A slap in the face

Voting unanimously to hand a fired utility executive a golden parachute is like your pipes bursting, flooding your basement, and you thanking the plumber by filling his pockets with gold bars on his way out.

The Colorado Springs Utilities Board’s 9-0 vote to grant CEO Travas Deal a salary tracking toward $700,003—plus six months of guaranteed severance if he is fired — is a slap in the face to everyday ratepayers. We are currently being squeezed by a multi-year utility rate hike. Meanwhile, our City Council just approved $31 million in budget cuts that resulted in municipal layoffs, staff furloughs, and the closure of the Meadows Park Community Center.

Telling citizens that frontline community services must be gutted while a single executive gets a massive raise and a financial cushion for failure is unacceptable. The board claims this “ensures stability,” but severance packages do not retain talent; they pay people to leave.

Mr. Deal’s compensation now eclipses the combined maximum pay scales of our city’s Fire Chief, Police Chief, and Mayor, with thousands left over. If this Board continues to prioritize corporate executive luxuries over ratepayer realities, they are ignoring their duty as public servants.

If City Council will not immediately introduce a motion to reverse this vote, the community must respond. We are prepared to organize and initiate formal recall petitions under the City Charter to replace them with representatives who actually understand who pays the bills in this city.

Mark Heim

Colorado Springs

A familiar scheme

A pay raise for the head of Colorado Springs’ Utilities is a familiar scheme. These claims that “Oh, other cities of comparable size offer more to their head of utilities than Colorado Springs.”

Don’t you remember the old saying about low pay in Colorado Springs? The employer would say, “Oh, but look where you get to live. That makes up for it.”
This ‘scheme’ is a convenient way for similar municipalities to operate and is unjustified without substantial documentation from objective outside entities.

Marshall Griffith

Colorado Springs

The future of our beloved Colorado

Last week, the Colorado Gazette endorsed Republican candidate Barbara Kirkmeyer for Governor. I read the article on Barbara, and she has a solid resume of experience and history.  However, election after election, we’ve seen Colorado vote into office Democrats who have made miserable decisions, causing us to resemble liberal California.  For a Republican in Colorado to win, we need someone who stands out: compassionate toward those in our state and with a rock-solid vision for our future. 

Victor Marx has an exemplary resume of serving in the Marines for three years but also leadership helping struggling teenagers in juvenile prisons along with fighting for others who have been sex – trafficked. There is even more to his resume.  For me, all of this paints a picture of a man who walks the walk of a Believer of Jesus Christ.  I want my son-in-law, daughter, and grandchildren to remain in Colorado, where sound values, compassion, and wisdom guide our state’s policymaking. 

Mark Tuesday, June 2 on your calendar for the Televised Republican Debate for Governor by 9News.  You make the decision of who can beat Senator Mike Bennett or Attorney General Phil Weiser. 

Douglas C. Petersen 

Colorado Springs

Tired of insider trading

In 2009, then-Governor Bill Ritter appointed Michael Bennet to fill the Senate seat vacated by Ken Salazar’s resignation to serve in the Obama administration. The will of the majority of Democratic voters was overruled, and someone unknown to most was chosen.

Fast forward to 2026, and Senator Bennet, who has 2 years remaining in his current term, has decided he now wishes to be Governor, which, if elected to that office, will entitle him to pick his own successor! Voters are tired of being shut out of choosing our candidates, since 90% of incumbents are re-elected!

Jerry Newsom

Colorado Springs

Is life more prosperous?

In light of the daily disruptions from the White House, I have a simple question:

How has the Trump Presidency made your life more prosperous?  Please don’t answer that with….well, the Biden administration did….or Obama did.  Just answer how Trump has made your life “great again” right now?

Unless you are one of those people who desegregated the Capitol on January 6, and you are looking forward to cashing in on the $1.8 billion fund Trump just approved, I fail to see how our country has prospered over the last year.  Unfortunately, it’s quite the opposite.

Elaine Brush 

Colorado Springs