Get to Know the Board Candidates

North Metro Fire wants voters to get to know our board candidates prior to the May 2 election, so we asked each individual to submit his/her bio and photo. They are provided below in alphabetical order. 

Dennis Bracher

I have lived in Colorado since 2012 after spending more than 30 years in church work with 18 of those years being in Germany. My wife, Lynn, and I have lived in Broomfield since 2016 where we both have served in senior living community management. I have served in various roles in senior living communities in operational management and sales as well as opening a new Assisted Living and Memory Care Community in Broomfield as Executive Director. During these years in senior living management in Broomfield, I developed a close association in working with North Metro Fire Rescue District. I continue to work in senior living management in Colorado in an area role as a Senior Sales Specialist.

We have three grown children, six grandchildren and several “grand dogs”. I have been married for almost 45 years to Lynn who retired from senior living management in 2021 to spend more time with the grandchildren. In my spare time, I love to read, walk our “diva dog” Schatzi on the weekends and have discussions about our time of living in Germany. 

Without a doubt, my greatest desire is to serve others and look forward to serving North Metro Fire Rescue District on the Board of Directors if elected. 

Patrick Browne

I started my career as a plumber in Long Island, NY, where I was born and raised. Then I became a 30-yr career firefighter-paramedic, with North Collier Fire Rescue in Naples, Florida before my retirement in  2020. I now call Broomfield home.

As a firefighter-paramedic and recipient of two Phoenix Awards, I’ve enjoyed many aspects of the job, including innovative public education. 

One of my primary goals in running for the Board is to raise its ISO rating. Increasing an ISO rating has the potential to offer residents and businesses savings with their fire insurance and allowing NMFD to continue its pride and ownership. As a retired firefighter, I stand 100% behind taxpayers and fellow firefighters.

I’ve been sober for over 41 years, and enjoy reading, traveling, golfing and riding my e-bike. 

I’m interested and available in meeting with anyone in the NMFRD to discuss your thoughts about my candidacy or any other concerns. Contact me at firemanbrowne@gmail.com. 

In the words of Aristotle, “Choice, not chance, determines your destiny.”

David Feineman

I live in Skyestone in the Southwest corner of the North Metro District. I have served on Broomfield’s Public Art Committee, and the Arts, History, and Cultural Council. I’m retired but was a geologist with experience in projects, risk assessment, high rise emergency response, and budgeting. I participated in the 2019 Citizens Fire Academy, and since then have attended most of the NMFRD board meetings for the last 3 years. I’m running for the Board because I would like to see an increased focus by the Board on policy and projects.  During the Marshall fire, my house was under mandatory evacuation orders, highlighting issues in communication, large scale evacuation, and incident response on the West side of the district that still need to be mitigated.  The board has an important on-going role in budget oversight and staff recognition. Beyond those areas, I want to see greater community focus on tactical issues related to improving response time district-wide; expanding the CAD2CAD integrated incident dispatch system with other Fire Departments to our North; and understanding the concept and plan for the new Control Tower Road station and the future Northeast Broomfield station. At the strategic level, we need to accelerate efforts at community outreach on fire preparedness and how to incorporate ideas of hardening residences to slow the spread of large-scale fires.  Development and implementation of new building codes for residential and commercial structures in areas of high wildfire risk needs collaboration between NMFRD and the communities it supports.  

Jacob Hiebert

Hello, my name is Jacob Hiebert. I am a native Coloradoan and a 20-year resident/homeowner in Broomfield.  My innate love of Colorado and being of service to its natural resources and community led me to a career in the fire service since the age of 18. Personally, I love the variety of outdoor adventures that Colorado provides and sharing those experiences with my family and children.  Professionally, I have over 20 combined years of fire service, within both career and volunteer departments.  Through this challenging but always rewarding and fulfilling work, I have gained valuable experience and knowledge as I promoted through the ranks of Firefighter, Paramedic/Firefighter, Lieutenant, Logistic Officer, and Captain. Moving through these positions has given me great insight and subject matter expertise into not only the day to day operations and needs of fire department management, but also given me invaluable leadership experience in strategic planning and goal/mission development, while simultaneously being fiscally responsible stewards of Fire Service budgets. I am eager to assist North Metro Fire Rescue District in improving long term goals with strategic and attainable implementation plans, increasing the level of service to best meet community needs, and working collaboratively with a team to achieve budgetary goals.  I enjoy working in a diverse and team-oriented environment and believe that every opinion and input matter to produce the best outcome for all parties involved. I am excited for the opportunity to serve the community on North Metro Fire Rescue District’s Board.

Curtis Hoffman

I have lived in the Broomfield, Boulder & Adams Counties since 1965. My family has had three different homes in Broomfield since 1993. Our current home is in Broomfield Heights near NMFR Station 61. In my free time I like to camp, ride our ATV, travel, spend time with family and play tennis at Broomfield Swim & Tennis Club.

I am self-employed as an independent consultant at Centennial Leasing & Sales for 13 years and have been in the automotive industry for over 25 years.

In the last 35 years I have been on several HOA’s and Leads Group boards and held various officer positions. Most recently I attended neighborhood planning/information meetings before Station 61 demolition and reconstruction. I have learned a great deal working with diverse individuals, businesses, budgets, accounting, identifying problems and helping to find solutions. 

NMFR has many talented people that I have met and worked with over the years. They have been providing excellent service and support to our community. I look forward for an opportunity to give back to the community that I love, by helping to make good decisions for the district's taxpayers, staff, the line, and all members of North Metro Fire Rescue District. 

Richard Kondo

Rich Kondo spent his childhood in Northglenn; attended Northglenn Middle & Thornton High School and resided in the city periodically over the last 25 years.  A U.S. Naval Academy graduate (B.S. Aerospace Engineering), he served as a Nuclear Submarine Officer in the Indo-Pacific Region for 10 years.  Upon leaving active duty, he earned his MBA from Harvard Business School and worked in various senior marketing & new business development executive roles with Fortune 1000 Medical Device Companies, including Medtronic, Boston Scientific & Bard/Becton Dickinson.  While concurrently working as a marketing executive, Rich also continued to serve for 18 years as a Navy reservist and was privileged to have led 6 different units as Commanding Officer or Chief of Staff.  He retired as a Navy Captain in 2018.  Rich’s broad knowledge and experience in the military, public & private sectors has been indispensable to his current role as a Northglenn’s Ward 3 Councilmember.  

Elizabeth Law-Evans

When I was elected to the Broomfield City Council in late 2013, I just wanted to serve my neighbors in my beloved hometown. But by the end of my first term there would be a firestorm of fear in the community.  

Broomfield sits atop natural gas deposits with profit potential in the billions.  Until changed by the legislature, municipalities had little regulatory authority.  When an operator planned huge multi-well pads within the city, Council had very few tools to work with to protect all that our citizens hold dear.

Council negotiated with the operator and signed a contract including safeguards that are best-in-class.  I am so proud of the citizen committee that researched best practices and heard expert testimony, our superb staff that negotiated the contract, and the wise council members who voted for approval.  

Without that contract they would have drilled anyway, but with far fewer safeguards.  Lawsuits would have been filed, and regardless of whether Broomfield ultimately won or lost, the cost would have driven us to near-bankruptcy.

But that didn’t happen, because we approved the best possible contract even when it wasn’t the most popular.  Time has shown we made the right decision.

Working on the O&G situation was one of many which sharpened my leadership skills during my time on council.  I can’t say I enjoyed every minute of it, but I’d be honored to put my skills to use by serving the North Metro Fire Rescue District.  Thank you for your consideration.

Mike McNeil

My name is Mike McNeil, and I am interested in becoming a member of the Board of Directors of North Metro Fire Department in Broomfield.  I lived in the Los Angeles area for all of my adult life.  I had a great career working for the Los Angeles Fire Department for 33 years.  I worked as a Firefighter/Paramedic, and loved my job.  Although it was challenging, it was rewarding as well.  Concurrently with my fire department job, I owned and ran a roofing company for 35 years.  I was able to do both jobs because the firefighting schedule allowed me to do both.

After retiring, my wife of 43 years and I moved to Broomfield.  We have family here and we have enjoyed this beautiful state and all it has to offer.  I have become an avid Rockies and Avalanche fan and enjoy going to the games.  My wife, Julie, began working at FRIENDS of Broomfield, and I volunteered there for eight years.  I really enjoyed working with the participants, teaching them how to make various projects out of wood.  

We have two grown boys who are both married, and also live in Colorado, and I enjoy having opportunities to see the family whenever possible.  I enjoy woodworking and fishing.  I feel I have a lot to offer to the Board of Directors, mainly my experience and dedication to my community.