May 6 election will send three of six candidates to serve on Wellington Fire Protection District board

Six candidates have been nominated to fill three four-year terms on the Board of Directors of the Wellington Fire Protection District. An election to determine who fills the three seats is scheduled for Tuesday, May 6 at the Wellington Fire Department, 8103 Third Street in Wellington.

The polling place will be open between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Those eligible to vote must be registered in the district, a resident for not less than 30 days or someone who owns or his or her spouse owns, taxable real or personal property within the district.

Applications for mail-in ballots may be obtained at the district office at 8130 Third St. or online at wfpd.org under the 2014 election heading. Applications for and return of mail-in voter ballots may be filed with Letitia J. Betchel, Designated Election Official of the Wellington Fire Protection District, at 8130 Third St., Wellington between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. until the close of business on May 2.

Applications may also be mailed to P.O. Box 832, Wellington, CO 80549, sent by fax to 970-568-0542 or by e-mail to election@wpfd.org. For more information call 970-568-3232.

Jim Boizot served as a volunteer firefighter/EMT in the Wellington District between 1998 and 2008. He’s lived in the district for 30 years and is an active firefighter/EMT with 20 years’ experience at the Rawhide Energy Station. He has served on the Wellington Fire Protection Board since 2008 and wants to continue that work as the pool of volunteers decreases and emergency responses increase. “If re-elected I plan to continue the work of the district’s board in meeting the needs of our firefighters and the residents through conservative fiscal administrative management,” Boizot said.

Shawn Brann has been a member of the fire service for 29 years, starting as a volunteer in Scottsbluff, Neb. He joined the Poudre Fire Authority in 1998 where he currently serves as an assistant fire marshal for investigations. He came from and currently works for a fire department that combines volunteer and paid staff which he feels gives him a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities that arise in these circumstances. “The Wellington Fire Protection District is in a great position to see positive changes as our area grows,” Brann said. “I am confident that my experience working with both volunteer and career firefighters will be a benefit to the community and the district. I now see an opportunity to serve my community in a different way.”

Jennifer Netnik is a registered nurse who has lived in Wellington since 1991. She’s been an active member of the Wellington Fire Protection District Board since 2008 and played an integral role in hiring the first paid fire chief in 2012 and the first group of paid firefighters in 2013. “I have experience in administration and working with budgets and I enjoy serving the community in which I live,” Netnik said. “I look forward to being an active member of the district board for many years to come.”

Sue Reed is a Denver native with a degree in microbiology from Colorado State University who recently retired from the Fort Collins Water Utility. She has lived in the Wellington Fire Protection District for more than 30 years. For 10 of those years, she was a volunteer firefighter/EMT and is currently a district board member. “I am proud to have been involved in keeping the district debt free while maintaining a fleet of modern fire equipment, updating Station 2 in the Waverly area, purchasing property for a future northern fire station and hiring paid firefighters,” she said. “The current board is proactive and has anticipated the increasing emergency service needs of a growing town and unincorporated area by providing the necessary equipment and facilities and hiring the district’s first full-time paid chief and eight paid firefighters. I’m running for re-election to continue the positive forward direction of the district.”

David Pierson, 54, is a third generation Wellington resident and a second-generation firefighter. His dad, Darrell Pierson, served as a firefighter. Pierson served on the Fire Department for 30 years and during several periods during that time served as Fire Chief. He retired as a Firefighter II and EMT. He has served as a Wellington Fire Protection District Board member in the past and for eight years served on the Wellington Planning Board. He has also been a member of the Northern Colorado Water Board for six years.

William Schneider is committed to quality local services and has used his leadership skills as chair of the Wellington Area Chamber of Commerce, chair of the Centennial Committee, member of the Poudre Fire Authority Standards committee and the Clean Air Review Committee for Larimer County. His background includes a degree in electrical and mechanical engineering and leadership positions, COO, CEO, chief engineer and vice president of several high-tech firms. He owns and is publisher of Vestige Press in Wellington and has lived in Northern Colorado for nearly 30 years. “The quality of life in our communities and Northern Larimer County is directly related to the quality of services provided by the Wellington Fire District,” he said.