Elaine Valente was 'soul of Adams County'

Bill Scanlon, Rocky Mountain News

Published August 21, 2007 at midnight

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ADAMS COUNTY - Longtime County Commissioner Elaine T. Valente, extolled as "the heart and soul of Adams County," died Sunday after a long illness.

She was 66.

Mrs. Valente was the first woman to serve on the Board of County Commissioners, and the only woman on the board during the first 100 years. A Democrat, she served for 16 years, from 1989 to 2005.

She is credited with negotiating tough deals with Denver over the land that would become Denver International Airport, deals that have netted Adams County some $50 million in noise-abatement fees and other revenues.

"Elaine changed the whole landscape of Adams County politics," said Bob Lowe, former county attorney.

"She made it very clear to other jurisdictions that Adams County citizens were to be consulted and their agreement sought on issues that affected them. Prior to that, many people viewed Adams County as simply a pass-through jurisdiction.

"Under her leadership, along with (fellow Commissioners) Harold Kite and Jim Downs, she held Denver's feet to the fire to ensure they lived up to their promises.

"She had a tremendous sense of humor - and was as tough as nails. It's real sad to see her go."

Larry Valente, her husband of 38 years, said, "I remember when she got elected for the first time.

"I said, 'No man could be prouder of a wife than I was of her.' "

Mrs. Valente died after a long battle with cardiopulmonary obstructive disorder.

Larry Valente said his wife had been sick on and off since 2002.

She was on oxygen, but would turn it off for the board meetings. "She said, 'I'm not going to give in to this. I'm going to serve out my term.' "

Adams County Commission Chairman Larry Pace said Mrs. Valente came into office when the county was in financial straits, drowning in a sea of bonds.

"She brought a level of solvency to our community," Pace said. "Every request for funding she scrutinized very thoroughly.

"Some people felt she was very tightfisted with the money. But she was like that because she had a total grasp on the financial needs of the county. She was able to weigh all the needs."

When she joined the board, many metro Denver residents thought of the Commerce City refinery and the Rocky Mountain Arsenal when they thought of Adams County.

Mrs. Valente "wanted to make sure that the image of Adams County as a dumping ground was removed from the vocabulary," Pace said. "She was very strong with regard to her dealings with any political entity," always championing Adams County.

"She also had a soft spot for children," Pace said. "She was always looking out for their welfare. She was the heart and soul of Adams County."

The county in May dedicated the Elaine T. Valente Open Space property, a 125-acre preserve with three lakes along the South Platte River corridor, as a tribute to her advocacy of open space.

"Her mind was so clear, and she had such a great memory," Pace said. "You had to be honest when you talked to Elaine, because she remembered what you said three years ago - to the day, almost to the hour.

"And she would hold you to that. If you said something contrary, she would say, 'No, remember what you said when you came to me three years ago?' "

Her son, Dino, who operates Valente's Deli in Westminster, said his mother "had an amazing sense of humor and a warm, genuine heart. She had this amazing way of turning someone who was cold to her into a friend.

"She gave us the strength of faith and family, of caring about others. She told us to do what makes us happy, but to always watch what you say. She never liked to hear that we hated anybody."

Mrs. Valente was born April 1, 1941, in Denver. She graduated from Mapleton High School in Adams County.

She is survived by her husband, Larry; her son, Dino, of Westminster; and her daughter, Gina Valente, of Fort Collins.

A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Thursday at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 7595 Federal Blvd., Westminster. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday, also at Holy Trinity.

scanlon@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-442-8729

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