destroys the dialogue and so I would you know kind of use that

481
00:24:28.160 --> 00:24:33.280
as a guide is like come in with cynicism ask questions question all of the things

482
00:24:33.280 --> 00:24:35.960
around government that's really important but when we cross over to so

483
00:24:35.960 --> 00:24:40.480
much cynicism that we already believe someone is bad or that their motives are

484
00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:44.400
unpure or and we get into those accusatory mode we really lose the

485
00:24:44.400 --> 00:24:47.160
ability to really move us forward because you know as much as we always

486
00:24:47.160 --> 00:24:51.040
try to keep an open mind again we're human when when people are attacking and

487
00:24:51.040 --> 00:24:55.800
and it's you want to close off you don't want to you know walk straight forward

488
00:24:55.800 --> 00:24:59.920
into an attack so it it really minimizes our ability to have dialogue at that

489
00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:04.740
So I think it's important anytime you're going to speak to someone is if you really want them to hear you

490
00:25:04.800 --> 00:25:09.320
We all know that no one likes to be attacked. There's there's no one that wants to be so

491
00:25:09.840 --> 00:25:13.080
That's important to remember that you will always be

492
00:25:14.160 --> 00:25:19.160
Taken more seriously if you come in respectfully and then I also think you know

493
00:25:19.160 --> 00:25:24.760
You kind of mentioned there's an opportunity for you to reach out to your elected officials doesn't always have to be in a public meeting

494
00:25:25.520 --> 00:25:29.600
You know sit down with them one-on-one and have a conversation that can be more in-depth

495
00:25:29.600 --> 00:25:34.720
Most of our public comment periods are only three minutes and that's so everybody can get a chance

496
00:25:34.720 --> 00:25:36.920
But right, you know if you have a real concern

497
00:25:37.520 --> 00:25:42.520
or a question about something with your elected official set up a meeting make a phone call and

498
00:25:44.040 --> 00:25:47.280
Be willing to actually hear I think that's something we all can work on

499
00:25:47.320 --> 00:25:51.720
It's it is it should be and not always easy, right?

500
00:25:52.320 --> 00:25:59.000
Absolutely in the day of the phone, right if you and I said, well, let's get a group together

501
00:25:59.040 --> 00:26:01.760
Let's privately brainstorm. Let's hear this concern

502
00:26:02.440 --> 00:26:06.200
You always in this day and age. It's always about someone

503
00:26:06.760 --> 00:26:12.980
Filming with the phone with this and I I just don't think that always encourages a dialogue

504
00:26:13.040 --> 00:26:16.280
Where we you and I can look at our interests

505
00:26:17.920 --> 00:26:21.440
Competing interests different interests and get to

506
00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:24.720
Some sort of agreement or yes, right?

507
00:26:25.560 --> 00:26:27.560
That is to me

508
00:26:28.400 --> 00:26:30.480
It's not as helpful. But yet

509
00:26:31.080 --> 00:26:38.200
When we see someone at a picnic or through our party, you know through our party apparatus or we can have it have it talk

510
00:26:39.320 --> 00:26:45.080
You know, we get to learn about each other more, right? I think so. It's it's crazy

511
00:26:45.080 --> 00:26:50.000
but it goes to your point about you know used to be that you kind of campaigned and then you had your job and that

512
00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:55.600
Now you're campaigning all the time and I think that that is really a part of it because it does feel like that

513
00:26:55.600 --> 00:26:59.520
All of the time. Yes that there's always you know

514
00:26:59.520 --> 00:27:03.680
Somebody looking for a gotcha or a less genuine interaction

515
00:27:04.120 --> 00:27:08.040
Absolutely with social media and video and all all of those things

516
00:27:08.840 --> 00:27:12.920
Feels like everyone's a little bit on high alert. Yes, and

517
00:27:13.720 --> 00:27:17.200
Nobody nobody wants to be under a microscope all day long

518
00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:25.440
Yeah, it's a truth no, it's a truth this gotcha mentality this, you know, I

519
00:27:26.600 --> 00:27:33.200
Suspect you before you've even done one thing in office, right? I heard I heard the other day someone had been saying

520
00:27:34.080 --> 00:27:39.960
To the City Council body. Well, I'm watching you and I thought there's two ways to say that by the way. Mm-hmm

521
00:27:40.080 --> 00:27:45.080
Hey, I'm watching you right and let's we could dialogue or there is

522
00:27:45.880 --> 00:27:49.400
Everyone he use a crook and I'm watching you. Mm-hmm

523
00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:53.920
two different entirely modes of spirit behind that right and

524
00:27:54.760 --> 00:27:57.080
very often we don't

525
00:27:57.760 --> 00:27:59.760
You know, I I know from experience

526
00:28:00.320 --> 00:28:04.560
You've come to my defense with people who've looked from the outside said well

527
00:28:05.120 --> 00:28:09.400
Right, you've got no it's not that way at all. Mm-hmm. Same with me with you

528
00:28:09.400 --> 00:28:15.280
I've got not that way at all. I mean if you knew, you know, if you even remotely knew this person, right?

529
00:28:15.360 --> 00:28:20.440
But we face this all the time we face it in a public-facing job

530
00:28:20.560 --> 00:28:24.040
Which I think is tough as a woman of faith then

531
00:28:24.960 --> 00:28:30.600
What are what do you find to be the biggest challenges then in this position staying?

532
00:28:31.240 --> 00:28:33.240
focused on

533
00:28:33.240 --> 00:28:37.560
what I can control or and and

534
00:28:38.720 --> 00:28:40.720
what my role is and

535
00:28:41.200 --> 00:28:44.440
You know, there's a challenge of just saying I can't fix it all, you know

536
00:28:44.440 --> 00:28:49.320
And I can't reach every person who I often think if I could just sit down with you

537
00:28:49.320 --> 00:28:54.040
I think you'd understand a little more. Yeah, no, I know but understanding that

538
00:28:54.760 --> 00:28:57.760
That's just that it's just not possible, right? And so

539
00:28:58.680 --> 00:29:00.680
You know controlling what I can control

540
00:29:01.280 --> 00:29:07.000
And working on what I can work on and knowing that God didn't give me the entire world to fix

541
00:29:07.560 --> 00:29:09.200
You know, he gave me one job

542
00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:13.600
So I'm gonna focus on my job and what I can do and I can't control all the other things. And by the way

543
00:29:14.640 --> 00:29:16.640
There's a much bigger plan and a better plan

544
00:29:16.640 --> 00:29:22.360
Yeah, even if I could control it all yeah, and so just remembering that because you do get into you know

545
00:29:22.360 --> 00:29:29.280
You feel so responsible. Oh and women I think in general tend to feel responsible for everything. I remember coming home one night

546
00:29:29.840 --> 00:29:33.040
Nick we had to be three maybe gone to four and

547
00:29:33.160 --> 00:29:34.360
And

548
00:29:34.360 --> 00:29:39.680
And I was working in a public policy job where you see the worst of the worst of everything, right?

549
00:29:39.880 --> 00:29:45.200
It wasn't even the legislature. It was you know, it was probably more global in nature

550
00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:51.840
And I remember Ron I was just in a mood just all the darkness probably of the world, right?

551
00:29:51.840 --> 00:29:55.680
You come home. It's on your shoulders and I remember

552
00:29:56.520 --> 00:30:00.120
Ron going there's mama holding up the world

553
00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:04.160
And I said, that's not funny, that is not funny.

554
00:30:04.160 --> 00:30:06.760
And I remember Nick laughing his head off

555
00:30:06.760 --> 00:30:09.800
because Ron was picturing holding the world

556
00:30:09.800 --> 00:30:11.320
and then fell down on the ground.

557
00:30:11.320 --> 00:30:13.920
There's Mama holding, and I was like, okay, okay,

558
00:30:13.920 --> 00:30:16.920
I get it, I get it, stop it.

559
00:30:16.920 --> 00:30:20.920
But there is this ability,

560
00:30:20.920 --> 00:30:25.320
there is this kind of pressure to do that,

561
00:30:25.320 --> 00:30:30.180
to feel that, to take what is said personally,

562
00:30:30.180 --> 00:30:35.080
to, we're all human, we deal with so many issues

563
00:30:35.080 --> 00:30:38.080
if you're in public office, right?

564
00:30:38.080 --> 00:30:43.080
It's how can believers support you in this office?

565
00:30:43.200 --> 00:30:44.640
What would you like to see?

566
00:30:44.640 --> 00:30:46.720
In other words, this church, this body,

567
00:30:46.720 --> 00:30:49.240
body of believers that come upon this,

568
00:30:49.240 --> 00:30:53.280
what would help you in this?

569
00:30:53.280 --> 00:30:54.880
Well, that's a great question.

570
00:30:54.880 --> 00:30:58.520
I think we all need a lot more prayer.

571
00:30:58.520 --> 00:31:01.000
And one of the thing is we open all

572
00:31:01.000 --> 00:31:04.480
of our Board of County Commissioners meetings with prayer.

573
00:31:04.480 --> 00:31:07.440
So I would invite them to come down and pray.

574
00:31:07.440 --> 00:31:08.560
You don't have to be a pastor,

575
00:31:08.560 --> 00:31:10.860
you don't have to have any special title.

576
00:31:10.860 --> 00:31:13.760
Any citizen can sign up and pray at our meetings.

577
00:31:13.760 --> 00:31:16.200
And I think that that is really important.

578
00:31:16.200 --> 00:31:17.800
Pray for us privately.

579
00:31:17.800 --> 00:31:22.280
I really do think that we need to be supportive

580
00:31:22.280 --> 00:31:27.080
of those who are in office trying to make positive changes.

581
00:31:27.080 --> 00:31:28.480
And I know this is just hard, right?

582
00:31:28.480 --> 00:31:33.040
Because it's not always easy,

583
00:31:33.040 --> 00:31:34.300
especially when we feel like government's

584
00:31:34.300 --> 00:31:36.780
not going their way, but we do need wisdom.

585
00:31:36.780 --> 00:31:39.200
We do need all of those things.

586
00:31:39.200 --> 00:31:40.680
And I think that all of our,

587
00:31:40.680 --> 00:31:42.440
especially our local commissioners here,

588
00:31:42.440 --> 00:31:43.640
we all want that.

589
00:31:43.640 --> 00:31:44.960
Decisions are hard sometimes.

590
00:31:44.960 --> 00:31:47.280
Sometimes we really struggle over them.

591
00:31:47.280 --> 00:31:49.580
It seems like things would be cut and dry,

592
00:31:49.580 --> 00:31:51.280
but they're just really not always.

593
00:31:51.280 --> 00:31:54.600
And so I think prayer for all of us would be great.

594
00:31:54.600 --> 00:31:58.640
I think, again, coming to problems with government

595
00:31:58.640 --> 00:32:00.740
from a cynicism, right?

596
00:32:00.740 --> 00:32:03.680
Which is, boy, I don't know about that decision.

597
00:32:03.680 --> 00:32:08.360
But not a cynical, you must be a dirty politician.

598
00:32:08.360 --> 00:32:11.080
And I think if we all come.

599
00:32:11.080 --> 00:32:12.640
You're the establishment.

600
00:32:12.640 --> 00:32:13.480
Oh, yeah.

601
00:32:13.480 --> 00:32:15.720
You're the establishment.

602
00:32:15.720 --> 00:32:16.720
I don't even know what that is.

603
00:32:16.720 --> 00:32:17.560
I don't either.

604
00:32:17.560 --> 00:32:19.280
I don't know what it means anymore.

605
00:32:20.040 --> 00:32:23.680
But I do think that doing what we can

606
00:32:23.680 --> 00:32:26.360
to support our leaders and having conversations

607
00:32:26.360 --> 00:32:28.880
and understanding the complexity.

608
00:32:28.880 --> 00:32:31.800
Get to know what your government does,

609
00:32:31.800 --> 00:32:36.080
because oftentimes a lot of the frustrations that we hear,

610
00:32:36.080 --> 00:32:37.640
it's like, oh, that's not even something

611
00:32:37.640 --> 00:32:39.680
that is under our authority or control.

612
00:32:39.680 --> 00:32:40.520
Right.

613
00:32:40.520 --> 00:32:41.880
People showing up screaming and you're like,

614
00:32:41.880 --> 00:32:43.680
no, no, no, no, no, take that down the street.

615
00:32:43.680 --> 00:32:44.640
That's right.

616
00:32:44.640 --> 00:32:45.960
That's the city council.

617
00:32:45.960 --> 00:32:47.680
Be mad at them today.

618
00:32:47.960 --> 00:32:50.800
That's one thing that we hear a lot.

619
00:32:50.800 --> 00:32:52.720
So just be willing to ask questions.

620
00:32:52.720 --> 00:32:55.000
Well, don't shoot first and ask questions later,

621
00:32:55.000 --> 00:32:57.400
as the saying goes.

622
00:32:57.400 --> 00:32:59.320
Because we are all in this together

623
00:32:59.320 --> 00:33:01.800
and we do have a lot of people who run for office

624
00:33:01.800 --> 00:33:02.920
because they wanna see good.

625
00:33:02.920 --> 00:33:05.040
They wanna make change.

626
00:33:05.040 --> 00:33:09.880
It's just not always as easy as we'd like it to be.

627
00:33:09.880 --> 00:33:12.760
After two and a half years, some days I go,

628
00:33:12.760 --> 00:33:14.800
gosh, I've really accomplished a lot.

629
00:33:14.800 --> 00:33:18.040
Probably which most people in general don't see.

630
00:33:18.040 --> 00:33:20.440
And at the same point, I think, but there's so far to go

631
00:33:20.440 --> 00:33:22.120
or there's so much more I wanna accomplish

632
00:33:22.120 --> 00:33:23.240
and there's always new things.

633
00:33:23.240 --> 00:33:27.000
So, just being in prayer, being willing to get out there,

634
00:33:27.000 --> 00:33:28.240
learn about your government,

635
00:33:28.240 --> 00:33:32.440
think about the concerns that you have and ask about them.

636
00:33:32.440 --> 00:33:37.440
And keep an open mind about those that are in government

637
00:33:37.680 --> 00:33:39.800
and know that it is difficult.

638
00:33:40.720 --> 00:33:42.920
Those would be my ways that I think that we can really,

639
00:33:42.920 --> 00:33:46.520
and then just truly get involved in the process.

640
00:33:46.520 --> 00:33:47.360
We know that our kids

641
00:33:47.360 --> 00:33:48.800
are not really learning civics in school

642
00:33:48.800 --> 00:33:50.640
and I'm glad that you brought up that civics B

643
00:33:50.640 --> 00:33:51.480
and how important that is.

644
00:33:51.480 --> 00:33:53.080
No, it's true, yeah.

645
00:33:53.080 --> 00:33:56.840
But to your point, even, there's a lot that as adults

646
00:33:56.840 --> 00:33:59.000
we could learn about civics that we didn't learn in school.

647
00:33:59.000 --> 00:33:59.840
Shocking.

648
00:33:59.840 --> 00:34:00.720
No, shocking that test.

649
00:34:00.720 --> 00:34:03.200
I was like, okay, I'm gonna put that away right now.

650
00:34:03.200 --> 00:34:04.040
Yeah, I'm-

651
00:34:04.040 --> 00:34:04.960
Seriously.

652
00:34:04.960 --> 00:34:06.120
Constantly learning.

653
00:34:06.120 --> 00:34:07.360
I feel like I spend a lot of time

654
00:34:07.360 --> 00:34:09.400
talking to my attorney at the county,

655
00:34:09.400 --> 00:34:11.880
just trying to understand the complexity of laws

656
00:34:11.880 --> 00:34:13.520
and the ways that we can interact.

657
00:34:13.520 --> 00:34:18.000
So continue learning, have a spirit of learning in that

658
00:34:18.000 --> 00:34:23.000
because we all need, I believe very strongly

659
00:34:23.000 --> 00:34:26.639
that this nation is amazing, was divinely inspired.

660
00:34:26.639 --> 00:34:27.480
Yes.

661
00:34:27.480 --> 00:34:30.040
And our founders really understood that

662
00:34:30.040 --> 00:34:31.719
in order for people to govern themselves,

663
00:34:31.719 --> 00:34:34.320
though, they have to understand governance

664
00:34:34.320 --> 00:34:35.960
and they have to understand their government

665
00:34:35.960 --> 00:34:37.880
and be involved and participate.

666
00:34:37.880 --> 00:34:40.840
So that's really important is keep learning,

667
00:34:40.840 --> 00:34:43.080
keep learning about governance, keep being involved,

668
00:34:43.080 --> 00:34:44.760
understand that, yes, you need to vote,

669
00:34:44.760 --> 00:34:46.520
but there's a lot more that you can do

670
00:34:46.520 --> 00:34:48.280
to be involved as well.

671
00:34:48.280 --> 00:34:50.880
You know, most of the time when we have our meetings,

672
00:34:50.880 --> 00:34:52.480
the auditorium is empty.

673
00:34:53.520 --> 00:34:55.239
We don't have a lot of people.

674
00:34:55.239 --> 00:34:57.560
And so what I often find is, you know,

675
00:34:57.560 --> 00:35:00.080
people will read something from the news or read some-

676
00:35:00.000 --> 00:35:04.320
snippet, or hear something, but they really don't have the full context or

677
00:35:04.320 --> 00:35:08.680
understand the situation. And so, you know, be involved. Keep trying to learn

678
00:35:08.680 --> 00:35:12.360
more. I know people are busy in their daily lives, but keep trying to learn more.

679
00:35:12.360 --> 00:35:16.800
It's really the big important little things, because as you and I know, you can get so

680
00:35:16.800 --> 00:35:21.960
consumed, right? Some of it is so overwhelming. I think here at Empower U,

681
00:35:21.960 --> 00:35:28.880
through policy engagement at the church, it really is about smaller, smaller, more

682
00:35:28.880 --> 00:35:34.280
doable things, right? I think that's what keeps us sane. I think that's what helps

683
00:35:34.280 --> 00:35:40.400
our boundaries. I think that's what keeps us happy warriors, so to speak. I think

684
00:35:40.400 --> 00:35:46.720
that, to me, is important. You and I talk a lot about building a bench of engaged

685
00:35:46.720 --> 00:35:55.000
people who can do good within society and help society. And I think some people

686
00:35:55.000 --> 00:35:59.840
just don't know, sometimes, where to find that engagement or how to get engaged.

687
00:35:59.840 --> 00:36:05.360
And that's why I so appreciate the team we have here, but also what you're doing

688
00:36:05.360 --> 00:36:10.920
in conjunction with that. Because you encourage a lot of people to go run or

689
00:36:10.920 --> 00:36:15.720
go do this, and it's good. We have to have, again, wish I had ten more of you,

690
00:36:15.720 --> 00:36:22.080
ten more of Tim, right? It's the truth. It's the truth, because young, you know, our

691
00:36:22.080 --> 00:36:26.800
generations, the generation below you, they're looking at you. Generations

692
00:36:26.800 --> 00:36:30.760
below me, they're looking, right? We have to figure this out.

693
00:36:30.760 --> 00:36:34.440
Yeah, and I think there are a lot of people kind of lost in our society, you

694
00:36:34.440 --> 00:36:38.560
know, a little bit, you know, where are we at? What are we doing? I think that

695
00:36:38.560 --> 00:36:41.480
there used to be a really strong emphasis around the American dream.

696
00:36:41.480 --> 00:36:45.320
And I think, you know, that it's still there. It's still achievable, but we just

697
00:36:45.320 --> 00:36:48.600
don't talk about it to the same extent. So I think you're right. I think, you know,

698
00:36:48.600 --> 00:36:52.760
being engaged and, you know, oftentimes I hear people talking about being an

699
00:36:52.760 --> 00:36:55.840
elected official or being involved in government, like it's this thing that's,

700
00:36:55.840 --> 00:37:00.040
you know, lofty and they don't know how to get there, or they think that, you know,

701
00:37:00.040 --> 00:37:03.960
it's only reserved for certain people, and it's not. We need more people

702
00:37:03.960 --> 00:37:07.760
involved, right? We have local boards that they can serve on. There are volunteer

703
00:37:07.760 --> 00:37:11.560
opportunities on, you know, the county website. There are lots of ways to get plugged in.

704
00:37:11.560 --> 00:37:16.760
Local board is a big thing. Oh, absolutely. You learn so much. You learn so much

705
00:37:16.760 --> 00:37:19.920
through that, right? Absolutely. Yeah. You know, something like the Planning

706
00:37:19.920 --> 00:37:24.320
Commission, which is, you know, all citizens, and they get to, you know, learn

707
00:37:24.320 --> 00:37:28.200
all the rules that we have to know before, you know, we make land use

708
00:37:28.200 --> 00:37:32.120
decisions. So they get to see a peek into that and understand the complexity of

709
00:37:32.120 --> 00:37:39.320
that. And then also, you know, really make meaningful decisions for the

710
00:37:39.320 --> 00:37:43.720
community and make, it's really helpful for the commissioners to hear, you know,

711
00:37:43.720 --> 00:37:46.240
because that's what we take into account, and when we make decisions is,

712
00:37:46.240 --> 00:37:49.920
what did the Planning Commission say on this application? You know, so there's

713
00:37:49.920 --> 00:37:55.680
lots of ways to get involved. That's just what Lynette said, by the way, Councilwoman said. She says the same thing.

714
00:37:55.680 --> 00:38:00.520
When it gets to me, then I listen to the people that had dealt with the issue,

715
00:38:00.520 --> 00:38:07.160
right? And we work it from there. But I think it's important for us to pray for

716
00:38:07.160 --> 00:38:10.560
our commissioners, particularly you're going through a redistricting process

717
00:38:10.600 --> 00:38:16.840
now. I so want to thank you for taking the time to even be here. I want people

718
00:38:16.840 --> 00:38:24.320
to understand what the jobs entail, right? And that it's not easy, and we're so

719
00:38:24.320 --> 00:38:27.640
grateful for you. I'm grateful. I wake up going, okay, thank God,

720
00:38:27.640 --> 00:38:33.640
Kerry Geithner, that's all I'm gonna say. And Tim Geithner, and your boys, because you're

721
00:38:33.640 --> 00:38:38.880
raising wonderful boys. And I really am proud of you, and we will be praying for

722
00:38:38.880 --> 00:38:44.040
you. And thank you. I'm glad you're here. Thank you. That means a lot to me, and I'm

723
00:38:44.040 --> 00:38:48.560
really glad to get to be here. And I hope, I want everyone to feel like they can

724
00:38:48.560 --> 00:38:52.240
access their government. That's really important. So yes, I really appreciate

725
00:38:52.240 --> 00:38:55.520
you doing this, and helping people see that, and understand how to connect. So

726
00:38:55.520 --> 00:38:58.160
thank you for having me.

727
00:39:08.880 --> 00:39:11.880
you