Another Way to Contact Me

I have a dedicated e-mail address that you are free to use to contact me.

hortonfortowncouncil@gmail.com

I look forward to hearing from you. My goal is to return e-mails within 24 hours.

The Kind of Work I Do

To give an idea of the kind of work that I do, here's a link to report of a recent audit that I led on Denver's photo enforcement program. We found that Denver has not adequately demonstrated the safety impact of its photo red light and photo radar programs. Because each program has generated positive net revenues for the City, we noted that there is a risk that the public will view the programs only as a cash grab.

http://www.denvergov.org/Portals/3/documents/Photo%20Enforcement%20Audit%20Report%2012-15-11.pdf

The Denver Post editorial board agreed with us, which doesn't happen often.

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_19580844

I'm particularly proud of this audit because it demonstrates our citizen-focused approach. We knew that photo enforcement management needed to recognize the risk of adopting a method of operation that played into the negative views that many Denver citizens have about photo enforcement. Ensuring that city residents get a clear voice in government, and that government officials listen to and are accountable to the residents is a long-time passion of mine. That citizen-focused attitude is just one reason why I enjoy working for the Denver Auditor, and it's one reason I want to extend my public service to the Castle Rock Town Council.

Introduction

My name is Chris Horton, and I'm a candidate to represent District 2 on the Castle Rock Town Council. My wife Deborah and I have been married since 2004, and we have 2 1/2 year old twin boys -- Zachary and Landon. I supervise performance audits for the City of Denver's Auditor's Office. I've been in the field of public sector performance auditing at the state or local levels since 2001. In the public sector, performance auditing is similar to management consulting. I lead a team of auditors who review city agencies' processes to understand areas in which management can enhance cost-effectiveness, process efficiency, operational effectiveness, and performance management. Before I became a performance auditor, I spent two years teaching high school history and government.

In addition to my work experience, I have an educational background that is useful for someone seeking the responsibility of local government oversight. I have a bachelor's degree in political science and history, and a master's degree in history, both from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. I have almost completed my doctorate in public administration from Arizona State University, and I anticipate completing my degree in May 2012.

In the posts that follow I will discuss some of the key qualities of effective local government, to further introduce my candidacy to the residents of Castle Rock's District 2. I look forward to having a dialogue with District 2 residents, as we seek to develop our district together.