Janna Blanter, Kara Mehall, Jessica Lehman and David Schulz are all looking to succeed outgoing Vice President Nissa Steinhour and Treasurer Randy Case. The forum was conducted by the League of Women Voters of the Pikes Peak Region and the high school’s students of the U.S. Government and Politics class in its auditorium. The forum included open ing and closing statements from each candidate, questions from the student board, the audience and a lightning round of questions. Maintaining the district’s high academic performance while embracing modern innovation, fostering transparency and communication and investing in student support structures were among the primary topics discussed by the four candidates. When it came to existing support structures, Lehman highlighted the district’s current mindfulness high school course and safety and security team as “advantages” currently in D-12. “So, I think I would improve the communication to our parents so they understand what is available to their students and how they actually are supported throughout the day,” she said. All predominantly opted not to personally weigh in on more political questions like whether they supported propositions LL and MM, which would keep existing funding and raise taxes, respectively, for the state’s Healthy School Meals for All program, and how they might address books with controversial materials in school libraries. Rather, most candidates emphasized their potential roles as elected school district officials who must adhere to current state and federal laws. “I don’t give personal opinions, political opinions, about really anything because I think there’s value in listening to what others have to say,” Mehall said. “So, while I think that’s a really great question, I believe that my concerns are more funding towards our particular students and their education.” Taking a slightly more defined stance on the propositions, Blanter said that both would “segregate people by income level” and “punish them for their success.” “And I think the fairness of taking care of the children who need that is critical,” she said. “But not all children need that and, therefore, it’s not fair to tax people to provide lunches and meals for children whose parents can afford to do those meals.” Another topic that repeatedly came up was how each candidate would approach implementing artificial intelligence in the schools. While all agreed that these tools are here to stay going forward, some said they would take a more cautious approach and focus on proven strategies for instruction. Schulz, who said he would work to develop public-private partnerships and industry-focused education options, said that he would like to see both the technical innovations and ethical decision-making with AI gets incorporated into prepare students for the future workforce. “This is why it’s so important to ensure that we get our kids on board with this tech revolution,” he said. “Because it’s not just about being the number one (school district) in the state. That’s a great thing to tout, but our kids have to go out into the job market and be able to be competitive and get jobs.” The final series of questions in the evening was a rapid-fire succession with single-word answers on a variety of beliefs, stances and facts about the candidates. Would you support increasing the funding for mental health services and support systems for students? Yes: all Do you support book banning? No: all With Colorado law stating that sex ed is not mandatory to teach in schools, do you think sex ed should be taught at the high school level? Yes: Schulz, Mehall, Lehman No: Blanter D-11 passed a board policy that bans cellphones during instructional time. Would you support a similar policy for D-12 schools? Yes: all Do you support student expression of gender and sexual identities in schools? Age appropriate No: Blanter Yes: Lehman Schulz and Mehall declined to say “yes” or “no.” Do you believe our school should have buses? No: all Would you support increasing funding for arts, music and extracurricular programs in schools? Yes: all Do you support block days? Yes: all

Developers bank on lofty living The Gazette Telegraph (Rich Laden) August 4, 2002 Downtown Loft Project-CityWalk Downtown The former Medalion West building, southeast of Wahsatch Avenue and Kiowa Street, is farther away on downtown’s eastern edge. Still developer Randy Case is counting on downtown’s allure to attract buyers to the building he’s now remodeling. The first units of his project, CityWalk Downtown, will be available in a few months. It will have 86 units, most which will be condos. However, six of the units will extend over two floors, giving those buyers the ability to enjoy loft-like living. Case recognizes his building is slightly removed from downtown’s core. And yet, given his marketing scheme, he sees that as a plus. “They’re adjacent to all the downtown amenities and activities, and yet they don’t have to live with it 24 hours a day if they choose not to,” he said. Originally, Case planned to call his project the Kiowa Lofts – tapping the mindset of people who want true loft-living. Now, he’s changed the name to CityWalk Downtown defines the project better. “We will be marketing those as condominiums and lofts,” Case said. “Whatever people want to call them at the end of the day is their choice. We’re catering to a downtown use.”

A lot wait ing on downtown The Gazette Telegraph (Rich Laden) November 18, 2001 Developer and property owner Randy Case said he sorted through numerous ideas over several years for a sliver of land his family owned on the southeast corner of Nevada Avenue and Kiowa Street. The property, about one-third of an acre, is the former site of a bank drive-up facility. Case, whose family has owned and developed land around town for years, said he considered lofts, a multistory building and a hotel for the site. He also entertained deals to sell it to other developers or to the city. Finally, after none of those deals took off, another investor made an acceptable offer earlier this year. Given the economy’s downturn, Case said, he sold the property.

Downtown B usinesses approve taxing district The Gazette Telegraph (Sara Nesbitt) November 7, 2001 ‘Randy Case, the incoming president of the Downtown Partnership is “thrilled.” “It will continue to enhance the renaissance of our downtown,” Case said.’

Senior Housing Driven by Need The Gazette Telegraph (Rich Laden) November 5, 2001 ‘Randy Case, whose family members are longtime landowners and developers in the Springs, said developers are open to renting apartments to seniors and don’t want to fence them out. Yet, he acknowledged that market-rate rents may preclude some seniors from renting in such projects. Some developers are even open to setting aside some units for seniors and other groups; one of Case’s companies partnered with an Ohio firm in the development of the Lynmar Apartments, which opened in 1999 in the north part of the city. That project took advantage of tax credits available through local governments and set aside 45 of its 100 units for tenants on fixed incomes – seniors and anybody else, Case said. But in doing things like this, developers risk having their projects labeled “affordable housing,” which turns off other potential tenants or causes nearby residents to oppose the project, Case said. The label “can kill a project, it’s just that simple,” Case said.’

Developer details southside project The Gazette Telegraph (Rich Laden) July 12, 2001 ‘SC Colorado Holdings LLC, a group headed by Springs developer Earl Robertson, recently purchased the 205 acre property known as Spring Creek. The land, purchased from Springs Randy and Lindsay Case and local businessman Ray Marshall, is southwest of the Martin Luther King Jr. Bypass and Circle Drive.’

Downtown retailers feel need to shuffle locations The Gazette Telegraph Inside Business (Sara Nesbitt) March 26, 2001 ‘Randy Case, owner of Case Holdings, said movement among retailers in the downtown is expected. “It’s the market at work, and it’s certainly a part of a capitalistic society,” Case said. “Plus, businesses don’t tend to move during the winter, so when spring hits, so does opportunity.” Case believes the opening of the new south tower of the Plaza of the Rockies, 111 S. Tejon St., will boost interest in downtown retailing, and as a result both the Art Hardware and Roger’s Shoes locations will be quickly filled. “They’re both corner locations, and they have double exposure on two streets, ” Case said.

Housing Plans OK’d The Gazette Telegraph Metro Section (Raquel Rutledge) October 25, 2000 ‘The City Council approved development plans Tuesday for a housing complex on 28 acres near Rockrimmon Boulevard and Vindicator Drive that will mix affordable housing for families and seniors with full-price units.’

Small developers with big-time plans The Gazette Telegraph (Rich Laden) October 23, 2000 ‘Finding a niche, keeping overhead low keys to success’ and ‘Long-term business relationships can be invaluable asset’ Randy Case, whose family has developed property for years throughout Colorado Springs and whose father at one time operated a huge commercial brokerage said his personal involvement in one deal stemmed from simply enjoying the food at TGI Friday’s. “We went after TGIF’s because I liked them in Arizona,” said Case. “I convinced their ownership they’d be a good fit.” T.G.I. Friday’s opened their first and only Springs restaurant on Case’s 5 acre site northwest of Interstate 25 and Woodmen. The area is home to several hotels and other restaurants.

The Gazette Telegraph Metro Section (Pam Zubeck) February 25, 2000 There is a proposed new property tax to help pay for preserving the Preble’s Meadow Jumping Mouse which was declared ‘threatened’ under the Endangered Species Act in May 1998, and its habitat. This was designed to help save the mouse while protecting private property rights. Randy Case is quoted as saying,”The absolute underlying goal is to shorten and simplify the brain damage.”

People on the Move: Meet your New CAHB Senior Officers for 2000 Colorado Builder January 2000 Randy Case is named Secretary for the Colorado Association of Home Builders.

Testimony of Randle W. Case II on behalf of the Colorado Association of Home Builders Before the United States Congress, House Committee on Resources July 24, 1999 Randy Case represented the CAHB and voices of small and large landowners involved in day-to-day land uses in reference to the Preble’s Meadow Jumping Mouse (PMJM).