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Author: Heidi Ganahl

Ganahl: Local voices, local values, local control–Home Rule for Douglas County
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Ganahl: Local voices, local values, local control–Home Rule for Douglas County

By Heidi Ganahl | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice By now, you’ve probably received your ballot—and with it, an opportunity that could redefine how we govern ourselves. This vote will decide who sits on the commission responsible for drafting our Home Rule Charter. That document will set the tone for the future of Douglas County, and I believe it’s time we step up and take control of that future ourselves. If we choose Home Rule, we gain the power to tailor our government to meet our needs—not someone else’s idea of what those needs should be.  Let’s call it like it is—too often, the laws coming out of Denver are written without Douglas County in mind. We’re not just growing—we’re growing with purpose. And let’s be real, Douglas County has its own way of doing things. Home Ru...
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“Not one mention of sexual abuse”: Parents slam Jeffco union as Title IX storm builds
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“Not one mention of sexual abuse”: Parents slam Jeffco union as Title IX storm builds

By Heidi Ganahl, Rocky Mountain Voice Jeffco Public Schools is at the center of a storm as teachers and parents clash with Superintendent Tracy Dorland over leadership, transparency, and the district’s handling of cultural and safety concerns.  Tensions hit a breaking point on May 29, when the Jefferson County Education Association (JCEA)—representing roughly a quarter of Jeffco’s 5,000 teachers—declared a vote of no confidence in Superintendent Tracy Dorland. The move came just days before news broke of a federal Title IX investigation into the district. Union leaders accused her of top-down leadership, fostering instability, and eroding trust. They highlighted high turnover in central office staff, the rejection of a board-approved policy on ICE protocols, and the rollback ...
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Ganahl: Congress must back DOGE to cut waste and energize GOP voters for 2026
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Ganahl: Congress must back DOGE to cut waste and energize GOP voters for 2026

By Heidi Ganahl | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Under President Donald Trump, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—led by Elon Musk—is lighting a fire under Republican voters ready to rip out Washington’s waste at the roots. Launched in February 2025 via Executive Order 14158, DOGE has identified $175 billion in savings through asset sales, contract cancellations, and fraud crackdowns, including more than 12 million supposed Social Security recipients listed as over 120 years old—zombie accounts draining taxpayer dollars.  DOGE’s mission to eliminate waste has the people behind it—73% of Americans, including 89% of Republicans, support the effort. That kind of backing makes it a political powerhouse. Yet, as of now, Congress has not voted on codifying DOGE’s p...
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Ganahl: From Superior Elementary to sex camps — Colorado parental rights under attack
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Ganahl: From Superior Elementary to sex camps — Colorado parental rights under attack

By Heidi Ganahl | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice In 2018, as a mom of four with three of my children in first and third grade at Superior Elementary, I was shocked to learn that our young students were being exposed to confusing gender identity discussions without parental knowledge.  This was done through a program called Queer Endeavor at CU Boulder, which trained thousands of teachers in the metro area to integrate “queering the curriculum” around “problematic parents.” As a statewide elected University of Colorado Regent at the time, I felt a responsibility to speak out, warning that this was the start of a dangerous trend.  I was called a fearmonger and mocked.  But today, that warning has become a chilling reality. Colorado schools and universiti...
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[UPDATED] Ganahl: Colorado GOP’s New Leadership Faces Rogue Holdouts as Williams’ Allies Cling to Power
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[UPDATED] Ganahl: Colorado GOP’s New Leadership Faces Rogue Holdouts as Williams’ Allies Cling to Power

By Heidi Ganahl | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice The Colorado Republican Party’s newly elected leadership, led by Chair Brita Horn, is battling a desperate power grab by ex-Chairman David Williams and his allies. They refuse to let go despite the Colorado Republican State Central Committee’s (SCC) move to dismiss a contentious lawsuit.  Horn, alongside allies Nancy Pallozzi and Todd Watkins, champions a fresh start, but Williams’ appointees—particularly the shadowy Colorado Republican State Party Controversy Investigative Committee (CRSPCIC) led by Matt Arnold—are digging in, in a legal standoff that seems more about ego than justice. The roots lie in 2024’s chaotic primaries, where Williams’ endorsed candidates didn’t fare well (14 of 18 lost). This sparked former Jefferso...
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Ganahl: Our loyalty is to the truth, not political convenience
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Ganahl: Our loyalty is to the truth, not political convenience

By Heidi Ganahl | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice As the saying goes, no good deed goes unpunished.  Especially from your own party if you’re a republican in Colorado. Yesterday, March 27, the Rocky Mountain Voice team received a tip that there were over $100,000 in campaign finance violations in two committees run by Darcy Schoening, a candidate for Chair of the GOP, and that another news organization was about to break the story.  With the lack of balance in our Colorado media, we were concerned this would be a one sided “hit piece” so we decided to write our own piece to approach it in a fair way.  I had endorsed my friend Brita Horn for GOP Chair early in the race (personally, not as the President of RMV) before Darcy had jumped in as a candidate.  W...
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Ganahl: Smears and fearmongering—The fight for John Adams Academy and school choice in Douglas County
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Ganahl: Smears and fearmongering—The fight for John Adams Academy and school choice in Douglas County

By Heidi Ganahl | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice In Douglas County, Colorado, a battle over education choice is brewing as efforts to open a new classical charter school, the John Adams Academy, face fierce opposition. Spearheading the initiative is Ellie Reynolds, a Sterling Ranch resident and mom, and Kim Gilmartin, a seasoned advocate for school choice, who has helped launch multiple classical charter schools across the state.   However, the journey to establish this school in Sterling Ranch, a rapidly growing community with no existing school, has been met with aggressive and, at times, deeply personal hostility. The John Adams Academy, modeled after three successful classical charter schools in California, aims to provide an American classical leadership education...
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Ganahl: Understanding the opt-out confusion in the Republican Party
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Ganahl: Understanding the opt-out confusion in the Republican Party

By Heidi Ganahl | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice There is an election in under 30 days, on Saturday, March 29, to decide the leadership of the Republican Party in Colorado for the next two years, including the critical 2026 midterms. Voters include about 500 Republican Party activists that hold the position of county chair, vice chair, secretary or bonus member, along with various elected officials across the state.  There are four confirmed candidates — Brita Horn, Kevin McCarney, Lori Saine and Darcy Schoening — and two that are rumored to run, Danielle Neuschwanger and Dave Williams (Williams has announced a decision not to run).  There is always a chance that someone else could be nominated from the floor as well, or announce prior to the printing of ballots. Th...
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Ganahl: Parents speak up about rash of alleged sex crimes by staff in Jefferson County schools
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Ganahl: Parents speak up about rash of alleged sex crimes by staff in Jefferson County schools

By Heidi Ganahl | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice A letter sent by parent-led organization Jeffco Kids First (JKF) to the superintendent of Jefferson County schools and its board of education on Feb. 7, urges them to acknowledge shocking and dangerous issues in the district. Lindsday Datko, leader of JKF, asks that the district publicly implement immediate triage operations to address risks, and ensure accountability and adherence to sound processes, policies and laws. It ends with a call for a public update on these matters.  There is a board meeting Thursday, Feb. 13, at 5 p.m. at the Ed Center in Golden. Here is the link to participate virtually or live: https://www.jeffcopublicschools.org/about/board-of-education/board-meetings.  Some examples referenced in the c...
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Ganahl: What is the significance of Republican organizational meetings?
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Ganahl: What is the significance of Republican organizational meetings?

By Heidi Ganahl | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice It is essential for every Republican to recognize the importance of the upcoming organizational meetings. These gatherings, held in odd-numbered years, play a pivotal role in shaping the party's direction at both county and state levels. The election of new leadership during these meetings will significantly influence the party's effectiveness, adherence to conservative principles and overall success in future elections. Key dates and objectives County-level organizational meetings are scheduled between Feb. 1-15, followed by the state party meeting, which occurs between Feb. 15 to April 1 and has been set for March 29. The primary objective of these meetings is to elect new party leaders — including the chair, vice-chair an...
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