I recently heard it said that Arapahoe County D.A. Carol Chambers “wastes taxpayer money.”

When my mail-in ballot arrived last week, I set forth to research the crime rate in Arapahoe County now compared to 4 years ago so I could make an informed decision regarding my vote.

According to the Colorado Bureau of Investigations’ statistics on reported offenses; there were 0 homicides last year compared to 4 homicides in 2004. Forcible Rape is down 19% from 2004. Assaults are down 4%. Burglary is down 7%. Motor Vehicle theft is down 32%. Total offenses are down 8%.

Let’s imagine this scenario in more personal terms. Most of us know 100 people – between our friends, relatives, acquaintances and coworkers. This year, 4 people we know did not get killed. 19 of our sisters and daughters did not have to suffer a violent sexual assault that would gravely affect both their physical and mental health. 4 of our friends did not get assaulted and suffer physical and emotional injuries. 7 of our homes were not burglarized and 32 of our neighbors’ cars were not stolen. Overall we are more safe and less violated.

Ronald Reagan once said “As you go to the polls, you stand in the polling place and make a decision. It might be well if you would ask yourself; are you better off now than you were four years ago?”

Aren’t we?