McCasky to resign as Jeffco commissioner, will take top JEC job

Kevin McCasky

JEFFERSON COUNTY – Kevin McCasky, who represents a large swath of Lakewood on the Board of County Commissioners, will resign effective in February to take the reins of the Jefferson Economic Council.

McCasky will serve as president and Chief Executive Officer of the public/private JEC, an economic development organization that lobbies businesses as an advocate for “retention and expansion of primary jobs.” It was formed in 1955 and has more than 70 private investors.

Since July, Jefferson County has given JEC more than $400,000, much of it through grants.

McCasky has represented the three-member Board of County Commissioners on the JEC Board for the past six years. The JEC last year gave McCasky its “Elected Official of the Year” award.

McCasky also has been selected twice by The West Chamber Serving Jefferson County as its “Elected Official of the Year,” the only person in the West Chamber’s 64 year history to receive the award twice.

McCasky, a Republican, has been a Jefferson County Commissioner since January, 2005. He previously was Jefferson County Assessor for six years.

“Jeffco government has long been a strong supporter of JEC as we believe that the economic future of the county can only be assured through the growth and prosperity of our businesses,” said Commissioner Faye Griffin in a statement on McCasky’s departure.

“We are very happy for Commissioner McCasky,” said Griffin, who is chairman of the Board of County Commissioners. “We will miss his leadership and experience but we are pleased that he will be using his expertise to head the Jefferson Economic Council. While a County Commissioner, Kevin has been an enthusiastic supporter of economic development.”

“I have tremendous respect for Kevin and the many things he has accomplished during his terms in office. He is the one who started the initiative to get the Foothills Animal Shelter built,” said recently elected Jeffco Commissioner Don Rosier.

“He’s been the strongest advocate for completion of the beltway around the metro area with the formation of the Jefferson Parkway Public Highway Authority.  He pushed for, and saw to completion the new interchange on C-470 and Alameda, and also improvements at Highway 58 and I-70,” Rosier said.

McCasky represents Jefferson County in Commissioner District 2, which is the central part of Jeffco. Jefferson County commissioners serve by district but are elected at-large. State law requires that the vacant position be filled by the Vacancy Committee of the Jefferson County Republican Party.

The JEC issued a companion announcement Thursday.

“I am excited by the opportunity of having Kevin assume the leadership of JEC. He has served on our board for six years and immersed himself in the details of promoting our economy,” said JEC’s immediate past board chairman   Michael R. McGinnis, a partner with Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP said. McGinnis also chaired JEC’s Search Committee. “Kevin emerged through the search and interview process as the one candidate with the most extensive knowledge of Jefferson County and its economic potential.”