2012-2020 elected to represent citizens in the 3-4th largest government district in the state
Executive Committee Vice-Chair and Finance Committee Chair
Spearheaded policies that protect taxpayers and riders, including:
Encouraged and worked with state legislators to expand and improve state audits of the Regional Transportation District
Eliminated Public Information Fees Charged to Taxpayers for Electronic Documents
Established a financial transparency portal available for free public inspection
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When I was elected to the Regional Transportation District, I was known as the penny pincher and fiscal hawk. Over the next eight years elected to that office, the RTD staff and fellow board directors would frequently mention that it wasn’t just a campaign slogan for me.
Text shown on the article (left) by Mote Whaley on Denver Post, February, 2013:
LAKEWOOD – Natalie Menten says she is a scrounger, a penny pincher and a longtime advocate of tackling every government ledger up on the town square for public inspection.
Her pennywise inclinations came to the forefront last month, during her first official session as a member of the Regional Transportation District board, which oversees one of the more expansive – and expensive – special districts in Colorado.
Menten wanted to reconsider a $21 million contract for a new fleet of 16th Street Mall shuttle buses.
She lobbied the board to review the bus firm for a few more weeks, fearing RTD was paying too much for shuttles that could pose problems in the future. Most of the other members of the elected board said the company – and its products – had been properly vetted because two of the company’s buses had already been operating on the mall for several months.
Menten said she wasn’t trying to make trouble, especially on her first day.
“But I don’t wasnt to become immune to teh idea that I’m going to be spending millions of dollars that really isn’t mine,” she said. “I think some people lose track of that.”
Menten made her point, RTD board chairwoman Lorraine Anderson said.
“I would imagine she will keep all of our members and our staff on their toes,” Anderson said.
https://www.denverpost.com/2013/11/11/rtd-hopes-mall-bus-maker-can-rebound-from-bankruptcy/
Text shown on the article (left) by Mote Whaley on Denver Post, November, 2013:
TransTeq has gone out of business, and DesignLine was given board approval largely because it was one of the few companies in the country that manufactured mall shuttles.
RTD also praised the performance of two DesignLine prototypes introduced in 2011.
Still, RTD board members Natalie Menten and Paul Solano voted against the DesignLine contract, saying there were too many questions about the company’s performance. DesignLine lost three contracts in 2011, including one for the Metropolitan Transit Authority in New York City. because of missed deadlines and operational problems.
“When I heard about the bankruptcy, I just said, “I told you so,’” Menten said. ” I thought their problems were pretty obvious.”
Menten said DesignLine owes RTF money because of warranty issues.
The situation was bad enough that the federal government investigated DesignLine. The point is that inspecting contracts is part of an elected position, far too often they’re rubber stamped. As the above example clearly shows.
Text shown on the article (left) by Mote Whaley on Denver Post, November, 2013:
DENVER – The FBI is investigating a financially-troubled North Carolina bus maker that won a $21 million contract to build 32 new generation 16th Street Mall shuttles.
The investigation allegations that DesignLine installed used parts in new buses.
The Regional Transportation District began using two DesignLine prototypes on the mall in 2011.