WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 19, 2024
VOLUME 136 | ISSUE 7
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Remembered for humor and heart Englewood
council sets citizen measures for fall ballot
Former Littleton leader Gale Christy dies at 87 BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Former Littleton City Manager Gale Christy will be remembered for his sense of humor, his big heart and his positive impact. The city leader died on Aug. 3, just days before his 88th birthday. Christy served as Littleton’s city manager from 1972 to 1987 and, later, as the mayor of the Town of Columbine Valley. Christy’s friends and family members said he made a positive difference as a leader, boss, friend, husband, father and more. “To many of those friends he knew during his tenure in Littleton and Columbine Valley, he was absolutely our best friend,” said Charlie Blosten, who served as the head of Littleton’s public works department under Christy. “Gale was everyone’s best friend. His personal interest in everyone’s life was infectious.” Christy grew up in Sheridan, Wyoming and served in the Army Reserve before starting his career in public administration. With a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado and
Nov. 5 vote will determine whether city’s mayors are directly elected, procedure for vacancies BY ELISABETH SLAY ESLAY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Gale and Kay Christy.
a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Kansas, Christy worked for Hinsdale, Illinois; Tempe, Arizona and Chandler, Arizona before coming to Littleton. During his tenure, he helped lead the building of Littleton’s City Hall at 2255 W. Berry Ave. Betty Mulvey, who served as Christy’s assistant, said Christy believed in making sure city employees were accessible, and that this belief was “evident in the building of the new City Hall.” “He was instrumental in the design
PHOTO COURTESY OF JANICE O’TOOLE
with open reception areas and lots of glass on the interior, but also respectful of the need for energy efficiency with solar, few windows on the exterior and brick,” she said. Christy implemented the paramedic program in Littleton fire stations and helped secure funding for the Platte River Trail, according to his obituary. He was also instrumental in pushing for the depressed railroad tracks in town, Mulvey said.
Englewood City Council has set the ballot titles for two citizen-led initiatives regarding direct mayoral election and vacant-position procedures, which will both appear on the ballot on Nov. 5. On Sept. 3, the council agreed to set the titles and place two citizen initiative questions that got sufficient petition signatures on the November ballot. The vote follows a lawsuit in August, filed by City Clerk Stephanie Carlile against the city itself, during which a judge ruled that a portion of the city’s
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SCULPTING SOLIDARITY Artists find city collections a safe space P12 LITTLETONINDEPENDENT.NET • A PUBLICATION OF COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA