RMV Staff | RMV NE CO Newsroom, Rocky Mountain Voice
The Cherry Creek Republican Women (CCRW) held their general meeting and luncheon on April 8 in Centennial. Attendees heard from Elizabeth School District Superintendent Dan Snowberger and Centennial Mayor Stephanie Piko, who each addressed pressing issues facing schools and cities across Colorado.
Superintendent Snowberger on book policy dispute
Snowberger noted that the board’ s decision to remove the books stemmed from concerns regarding explicit content and age appropriateness, all in alignment with community values. He reassured attendees that the district is committed to upholding its policies and addressing parental concerns, and the appeal to a federal judge’ s order to return the books to the library shelves.
On April 4, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals paused that order, giving the district until April 14 to respond.
Since taking the helm in Elizabeth in March 2023, Snowberger has restructured district leadership and emphasized grade-level accountability.
Mayor Piko shares city priorities and soccer announcement
Mayor Piko delivered a presentation titled “Colorado Cities: The Best of Times/The Worst of Times,” where she highlighted Centennial’s leadership in infrastructure, community development and exciting technological advancements underway. She emphasized the city’s dedication to smart city initiatives that enhance infrastructure and serve as a shining example for other Colorado cities.
Additionally, she shared an update about a professional women’s soccer team making its debut in the Denver area, along with plans for a new 12,000 seat stadium in Centennial, set to be the team’s home for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
This initiative has already generated over 10,000 season ticket deposits, showcasing incredible community support for women’ s professional sports.
She also raised concerns about HB25-1169. Piko pushed back on the bill’s approach, saying that the state-level mandate will only make issues with affordable housing more difficult for local governments and communities. She pointed out that many projects are already approved and ready to go, but legal risks, high insurance costs and red tape are keeping developers from moving forward.
In office since 2018, Piko has made public safety a priority. Centennial has been recognized as one of the safest cities in the state under her leadership.
Civic engagement at the forefront
This meeting offered CCRW members and guests the opportunity to gain valuable insights into the lively developments taking place in their community. The presentations from both Mayor Piko and Superintendent Snowberger emphasized the vital role of proactive leadership and active community involvement in driving growth, addressing challenges and navigating legal considerations in Colorado cities and school districts.
For anyone curious about the CCRW’ s events and initiatives, information is available at cherrycreekrepublicanwomen.org.