CANDIDATE

OK, but I think that’s what really speaks to the need for us to have a collaborative regional approach, and I do think this is something statewide as well.

JT: What are these public safety issues?

WS: Addressing crime, and I think one important one in Lakewood that’s not necessarily at the state level is multimodal, which is street safety, public safety on our streets.

JT: Where do you believe the line falls for responsibilities of the city and the city council? For example, should the city engage with gun control legislation, or stick with zoning codes and funding the parks and police?

WS: Zoning, parks, police — gun control falls back to that same thing that I mentioned that your average everyday individual doesn’t know whether they are in Lakewood or Denver, or Littleton or Je co. I do feel like things like that need to have a regional approach.

JT: What public safety policies could the city push for than?

WS: One of the things, not with the Lakewood Advisory Commission right now, but I had asked to be sent over last year, was an evaluation of having cameras on the roads to monitor speeds. And I know that can be a little bit of a lightning rod for people, but we’ve heard from a lot of folks concern about speed on a lot of our streets.

It’s a multi-pronged approach, none of these things are going to x everything, but right now I think there’s a lot of things we can start to tweak to try and move the dial, especially given our realities within the landscape of our police department, and sta ng issues.

JT: What do you feel like you’d be doing di erent as mayor?

WS: I feel like what I’d be doing differently is, one, I’m here now. I understand the role, the policy-making role. So, not brand new, but new enough that also I’m not entrenched in this mentality of “this is the way we’ve always done it.” is isn’t just council but also the community. Sometimes there’s some very loud voices, and there can be some negative tones to that, and it’s hard, I will say — especially when those are some of the consistent ones that we hear — it’s hard for us sometimes as leaders to not think that’s the only opinion that’s out there.

I’m not saying that the current mayor does that, but I’m just saying that there is something to be said for a fresh perspective, and there’s also what I feel I’ve been able to bring to the table this year, which has been the ability to communicate with di erent members on council, and try to better understand where people are coming from.

What I’ve done is been really intentional in trying to be in and aware of other people that are having di erent experiences and likewise would be looking for di erent solutions, so that we really are truly making policy decisions for 168,000 people. I think with a very concerted e ort we can get feedback from people that aren’t just those that show up on Monday nights (to comment at City Council meetings).

JT: Why do you think you have the ability to be mayor after only two years on the council?

WS: Well, the beautiful thing is, people can be elected for president now without having any experience in government. I’ve been in leadership roles, honestly since high school. I have experience leading people and making collaborative solutions, and that’s what I think Lakewood needs right now.

JT: What immediate priorities will you have if elected?

WS: Part of it is the housing part de nitely, but I also understand that is the Titanic ship. ... at’s not going to be a quick mover. So, that’s not a day-one-in-o ce type of thing. Public safety, de nitely. Also, I want to make sure that we have a functional council body that really is focused on the work that is the work that is ours to do. When we are not functioning as a cohesive body, the community su ers from that. at is one thing I can work on from day one.

It is setting the stage at the beginning for how we can do our best jobs, how we can show up as individuals at City Council meetings and within our community to really do the best job.