In the wake of the Denver newspaper’s muckraking exploration of the budgets of Colorado’s ten appointed public trustees, Jeffco’s own Margaret Chapman has resigned her post. For Chapman, the resignation is little more than a symbolic gesture, as no misdeeds have been alleged in her office.
From the Columbine Courier:
Jefferson County public trustee Margaret Chapman has resigned her job at the behest of Gov. John Hickenlooper, who requested the resignations of all 10 appointed trustees July 9.
Chapman said Thursday she would reapply for her job.
The governor took action after a July 8 Denver Post story alleged that some trustees were misusing public funds; the article did not single out Chapman for criticism. Chapman, 63, a Democrat, was appointed to the job by governor Bill Ritter in 2007 and reappointed in 2011 by Hickenlooper.
The public trustee is appointed to oversee the foreclosure process on behalf of both lenders and homeowners.
The governor’s office issued a news release late Tuesday saying all 10 appointed trustees had resigned in the following counties: Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Douglas, El Paso, Jefferson, Larimer, Mesa, Pueblo and Weld.
In a county famed for its corrupt government, Chapman has always been a beacon of transparency since her appointment by Governor Ritter in 2007. So while many of her colleagues took full advantage of their lack of independent oversight, Chapman has kept her books in order and done everything above the table. That’s all the more remarkable considering how much a trustee could’ve gotten away with in Jeffco.
There’s no question that Hickenlooper will reappoint Chapman: she’s simply the best fit for the post and she’s done nothing wrong.
What’s less certain is how long she can keep her job after reappointment. The legislature will likely attempt to remedy what is an admittedly-flawed system when it meets in January, perhaps incorporating the ten appointed trustees into existing elected positions in county government.
Nothing could be worse for Jeffco. Paradoxically, moving the office under the aegis of county government would corrupt — not cleanse — the trustee. Jefferson County, after all, isn’t renowned for its transparent government practices.
Jefferson County’s Public Trustee should not only keep her job, she should also be free of county-level interference. As trustee, Margaret Chapman will never do anything ethically questionable. Shifting the job closer to county government, however, will make her eventual successor all that much more, not less, likely to take advantage of the perks of the office.
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When I was buying a foreclosed home, she had time to explain foreclosure auction terminology to me even while actually organizing and announcing them in the midst of the biggest housing downturn in recent memory.
I will personally commit to writing, calling, and visiting whomever I need to visit to ensure that Margaret Chapman remains public trustee. She took the post after the previous officeholder had embarrassed the county, and has since made an office few people had ever heard of into a source of pride for Jeffco residents. Margaret is frequently quoted in the Golden Transcript shedding light on her role in the county and giving out valuable information for all taxpayers, homeowners, and home buyers in Jeffco. I chose to buy a home in Jefferson County in part (in small part, but it did play a role) because I knew Margaret was in charge and that meant everything relating to foreclosures was in order in Jeffco.
At this point, I imagine Governor Hickenlooper will want to select trustees of his own choosing, not continue on with any that his predecessor selected. Chapman is a political casualty.
I do take exception to the unsubstantiated claim “In a county famed for its corrupt government…” This isn’t Adams County.
Besides, I’m sure part of JeffcoWgirl’s decision to buy a home in Jeffco was because all the elected county officials are Republicans! 😉