2021 election guide

October 10, 2021

2021 election guide

Daily Camera

I was taught early in life to be a steward of the environment and my community, and to leave things better than how you found them. My diverse experience in science, education, advocacy, conservation, and public service gives me a unique perspective on how to continue to shape our great city. I am running for Boulder City Council because we need thoughtful leadership that will focus on making Boulder a more inclusive, diverse, and vibrant community. It’s time we take our collective values and make them into where we are going.

VOTE MATT BENJAMiN #4 ON THE BALLOT

What Matt Benjamin will work to do as a member of Boulder City Council:

PROUDLY ENDORSED BY

• Prioritize climate action in every issue we face

• Address our unhoused residents needs with empathy and data-driven approach • Prioritize flood protection to ensure the safety of our residents

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• Increase protected bike lanes and improve public transportation

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• Focus on rejuvenating our affordable housing opportunities

E R C O A LI

TI

Suzy Ageton Former Boulder City Council

Junie Joseph Boulder City Council

Laurie Albright Former President, BVSD

George Karakehian Former Boulder

Board of Education

City Council

Rep. Judy Amabile CO House of Representatives Dist. 13

Matt Applebaum Former Boulder Mayor KC Becker Former Speaker CO

Tina Marquis President, BVSD Board of Education

Françoise Poinsatte Former Boulder City Council

• Facilitate effective governance on Council, boards, commissions and in public participation

Aaron Brockett Boulder City Council

Lesley Smith University of Colorado Regent

Jan Burton Former Boulder City Council

Adam Swetlik Boulder City Council

Macon Cowles Former Boulder City Council

Will Toor Former Boulder Mayor &

Read More on my Positions

Leslie Durgin Former Boulder Mayor

MattBenjaminForCouncil.com 2 • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • VOTER GUIDE

House of Representatives

Rachel Friend Boulder City Council

Callie Rennison University of Colorado Regent

Former Boulder County Commissioner

Bob Yates Boulder City Council

PA ID FOR BY MATT BEN JAM I N FO R CO U NC I L

Pagada por / Paid for by Together with Nicole Speer

I'm Dr. Nicole Speer

an accomplished scientist, committed parent, successful businesswoman, and champion for inclusion. I’m running for Boulder City Council because our city needs experienced, values-driven leaders to make progress on our biggest challenges.

Soy Dra. Nicole Speer

una científica reconocida, madre responsable, empresaria exitosa y defensora de la inclusión. Estoy postulándome para ser concejal de la Ciudad de Boulder porque nuestra ciudad necesita líderes experimentados(as/es) y motivados(as/es) con valores que nos ayuden a progresar en nuestros más grandes desafíos.

Concejo Municipal de Boulder

NICOLE SPEER Boulder City Council

Endorsements | Aprobaciones

As your city councillor I will...

Como su concejal voy a…

Use 10+ years of financial management experience and my progressive values to guide budget decisions.

Utilizaré mis valores progresistas y habilidades que he obtenido con más de 10 años de experiencia financiera para organizar las prioridades del presupuesto de la ciudad.

WORKING FAMILIES PARTY

Advocate for diverse and affordable housing options for all members of our community.

Apoyar alternativas con respecto a la diversidad de viviendas asequibles para todos(as/es) los(as/es) miembros de nuestra comunidad.

UNITED CAMPUS WORKERS

Lead on climate by reducing emissions and prioritizing safety, preparedness, and resilience in all city policies.

Dirigir con urgencia el cambio climático al reducir las emisiones y dándole prioridad a la seguridad, preparación y resiliencia en todas las políticas de la ciudad.

LEARN MORE / APRENDER MÁS: NicoleForBoulder.com VOTER GUIDE • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • 3

How and where to vote BOULDER COUNTY

24-hour ballot dropoff boxes

Oct. 11 through 7 p.m.

Nov. 5, Election Day Locations: Boulder Boulder County Clerk & Recorder’s Office, 1750 33rd St. Boulder County Courthouse, East Wing Entrance, 2025 14th St. Boulder County Housing and Human Services, 3400 Broadway University of Colorado, University Memorial Center, 1669 Euclid Ave., closest to Euclid Avenue entrance of building.

University of Colorado, Williams Village Center, 500 30th St. South Boulder Recreation Center, 1360 Gillaspie Drive Avery Brewing, 4910 Nautilus Court North Erie Meadowlark School, staff bus parking lot, 2300 Meadow Sweet Lane Lafayette Lafayette Public Library, 775 W. Baseline Road Longmont Boulder County Clerk & Recorder/St. Vrain Commu-

nity Hub (corner of Sixth Avenue and Coffman Street) Boulder County Fairgrounds, 9595 Nelson Road (on Fairground Lane near the south parking lot) Garden Acres Park (18th Avenue between Sunset and Juniper streets) YMCA, 950 Lashley St. Louisville Louisville Police Department, 992 W. Via Appia Way Lyons Lyons Town Hall, 432 5th Ave. Nederland Nederland Community Center, 750 N. Hwy. 72 Superior Superior Town Hall, 124 E. Coal Creek Drive

Vote centers

Services include: ballotdrop-off, in-person voting, request a replacement ballot, voter registration or update registration information, vote using equipment and facilities for people with disabilities, and cure a ballot.

Early option: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays Oct. 14-25 at the Boulder County Clerk & Recorder’s Office, 1750 33rd St.

How to vote

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 2. You must return your mail ballot or be in line at a Voter Service Center by 7 p.m. that day in order for your vote to count.

Ballots will be mailed to eligible, registered voters beginning Oct. 8.

While voters can register right up to and even on Election Day, the last day to register or change your registration and still receive a ballot in the mail is Oct. 25. If you register or change your registration after that date, you must vote in person.

Track your mail ballot by signing up for Ballot Track at boulder.ballottrax.net/voter For more election information, visit: Boulder County — bouldercounty.org/elections Weld County — bit.ly/2IwuwPj

Where does your paper stand?

To read the Daily Camera editorial board’s endorsements in select races and ballot issues this election, visit dailycamera.com/tag/2021-endorsements/.

Hours and locations: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 25-29 and Nov. 1, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Oct. 30, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 2, Election Day Boulder Boulder County Clerk & Recorder’s Office, 1750 33rd St.

University of Colorado, University Memorial Center, 1669 Euclid Ave. (limited parking) Lafayette Southeast County Services Hub, 1755 S. Public Road Longmont St. Vrain Community

Hub/Boulder County Clerk & Recorder, 515 Coffman St. WELD COUNTY

24-hour ballot dropoff boxes

Oct. 8 through 7 p.m. Nov. 2, Election Day Locations: Longmont Southwest Weld County Services Complex, 4209 Weld County Road 24½ (Del Camino) Frederick Carbon Valley Recreation Center, 701 Fifth St. Erie Erie Community Center, 450 Powers St.

Voter service and polling centers

Services include ballotdrop-off, voter registration, in-person voting, requesting mail-ballot replacements.

Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays Oct. 28 through Nov. 1, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 30, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 2, Election Day Locations: Longmont Southwest Weld County Services Complex, 4209 Weld County Road 24½ (Del Camino)

Index Boulder City Council ................................... 6-13 Boulder Ballot items ..................................14-18 Lafayette City Council ...............................19-21 Lafayette Ballot items ................................21-22 Longmont Mayor .......................................23-24 Longmont City Council At Large ............... 25-28 Longmont City Council Ward 2 .......................28 Longmont Municipal Court Judge Retention ..28 Louisville City Council Ward 1 ........................ 29 Louisville City Council Ward 2 ........................ 30

4 • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • VOTER GUIDE

Louisville City Council Ward 3 ........................ 30 Louisville Ballot items .....................................31 Town of Lyons Ballot item ...............................30 Superior Ballot item ........................................31 Boulder Valley School Board District B ...........32 Boulder Valley School Board District E ......34-35 Boulder Valley School Board District F ...........36 SVVSD school board Director District B .........36 SVVSD school board Director District D .........37 SVVSD school board Director District F ..........38

Hygiene Fire Protection District Ballot item.....39 Dacono Mayor ...........................................39-40 Dacono City Council ................................. 40-41 Town of Mead Ballot items ............................. 42 Carbon Valley Ballot item ................................42 Colorado Ballot: Amendment 78 .................... 43 Colorado Ballot Proposition 119 .....................44 Colorado Ballot Proposition 120 .....................45 Ballot Overview ...............................................46

S T R E K L O F N NCIL E R LAU ER CITY COU

VOTE FOR FOR

OULD B S K L O F BOULDER

HOUSING FOR ALL

REAL PUBLIC SAFETY

CLIMATE ACTION

BRIDGING THE GAPS IN SERVICES

• Focus on enabling more of our commuters to live within city limits • Reduce barriers for mission driven development • Encourage missing middle housing and gentle infill • Create policies that encourage permanent affordability through land trusts and deed restrictions

• Reduce embodied energy in building construction, not just operational energy • Implement pilot projects that make our existing neighborhoods more walkable and bikeable • Leverage federal and state dollars to increase multimodal transportation infrastructure • Increase investment in multimodal transportation infrastructure and electric transit options

• Create mobile crisis program to provide provide mental health first response for crises involving mental illness, homelessness and addiction • Invest in institutions, resources, and services • Support funding for healthcare, housing, job training, and counseling • Advocate for a day shelter that connects service providers with community members and provides services such as mail holding, documents storage, cell phone charging, showers • Add capacity for housing supported mental health and addiction treatment • Support peer counseling programs and shelter options for at risk groups • Advocate for additional federal and state funding

PROGRESSIVES

COMMUNITY LEADERS SUPPORTING LAUREN Judy Amabile Will Toor Elise Jones Matt Appelbaum Leslie Durgan

Colorado State Representative for House District 13 Former Boulder Mayor & Boulder County Commissioner Former Boulder County Commissioner Former Boulder Mayor Former Boulder Mayor

LAUREN4BOULDER.COM

BOULDERLAUREN4

Suzanne Jones Former Boulder Mayor Aaron Brockett Boulder City Council Member Rachel Friend Boulder City Council Member Junie Joseph Boulder City Council Member Jan Burton Former Boulder City Council Member Macon Cowles Former Boulder City Council Member Françoise Poinsatte Former Boulder City Council

LAUREN4BOULDER PAID FOR BY LAUREN FOLKERTS FOR BOULDER

VOTER GUIDE • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • 5

Boulder City Council Matt Benjamin Website: mattbenjaminforcouncil.com Age: 39 Family: Husband and father of two.

How long have you lived in Boulder: 21 years Professional background: Former educator and astronomer at CU’s Fiske Planetarium. Currently a professional photographer and science/education consultant.

Political/community experience: Formerly: Open Boulder and Garden to Table. Currently: Boulder Open Space Conservancy and Idaho Conservation League. Former director of the Boulder Coalition. Co-led Our Mayor, Our Choice campaign.

Served on city working groups for election reform and stormwater and flood mitigation.

Education: Astronomy degree, CU Boulder.

Boulder is in the midst of an effort to “reimagine” its police department. What changes might you hope to see?

I hope that we take concrete actions to reform policing in Boulder. It also starts with the commitment that supporting our police and committing to reforms are not mutually exclusive. We can do both. The most critical area for us to focus on is how our police interact with marginalized and at-risk populations in our community. We need a reimagined police force that builds the lasting relationships and trust of these communities. I also want our police to be more specialized and not the answer to every incident we have in Boulder. This is why I support creating a version of Denver’s STAR (Support Team Assisted Response) program here in Boulder to handle many of the non-violent mental health, drug and crisis intervention 911 calls.

There has been discussion about providing more services

for people experiencing homelessness, particularly those with substance use or mental health disorders. What additional services do you believe are necessary? And what ideas do you have for funding them?

Research shows that all of these types of services are significantly more effective when the unhoused have stable housing. Stable housing can be in the form of sanctioned campgrounds, day/night shelter and/or hotel rooms. Our current camping ban lessens the efficacy of the services we currently provide, so we need to make sure the money we invest in our unhoused makes the biggest difference possible. The $20 million of ARPA (American Recovery Plan Act) funds are to be used to help those disproportionately impacted

by COVID-19. Using some of this money for our unhoused to embark on a variety of pilot programs makes sense.

Boulder is working to update its climate action plan and intends to adopt more aggressive climate goals. What specific actions would you advocate for in terms of reducing the city’s climate impact?

I really like what the city is doing by evolving to a systembased framework to evaluate our climate impacts and set measurable goals. We need a plan, specific incentives and codes to bring our inefficient buildings up to our 21st century climate standards.

We also need to reduce our dependence on gas-powered vehicles. I would like to see more electric-vehicle charging stations (even require them for new housing and business developments) and safe and protected bike lanes. Lastly, housing those that work in our community dramatically reduces their carbon footprint. We need to lean toward more housing along our transit corridors. We need to connect our community without depending on fossil fuels.

6 • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • VOTER GUIDE

Michael Christy Website: michael4boulder.com Age: 53 Family: Married 15 years to Andree Christy; daughter Olivia, age 13; son Jack, age 10 How long have you lived in Boulder: January 2018 Professional background: Lawyer/mediator Political/community experience: U.S. Air Force Veteran (JAG Officer); volunteer at Boulder Shelter for the Homeless; volunteer for Boulder’s Community Mediation and Resolution Center; City Council appointee to Cannabis Licensing Advisory Board Education: UCLA (undergrad); University of San Diego School of Law (JD) Boulder is in the midst of an effort to “reimagine” its police department. What changes might you hope to see?

Our police department is understaffed by approximately 40 officers. We need to increase staffing to the department’s full complement of 190 officers. Our officers are being asked to wear too many hats. This burden can be alleviated through the expansion of “non-police” teams, such as the Crisis Intervention and Response Team (CIRT) and the Boulder Targeted Homeless Engagement and Referral Team (BTHERE). We can use these teams to provide social and mental health services to those in the encampments. They are better suited to engage and establish relationships and trust with people in encampments than a typical police officer with a gun at their side. They can assist in providing access to available services.

There has been discussion about providing more services for people experiencing homelessness, particularly those with substance use or mental health disorders. What addi-

tional services do you believe are necessary? And what ideas do you have for funding them?

The city does not have the financial or physical resources to do this alone. We need assistance from the county, state and feds.

We need to establish regional mental health and drug addiction facilities to treat those in need who are currently unhoused, including those living in encampments. I’d like to work with Rep. Judy Amabile, who recently secured $450 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to help establish regional facilities to provide services to those suffering from mental health and addiction problems. We can also look to the opioid settlement monies to assist in providing more robust wraparound services to our unhoused population.

Boulder is working to update its climate action plan and intends to adopt more aggressive climate goals. What specific actions would you advocate for in terms of reducing the city’s climate impact?

One of the more notable strengths of the Climate Action Plan is the idea of working to pilot new financing options to improve affordability and increase access to clean energy technologies for all community members. We can reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions from in-commuters (60,000) if we provide more affordable housing options. We can accomplish this with infill and rezoning our underutilized commercial areas. We can also improve the safety and connectedness of our biking infrastructure to get people on bikes and less reliant on single-occupancy vehicles. I would like to see us move toward a regional electric transit system. For funding, we can look to the $1.2 trillion federal infrastructure package (assuming it passes), of which $39 billion is dedicated to public transit.

V TE TARA WINER for Boulder City Council

“

Tara has been a community leader in many areas of service in Boulder over many years. She is compassionate and dedicated... Tara will make an excellent member of City Council...”

—Mayor Sam Weaver

“

Tara is balanced, thoughtful, down-to-earth, and a voice of reason. Just what we need on Council!”

—Andrew Shoemaker, Former Deputy Mayor

ENDORSED BY Sam Weaver

Edie Hooton

Junie Joseph

Susan Osborne

Bob Yates

Lisa Morzel

Mark Wallach

Gordon Riggle

Mary Young

Crystal Gray

Mirabai Nagle

Andrew Shoemaker

Mayor

Mayor Pro Tem City Council Member City Council Member City Council Member

City Council Member

CO State Representative Former Mayor

George Karakehian

Former Deputy Mayor

Steve Pomerance

Former City Council Member

Allyn Feinberg

Former City Council Member

Richard Polk

Former City Council Member

Former Mayor Pro Tem Former City Council Member Former Deputy Mayor Former Deputy Mayor

PAID FOR AND AUTHORIZED BY TARA WINER FOR COUNCIL

taraforboulder.com VOTER GUIDE • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • 7

Boulder City Council Jacques Decalo Website: jacquesdecalo2021.squarespace.com Age: 25 Family: All of my family lives in Boulder County. Parents are Marilyn and David Decalo. Two sisters are Emma Loson and Chloe Decalo.

How long have you lived in Boulder: Lifelong Boulder resident.

Professional background: I currently work for Tesla.

Political/community experience: Involved in the industrial hemp industry.

Education: B.A. from Western Washington University’s Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies — hemp policy and sustainability.

Boulder is in the midst of an effort to “reimagine” its police department. What changes

might you hope to see?

We have to put the police in the right areas to prevent unnecessary violence. The lack of of officers in Boulder has resulted in more aggressive behaviors with less monitoring. We have to ensure the Boulder police can be properly enforced with support from additional groups. The police need to focus on critical issues instead of dealing with noise complaints and homeless disruption. More groups need to be be created with councilors, first responders, therapists, and other certified workers that have experience deescalating low risk altercations. We need to offer solutions with proper resolve that alleviate pressure on the police.

There has been discussion about providing more services for people experiencing homelessness, particularly those with substance use or mental health disorders. What additional services do you believe

are necessary? And what ideas do you have for funding them?

In order to help the people with mental health and addiction issues, we have to start by building relations with them. We have to show them that our community wants them to get better and be functioning contributors to society.

We have to encourage them with jobs, their own space and therapy to ensure they are actively trying to get better. We also can not let them continue to pollute the creek with with encampments. This is a poor representation of our community. This is not just a one-time fix, this solution takes dedication and commitment from all sides involved to motivate these people to be better.

Boulder is working to update its climate action plan and intends to adopt more aggressive climate goals. What specific actions would you advocate for in terms of reducing the

city’s climate impact?

With climate change being at the forefront of a global crisis, we have to do everything in our power to fight it. Cutting carbon emissions completely and switching only renewable green energy, eliminating single use plastic and implementing sustainable water practices are key in the fight for climate change. We must increase solar in Boulder with solar grants and battery pack storage. We need community solar gardens on top of public buildings. We have to put more pressure on Xcel to provide the infrastructure for sustainable energy. We have to switch our public transportation to fully electric vehicles. We must cut single use plastic out of our consumer mentality. Water sustainability is important to maintain high levels of water reserves in case of extreme drought or forest fires.

Vote for a Climate Champion!

Endorsed by the Sierra Club IPG, Bill McKibben, Hunter Lovins DanForBoulder.com

Paid for by Dan for Boulder Council 8 • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • VOTER GUIDE

dtakahashi4bouldercouncil.com Paid for by Takahashi for Boulder

Boulder City Council Lauren Folkerts Website: lauren4boulder.com Age: 34 Family: My partner, Derek Buranen, and our dog child, a rescue named Lucky.

How long have you lived in Boulder: 10 years Professional background: Architect Political/community experience: I’m currently chair of the city’s Design Advisory Board and presidentelect of the Colorado Green Building Guild.

Education: Bachelor’s of architecture from the University of Oregon.

Boulder is in the midst of an effort to “reimagine” its police department. What changes might you hope to see?

I would like to see our city institute a crisis intervention program similar to the STAR (Support Team Assisted Response) program in Denver. We need to stop forcing our police officers to act as a one-stop solution to community problems. They shouldn’t have to provide mental health services, addiction counseling or other supportive services. While having compassionate officers is important, we need to make sure we are placing qualified professionals in situations that most closely match their skills. This should have the added benefit of helping with officer retention. Other cities have also shown it to be more cost-effective and to lead to better outcomes.

There has been discussion about providing more services for people experiencing homelessness, particularly those with substance use or mental health disorders. What addi-

tional services do you believe are necessary? And what ideas do you have for funding them?

Our treatment options for substance abuse and mental health disorders are extremely limited in our community regardless of your housing status or ability to pay.

Along with the STAR program I mentioned before, we need to be working with the county and the state to advocate for our fair share of funding for these programs. We also need to increase support for local nonprofits that are already filling gaps in social services, and create a day shelter to help connect residents with these service providers.

Boulder is working to update its climate action plan and intends to adopt more aggressive climate goals. What specific actions would you advocate for in terms of reducing the city’s climate impact? The preliminary version of the updated climate action plan sets some tough targets. As an architect, one that I’m particularly passionate about is the reduction of embodied energy in buildings. Our current code only addresses operational energy in buildings and does not account for embodied energy.

When you are looking at a 20-year timeline, 80% of the emissions come from the materials the building is made from and their transportation to the site. The climate action plan currently aims for a 40% reduction in this embodied energy, and it is imperative that we meet this challenging target. I would also push our community to pursue a number of the both easy and hard goals that this plan lays out, such as creating a circular economy and increasing our urban tree canopy.

FO R B O U L D ER C I T Y CO U N C I L Michael Christy is a non-partisan problem solver with a deep commitment to community.

He brings to the table:

ENDORSED BY

· Years of public service, including active-duty military service, volunteering with the unhoused, and membership on the Cannabis Licensing and Advisory Board · Professional skills developed as an attorney and mediator · A desire for open discussion and to develop creative solutions based on what's best for Boulder

Let's achieve great things together...

Ensure our city and our police have all the necessary tools and resources to maintain public safety

Preserve, enhance and maintain our Open Space for current and future generations Advocate for the small business community to ensure they have what is needed to withstand challenges and prosper

Enact proactive, thoughtful, and strategically planned growth to improve housing affordability and diversity Enhance access to safe, environmentally sound, and affordable multi-modal transportation networks

Ensure that all city actions and policies are aligned with Boulder’s social equity goals Support energy conservation and the use of renewable, clean energy

INTEGRITY | EXPERIENCE | SENSIBILITY

Michael4Boulder.com Paid for by Michael4Boulder VOTER GUIDE • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • 9

Boulder City Council Steve Rosenblum Website: steveforboulder.com Age: 42 Family: Married to Elena Hernandez, two daughters (12 & 10), two dogs, and a parrot How long have you lived in Boulder: 2017 Professional background: Various leadership roles at financial services firms. Twenty years of experience in housing, municipal finance, budget sustainability and regulation.

Political/community experience: As part of Safer Boulder, researched and advocated for policies to improve public safety and promote welcoming shared spaces and drafted a petition with more than 9,000 signatures.

Education: Columbia University, B.S. mathematics, economics, and computer science Boulder is in the midst of an effort to “reimagine” its police department. What changes might you hope to see?

Restore police staffing to full complement to address the rising levels of crime and trafficking of methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl. The BPD has lost 42 out of 183 officers since May 2020.

Hold police accountable, increase training and replace or augment policing with more effective resources, when appropriate. Two areas constitute a disproportionate number of police calls: nuisance complaints on University Hill and individuals experiencing mental health or substance abuse crises.

CU Boulder should implement a code of conduct for students living off campus while social workers and mental health professionals should be hired to respond to nonviolent incidents. Police should focus on keeping the community safe by preventing and solving crimes with data and detective work.

There has been discussion about providing more services for people experiencing homelessness, particularly those

with substance use or mental health disorders. What additional services do you believe are necessary? And what ideas do you have for funding them?

We must focus our substantial yet limited funds on preventing and rapidly resolving homelessness for people with connections to Boulder. As a city and county, we spend close to $100 million a year on housing and human services, including permanent supporting housing, rental assistance, mental health, addiction recovery and funding for nonprofits. However, the epidemic of methamphetamine addiction has exposed a hole in our social safety net. We don’t have adequate resources to help or house these individuals in part due to the prohibition of meth use in subsidized housing. Invest county, state and federal funds in transitional housing and alternative sentencing facilities to break the cycle of desperation and recidivism. Work with regional partners to ensure every community provides a minimum service level to address this crisis.

Boulder is working to update its climate action plan and intends to adopt more aggressive climate goals. What specific actions would you advocate for in terms of reducing the city’s climate impact?

Focus on three areas with highest leverage: energy, transportation, and buildings. We need to get to 100% clean energy as rapidly as possible, either via partnership with Xcel or new potential options that will be created if Community Choice Energy is passed by the state. Reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips by incentivizing carpooling with a parking and rebate program. Explore a Boulder Valley Transit District to create a green mass transit system that reduces emissions and traffic. Complete our bike network to allow people to safely move around town without a car. Electrify city facilities and large commercial buildings to eliminate the use of natural gas.

10 • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • VOTER GUIDE

Nicole Speer Website: nicoleforboulder.com Age: 44 Family: Husband (Jeremy, married 18 years), two kids, two dogs How long have you lived in Boulder: 16 years Professional background: Dining, retail, research assistant, scientist, operations director at CU Boulder’s brain imaging research facility since 2012.

Political/community experience: Emerge Colorado (2021 Graduate), First Congregational Church (member), NAACP Boulder County (member), United Campus Workers (member), Feet Forward (volunteer), Bixby School (Former Trustee), Creekside Elementary (Former PTA member) Education: B.A. Scripps College (Claremont, Calif.); M.A., Ph.D. Washington University (St. Louis, Mo.) Boulder is in the midst of an effort to “reimagine” its police department. What changes might you hope to see?

In June, Chief (Maris) Herold noted that crime overall has stabilized this year, with property crimes increasing. Right now, a lot of our police department’s time is spent on homelessness and nuisance complaints, which are not what police are trained to do and not what they do best. To empower our police to address property crime, we need to let other departments address these issues, which echoes Chief Herold’s statement that “other city departments have levers that are much more impactful on some of these crime and disorder issues than the police.” Our police chief is telling us what to do to help her and her officers address property thefts and violent crime. We need to listen or we’re going to keep losing officers and not seeing the issues we care about getting resolved.

There has been discussion about providing more services

for people experiencing homelessness, particularly those with substance use or mental health disorders. What additional services do you believe are necessary? And what ideas do you have for funding them?

To address chronic homelessness, we can reinstate a day services facility and create supportive housing options that help get people into housing and help them stay there. A recent study in Denver found that 77% of people experiencing chronic homelessness who entered intensive, supportive housing were still housed three years later. The people in supportive housing had a 40% reduction in shelter stays, a 34% reduction in police contacts, a 40% reduction in arrests, a 30% reduction in jail stays and a 65% reduction in detoxification services.

The cost increase to the city for these supportive housing programs was minimal due to decreases in criminal justice and other services use.

Boulder is working to update its climate action plan and intends to adopt more aggressive climate goals. What specific actions would you advocate for in terms of reducing the city’s climate impact?

As we start measuring emissions involved in getting goods, services and people into and out of our community, anything we can do to provide goods and services locally and enable Boulder’s workers to live here will reduce our climate impact (e.g., creating more workforce housing and 15minute neighborhoods). There are climate impacts from rebuilding after disasters like floods and wildfires (e.g., creating and transporting construction materials), so we must focus on becoming climate resilient to limit our climate impact. Climate resilience includes investing in social infrastructure and addressing inequities to ensure the most vulnerable among us stop experiencing the most harm from the climate crisis.

Boulder City Council David Takahashi Website: dtakahashi4bouldercouncil.com Age: 70 Family: A loving wife, two adult daughters and one grandchild How long have you lived in Boulder: 34 years, includes last nine years here in town Professional background: software engineering Political/community experience: Accelerate Neighborhood Climate Action, City of Boulder Net Zero Hero, Boulder.Earth steward, local power advocate, interfaith organizing (Boulder, Denver, Colorado, BoCoVOADvolunteer, internationally), Regenerative Economy organizer, Right Relationship volunteer, Regenerative Recovery Coalition, Colorado Coalition for a Livable Climate, Natural Capitalism Solutions Fellow, Climate Reality Project Leader Education: B.S. plant biochemistry — San Jose State University Boulder is in the midst of an effort to “reimagine” its police department. What changes might you hope to see?

I would like to see BPD able to focus on public safety. COVID-19 showed us that life could go on quite well with a more hands-off approach from the police department. I understand that enforcing homeless populations may be a social services domain rather than the police department, so paring scope back to the core competencies and not asking them to draw outside their comfort zones. I hope to move our housing situation to one where first responders can afford to live here and enjoy a living integration of the police force.

There has been discussion about providing more services for people experiencing homelessness, particularly those with substance use or mental health disorders. What additional services do you believe

are necessary? And what ideas do you have for funding them?

Homelessness is a regional issue, and funding belongs at the regional level. Having lost a home to wildfire, I am aware that the difference between home security and homelessness is a simple twist of fate and have great empathy for those experiencing homelessness.

Across the county, many of the interventions are church-led due to the deep values of charity and compassion. One untapped resource is known as Community Development Financial Institutions, which can harness the funds lending institutions set aside for community development projects.

Boulder is updating its climate action plan and intends to adopt more aggressive climate goals. What specific actions would you advocate for in terms of reducing the city’s climate impact?

The problem I see with the city’s action plan is a lack of public ownership. Without public buy-in, we have a situation where very little is actually accomplished. We are in a declared Code-Red Climate Emergency, and this calls for all hands on deck. Though electricity demand has been decreasing, our natural gas demand has increased.

We are looking at a fuel source that will continue to increase in price (fossil fuels), while we have a fuel source that continues to decrease in price (solar/wind).

The city is asking us to depend on system change (the utility) when they are committed to coal until 2039 and natural gas (with the price fluctuations) beyond that.

My platform calls for a pledge to go fossil fuel free or Net Zero by the year 2040. I will have to be working with the utility to change their tune to achieve this. I am counting on leaning on the utility to make electrification and resilient hardening through weatherization more affordable to property owners.

Mark Wallach Website: wallachforcouncil.com Age: 68 Family: Married to Joan Zimmerman; together for 35 years.

No children. One sister, one brother How long have you lived in Boulder: Seven years Professional background: Previously a real estate developer in New York City and a lawyer Political/community experience: City Council member since 2019 Education: B.A. Yale University 1974; J.D. Columbia University 1979 Boulder is in the midst of an effort to “reimagine” its police department. What changes might you hope to see?

I hope to see heightened professional training for all officers and more data-driven, scientific deployment of all law enforcement resources. I also want to see the department restored to its full complement of officers.

They have been operating understaffed for too long, and this inhibits their ability to provide the levels of public safety that the community requires. I think we have put in place excellent oversight processes to monitor the department going forward and I expect them to have a beneficial impact on policing.

There has been discussion about providing more services for people experiencing homelessness, particularly those with substance use or mental health disorders. What additional services do you believe are necessary? And what ideas do you have for funding them?

It is clear that there is no benefit in continually recycling those members of the homeless com-

munity who suffer from mental illness or drug addiction through the prison system as our solution to the problem. However, until now we have lacked the resources to implement the kind of treatment programs that will properly address this population. The state has recently passed a bill that should provide additional resources to both the county and the city for this purpose. Working together, hopefully with the participation of our sister cities, and using either ARPA funding or even infrastructure funding (if the Biden bill becomes law), could provide adequate funding to begin to address the problem.

The county is also considering a tax to support homeless programs, which I would support, despite my general reluctance to raise the tax burden on a highly taxed community.

Boulder is working to update its climate action plan and intends to adopt more aggressive climate goals. What specific actions would you advocate for in terms of reducing the city’s climate impact?

We need to update our building codes to require net zero construction with respect to our largest residential projects; LEED gold or platinum certification is no longer sufficient. In fact, we need to extend net zero requirements to most forms of new construction, and we should at least analyze the energy standards we should require for substantial renovations. We need to construct more charging stations to incentivize the use of electric automobiles and create more protected bike paths to increase safety and promote the use of alternative means of transportation. We also need to do deep retrofits of many city office buildings and recreational facilities, most of which are highly inefficient in terms of energy usage.

VOTER GUIDE • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • 11

Boulder City Council Dan Williams Website: DanForBoulder.com Age: 52 Family: I am married to Mary Faltynski, who runs Boulder County Public Health’s Genesis Program for teen parents. We have two sons, Cassidy (22) and Jonah (20), and our family dog is Yonder (11).

How long have you lived in Boulder: 15 years Professional background: Civil rights and commercial litigation attorney Political/community experience: Served on boards of ACLU of Colorado, Growing Gardens, Better Boulder Education: J.D., Georgetown Law; M.S. public policy and B.A., University of Rochester Boulder is in the midst of an effort to “reimagine” its police department. What changes might you hope to see?

I hear from many in Boulder who are justifiably concerned about increases in thefts since COVID-19 shutdowns began. We need a police department fully focused on property crime and violent crime. For too long, we’ve asked police to do too much. I believe we should reallocate functions relating to social problems like homelessness and nuisances to social workers and code enforcers, and free police to focus all their time and attention on what they’re trained for: to protect us from violent crime and property crime. We need to double down on accountability because policing has been unequal in Boulder. The city recently put more oversight in place. It will fall to the next Council to ensure sufficient oversight of police officers who commit civil rights violations or fail to police in a fair and just manner.

There has been discussion

12 • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • VOTER GUIDE

about providing more services for people experiencing homelessness, particularly those with substance use or mental health disorders. What additional services do you believe are necessary? And what ideas do you have for funding them?

Successful cities are focusing on shelter access. Many here don’t realize that in recent years Boulder has cut its day shelter services, and that until last August, the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless refused to admit people who had lived here less than six months.

Those decisions, as well as a severe lack of transitional housing and shelter resources, have had the predictable result that with nowhere inside to be, unhoused people are living outside. We need to provide safe places to shelter so that people are not left to live in parks and underpasses. We can reallocate city funds to pay for much of this, and we should look for state/regional funding to fill the gap. Just as an emergency room is the most expensive place for medical care, freeing police from managing homelessness and nuisances allows for reallocation of funds from the most expensive service provider to an appropriately priced service provider.

Boulder is working to update its climate action plan and intends to adopt more aggressive climate goals. What specific actions would you advocate for in terms of reducing the city’s climate impact?

The climate crisis is an emergency, and we need to treat it that way. We need to lean in to mass transit and safe biking. We need to allow more people in Boulder to live in closer proximity, allowing 15-minute neighborhoods and reduced per-capita carbon emissions. The Sierra Club supports these changes, and I’m honored they have endorsed me.

Boulder City Council Tara Winer

tional services do you believe are necessary? And what ideas do you have for funding them?

We need to prioritize funding for and expansion of mental health and substance abuse programs.

We need to take a strong, coordinated approach to lobby on a regional level for state and federal funding. Two proposed statewide programs to expand inpatient and outpatient care for mental illness and substance abuse would provide key short- and long-term treatment. Long-term outpatient recovery programs (e.g., housing, therapy, medication) are needed to prevent relapse. Both inpatient and outpatient care is costly and needs a steady source of funding. I support efforts to put this funding on the 2022 ballot. We should also look at day programs. Day programs could serve a dual purpose of providing job training or education and at the same time reduce the encampments.

Boulder is working to update its climate action plan and intends to adopt more aggres-

Boulder is in the midst of an effort to “reimagine” its police department. What changes might you hope to see?

Website: taraforboulder.com I envision a BPD that is properly Age: 63 staffed, trained, transparent and Family: Husband of 35 years: collaborative. For complex reaRobert Winer. Three daughters. sons, police have been placed in One granddaughter with another situations where they are not the on the way. best suited to lead, such as situaHow long have you lived in tions involving severe mental illBoulder: 10 years ness and/or drug use disorders.

Professional background: BPD can bring in social workers to Small business owner lead conflict resolution, with police Political/community experiofficers serving as backup in case ence: Currently on a situation turns violent. This is a the Boulder Parks template for how Boulder policing and Recreation Advican look in the future. The BPD sory Board and the can demonstrate strong leadership Downtown Boulder through effective anti-bias trainCommunity Initiaing, mental health support and tives Board. Formeraccountability. Police Chief Maris ly served on the Boulder Urban Renewal Authority, Herold is a true reformer who is the Capital Tax Renewal Advisory leading the way.

There has been discussion Committee and the Chautauqua about providing more services Access Management Plan Comfor people experiencing homemunity Working Group. lessness, particularly those Education: B.S. in Economics from University of Wisconsin-Mad- with substance use or mental health disorders. What addiison

sive climate goals. What specific actions would you advocate for in terms of reducing the city’s climate impact?

The largest cause of excess greenhouse gases is the way we produce electricity. Continuing our commitment to 100% renewable energy by 2030 is of utmost importance. Transportation is another contributor to carbon emissions.

We need programs that reduce vehicle miles traveled for in-commuters and residents. Options include increasing access to convenient, net-zero transportation for the general public (e.g., electric public buses, bicycle programs) and working with large employers (e.g., CU, City of Boulder, etc.) to offer shuttle buses and incentivize employees and students to use public transportation and bicycles.

Boulder can also lead in carbon sequestration. Some ideas would be protecting and increasing our urban tree canopy, and by choosing agricultural practices that prioritize the removal of excess carbon emissions.

BEYOND DIVISION, FOR SMART SOLUTIONS

VOTE

These 2021 City Council candidates will:

Michael Christy Michael4Boulder.com

Prioritize public safety Foster new & affordable housing choices for individuals and families at all stages of life Lead on climate action and carbon-free energy

Steve Rosenblum SteveforBoulder.com

Connect with Forward Boulder

Protect and Restore Open Space Ensure shared community spaces are safe and welcoming for all residents Implement Boulder’s racial equity plan Ease burdens and better support local businesses Expand policies and regional cooperation to meet the needs of unhoused individuals and families Work with all community members to tackle challenges and lessen polarization

Mark Wallach WallachforCouncil.com

www.FrwrdBoulder.org facebook.com/frwrdboulder instagram.com/frwrdboulder

Tara Winer

TaraforBoulder.com

EXPERIENCED PERSPECTIVES

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C O L L A B O R AT I V E S O LU T I O N S VOTER GUIDE • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • 13

Boulder Ballot Issue 2I: Extension of Community, Culture, Resilience and Safety Sales and Use Tax

nance of the city’s transportation network, Boulder Creek corridor improvements and renovations to the East Boulder Recreation Center are among the projects that the city What it asks: “Without raising vert to led lights; refresh pearl more transparent, faster, accessible, has identified as high priorities.

What supporters say: Supporters the current tax rate, shall the exist- street mall; and future city capital and user-friendly resident and visiing Community, Culture and Safety improvement projects such as those tor service; and use up to 10% of tax have expressed support for funding the Pearl Street Mall refresh and the sales and use tax of 0.3%, scheduled in the following categories: transrevenue to fund a grant pool for to expire Dec. 31, 2021, be extendportation system resilience – main- non-profit organization projects that Civic Area Phase II project. The groups who wanted a higher percented to Dec. 31, 2036, and be known tain and modernize boulder’s trans- serve the people of boulder and age for nonprofits have now in generas the Community, Culture, Resilportation system to allow for safer related costs including grant proal become supporters of the tax meaience and Safety Tax, with the reve- and more efficient flow for all gram administration costs in comnue from such tax extension and all modes of transportation including pliance with terms, conditions, and sures because, even though only 10% earnings thereon be used to fund pedestrian, bike, and vehicles; prog- timing adopted by the City Council; is guaranteed for those uses, more funding could be directed that way city capital improvement projects ress toward climate goals – renoand in connection therewith, shall by a future council. In addition, busisuch as: maintain and improve vate and retrofit the city’s aged facil- the tax revenues and any earnings roads and multi-modal paths; ities to increase resilience and from the revenues constitute a vot- ness representatives from the Hill replace critically deteriorated signal reduce carbon emissions; safe and er approved revenue change and an have been supportive as some of the funds could be directed to capital poles; replace central avenue prepared boulder – maintain and exception to the revenue and projects in that neighborhood. bridge; improve the Boulder Creek replace capital infrastructure that spending limits of Article X, Section What opponents say: Boulder Path corridor; implement the Boul- supports first responders; active 20 of the Colorado Constitution?” residents have urged the city to der Civic Area Phase 2/Central and healthy boulder – maintain and What it means: Boulder is askincrease the percentage of the tax Park improvements; complete fire modernize facilities needed to proing voters to approve a 15-year that will be allocated to the grant station 3 construction; relocate or vide residents the amenities and extension of the 0.3% sales tax and pool for community nonprofit projreconstruct fire station 2 or fire sta- opportunities to recreate and main- bond measure, which would be up tion 4; purchase emergency vehitain healthy and active lifestyle; to $110 million. The measure would ects from 10% to 20%, stressing the cles for Boulder Fire-Rescue to pro- community focused technology help address some of the city’s $300 importance of arts and culture in the community and the impact of vide advanced life support; renovate improvements – modernize and million in unfunded capital infraEast Boulder Recreation Center; consolidate the city’s data infrastructure needs. Upgrades to Boul- the COVID-19 pandemic on local nonprofits. acquire streetlight system and con- structure and outreach tools for der Fire-Rescue facilities, mainte-

GONE FOREVER? Save CU South !

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Paid for by Save CU South with major funding from Save South Boulder and Plan-Boulder County.

14 • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • VOTER GUIDE

Boulder Ballot Issue 2J: Approval of Issuance of Bonds to be Paid from Extended Community Culture Resilience and Safety Sales and Use Tax What it asks: “Shall City of Boulder debt be increased up to $110,000,000 (principal amount) with a maximum repayment cost of up to $158,000,000 (such amount being the total principal and interest that could be payable over the maximum life of the debt) to be payable solely from the extension of the Community, Culture, Resilience and Safety Sales and Use Tax of 0.3% (previously known as the Community, Culture and Safety Tax), if separately approved; such debt to be sold at such time and in such manner and to contain such terms, not inconsistent herewith, as the city council may determine, with the proceeds of such debt and earnings thereon being used to fund city capital improvement projects and non-profit projects that serve the people of boulder payable from such sales and use tax extension including, among other things: maintain and improve roads and multi-modal paths; replace critically deteriorated signal poles; replace central avenue bridge; improve the Boulder Creek path corridor; implement the Boulder Civic Area Phase 2/Central Park improvements; complete fire station 3 construction; relocate or reconstruct fire station 2 or fire station 4; purchase emergency vehicles for Boulder Fire-Rescue to provide advanced life support ; renovate East Boulder Recreation Center; acquire streetlight system

and convert to led lights; refresh pearl street mall; or used to fund other city capital improvement projects and projects of non-profit organizations otherwise payable from said sales and use tax; and in connection therewith, shall any earnings from the investment of the proceeds of such debts constitute a voter approved revenue change and an exception to the revenue and spending limits of Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution?”

What it means: Boulder is asking voters to allow the city to issue bonds so that funds from the extension of the city’s capital infrastructure tax can be put to use immediately. This measure is dependent on the passing of Ballot Question 2I — the community, culture, resilience and safety tax.

What supporters say: Business representatives from the University Hill area have been supportive as some of the funds could be directed to capital projects they hope to see complete such as closing the event street on the Hill.

What opponents say: Some residents asked the city to increase the percentage of the tax that will be allocated to the grant pool for community nonprofit projects from 10% to 20%, stressing the importance of arts and culture in the community and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on local nonprofits.

VOTER GUIDE • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • 15

Boulder Ballot Question 2K: Council Committees What it asks: “Shall Section 9, “Meetings of Council,” of the Boulder City Charter be amended pursuant to Ordinance No.8478 to (a) remove provisions that expired in December 2017, (b) explicitly allow council to appoint council committees that generally contain no more than two councilmembers and in no event equal or exceed a quorum of council and allow councilmembers not appointed to the committee to attend, but not participate in council committee meeting, and (c) require council to

appoint a recruitment committee of no more than two members for each of the three council appointments?”

What it means: This measure would explicitly allow the council to appoint committees with no more than two council members.

What supporters say: There is no documented information from anyone in support of this measure.

What opponents say: There is no documented information from anyone who opposes this measure.

Question 2L: Clarification of Signatures for Petitions What it asks: “Shall Sections 38A, “Signatures required for initiative, referenda and recall petitions,” 44, “Referendum petition,” and 46, “Certificate of petition,” of the Boulder City Charter be amended to clarify that the number of signatures for initiative, referenda and recall petitions are required to be registered electors of the city and that the number of signatures of registered electors on a referendum petition must be at least ten percent of the average number of voters in the previous two municipal candidate elections consistent with other changes approved by the voters in 2018?”

What it means: Boulder is asking for a clarification of a charter

16 • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • VOTER GUIDE

language created by a 2018 ballot measure. The clarification would require that those wishing to place measures on the ballot must obtain signatures of registered Boulder voters. It also states that the number signatures required to place a measure on the ballot be equal to at least 10% of the average number of voters in the previous two municipal candidate elections.

What supporters say: No support has been documented from residents who are in favor of this measure.

What opponents say: No opposition has been documented from residents who are against this measure.

Boulder Ballot Question 2M: Council Payment Schedule What it asks: “Shall Section 7, “Compensation,” of the Boulder City Charter be amended pursuant to Ordinance No. 8477 to allow council members serving on January 1, 2022 and thereafter, and the

mayor elected in November 2023 and thereafter, to receive compensation for fifty-two meetings each year on the same schedule as other city employees or on a schedule prepared by the city manager?”

What it means: Boulder is asking to align the City Council payment schedules with that of city employees.

What supporters say: No support has been documented from

residents who are in favor of this measure.

What opponents say: No opposition has been documented from residents who are against this measure.

Question 300: Bedrooms are for People What it asks: “Shall the City of Boulder expand access to housing by allowing all housing units to be occupied by a number of people equal to the number of legal bedrooms, plus one additional person per home, provided that relevant health and safety codes are met?”

What it means: Voters are being asked to approve a change to Boulder’s occupancy limits to allow more unrelated people to live together. In most parts of

Boulder, it is illegal for more than three unrelated people to live together. If approved, this measure would allow all residences to be occupied by as many people as there are legal bedrooms, plus one additional person per home.

What supporters say: Supporters say the measure would help people be able to better afford housing in Boulder. People have also argued that this is a right of personal choice for people to be

able to live with who they want, which supports LGBTQ couples.

The measure would also expand housing options for seniors or people who are retired, it lessens the need to continue building and adding more housing in the city, it would lessen traffic and pollution by keeping people in Boulder and it ends what supporters say is a discriminatory law that segregates people.

What opponents say: Some

allege passing the measure would limit housing for low and middleincome residents as well as for students at the University of Colorado Boulder. Opponents have said that if passed, this measure would drive housing prices higher because houses would be able to be subdivided to have multiple bedrooms and each tenant would pay their own portion of rent, which, when combined, a single family renting the same residence would not be able to afford.

Paid for by NO on Bedroom$, Major funding from John Goldsmith and Lisa Spalding VOTER GUIDE • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • 17

VOTE YES ON 300 EXPAND ACCESS TO HOUSING IN BOULDER

Boulder Ballot Question 301: Humane Clothing Act What it asks: “Shall the City of Boulder prohibit the sale and manufacture for sale of certain fur products?”

What it means: The Fur Free Boulder campaign, formally called the Humane Clothing Act, would make it unlawful to “manufacture, sell, display for sale, distribute or trade for monetary or nonmonetary consideration any fur or fur

product” in Boulder.

What supporters say: Supporters say if approved, the act will make way for similar legislation to move forward in Colorado.

What opponents say: Residents asked the City Council to make changes to the text of the measure and add “animal fur” to its title.

Question 302: Let the Voters Decide on Annexation of CU South

Your vote will help make Boulder a more inclusive, affordable, and welcoming place to call home.

BOULDER LEADERS ENDORSE BEDROOMS ARE FOR PEOPLE

"Bedrooms Are For People aligns with EFAA's support for housing stability & prevention of family homelessness." — Emergency Family Assistance Association "The Sierra Club supports Bedrooms are for People because it furthers our stated goals on both climate change and affordable housing." — The Sierra Club

Learn more at BedroomsAreForPeople.com Paid for by Bedrooms Are For People Major funding by Chelsea Castellano, Eric Budd, & Jan McRoberts 18 • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • VOTER GUIDE

What it asks: “Shall the voters of the City of Boulder adopt changes to the City of Boulder, Colorado, Revised Code to require that any agreement with the University of Colorado regarding terms of annexation for the land known as CU South include certain specific details, and that the annexation agreement gain voter approval in an election prior to provision of city utilities and services other than flood control facilities to or on any portion of CU South?”

What it means: Voters are being asked to approve a measure that would require a vote on the annexation agreement of CU South ahead of the provision of any city utilities aside from flood

control facilities. The ballot measure also would mandate that the agreement include specific details such as a site plan for development on the university-owned property.

What supporters say: People who are in favor of this measure say the current annexation agreement is incomplete and flawed.

Some supporters say the proposal encroaches on the floodplain at CU South, and they want voters to decide if they agree with the plan.

What opponents say: Opposition has been raised by people who are in support of the annexation agreement. They say the measure is misguided and dangerous and meant to delay any progress on the CU South project.

Lafayette City Council Tonya Briggs Website: fb.me/TonyaBriggs CityCouncil Age: 42 Family: My husband Doug and my three amazing daughters How long have you lived in Lafayette: 12 years Professional background: For 12 years I’ve run a small family plumbing business with my husband in Lafayette. Before that, I worked in the accounting field.

Political/community experience: I’m currently a city councilor for Lafayette.

I’m also the liaison to the Historic Preservation Board and the Waste Reduction Advisory Committee. I am passionate about protecting animals and our environment.

Education: Some college courses in accounting and horticultural Why have you chosen to run for Lafayette City Council?

I wish to continue to serve our community as a city councilor. I’ve truly enjoyed helping others and assisting small businesses during the challenges of the past few years. We’ve been working on the comprehensive plan, multimodal transportation plan, and the sustainability plan. All will help guide

the future of Lafayette and help preserve what we have.

What are your top agenda items you hope to accomplish if elected?

Affordable housing along with finding a way for those who work here to have the option of living here. Finding safe alternative ways for folks to travel throughout Lafayette and the neighboring regions. Implement new ecofriendly practices so that we can achieve our zero waste goals.

What are some of the issues you feel need to be addressed within the community?

Housing. I want folks who want to live here to be able to do so.

Also, safety, particularly with biking and pedestrian corridors.

Tweak building code once the comprehensive plan is completed.

Lafayette has grown a lot. We need to start making very important choices when it comes to the land we have left. We need to preserve our history and ensure new builds do not tower over existing properties. We also need to make sure that new builds fit our look, feel, and our needs, in addition to making the most sustainable choices possible to protect our environment and resources.

Enihs Medrano Website: enihsmedrano4 lafayette.com Age: 20 Family: Mother, father and one younger brother (17) who attends CHS How long have you lived in Lafayette: 20 years Professional background: Young Life part-time student staff Political/community experience: Former member of Lafayette Youth Advisory Committee Education: CU Boulder undergraduate student Why have you chosen to run for Lafayette City Council?

I chose to run for Lafayette City Council because I have grown up and lived in this town all of my life, and this is where I want to invest my time. Serving the community that has served me all of my life and to proudly represent my Mexican American communi-

ty here in Lafayette.

What are your top agenda items you hope to accomplish if elected?

I hope to keep Lafayette accessible and affordable for all families and individuals, creating more affordable housing opportunities and reinvesting in existing neighborhoods. I also would like to work on the sustainability of our town; establishing more ways of using renewable sources in our town, as well as finding new ways for the youth in our town to be more involved and making sure our education opportunities are for everyone.

What are some of the issues you feel need to be addressed within the community?

Rising cost of housing for both homeowners and renters, establishing new strategies to improve the overall sustainability in our town, continuing to improve ways for people to use different methods of transportation other than by car to reduce the amount of traffic.

VOTER GUIDE • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • 19

Lafayette City Council Nicole Samson Website: vote4nicoles.com Age: 51 Family: Husband, son and daughter How long have you lived in Lafayette: 15 years Professional background: Grant administrator for Adams County. Previous work experience in small business management, nonprofit organizations, marketing and journalism Political/community experience: Planning commissioner, former councilor, former Northwest Parkway board member Education: Master of Public Administration from CU Denver; two undergraduate degrees, one in communications and one in dance Why have you chosen to run for Lafayette City Council?

It has been a dream of mine to serve on city council. I was lucky enough to fill a vacancy on council in 2019 for half of the year. It was a great experience. I would love to contribute my knowledge and skills in that role again.

What are your top agenda items you hope to accomplish if elected?

Keep Lafayette’s small-town feel while still being an innovative community: Lafayette is eclectic, historically rich and connected. Being a leader and maintaining the connectedness of our community takes balance. I want us to keep the elements that allow Lafayette

to be the community we love.

Affordable housing for various income levels: We need affordable housing for those who want to buy their first home in Lafayette, for people starting out in their careers as teachers, nurses or police officers who want to live where they work, or seniors living on a fixed income who want to continue to live here. We have talked about this need for a while; now it’s time to make this happen.

Small business support: Lafayette should be a community where people feel supported in starting their dream business. I want to include small business in discussions of how to be more small business-friendly.

Responsive public safety: Lafayette is growing, and with the growth comes a greater demand on our first responders. We need to ensure we have sufficient vehicles, equipment and staff to effectively respond to emergencies.

What are some of the issues you feel need to be addressed within the community?

Now that the city is finalizing the comprehensive plan, we can start on projects that are identified as needs in this and the associated plans, such as improving Baseline Road and Arapahoe Road. Also, we need to research our water needs for the future and how we will accommodate those needs. We need to increase staff and equipment for Fire Station #2 so we can effectively address the increased needs near the hospital.

Brandon Stites Website: brandonforlafayette.com Age: 26 Family: Partner and two dogs; golden retriever and a shepherd mix How long have you lived in Lafayette: 1.5 years Professional background: Senior software engineer at Expensify with over five years of experience Political/community experience: I’m an Eagle Scout, which required me to earn the Citizenship in the Community merit badge, and did volunteer work throughout high school and college. I’ve also been attending every city council meeting for the past few months Education: Bachelor’s of Science in Software Engineering at RIT Why have you chosen to run for Lafayette City Council?

Ever since I worked to become an Eagle Scout and earned the Citizenship in the Community merit badge, local government is something I have respected and been interested in. To me, local government is where you can really create meaningful change that will affect residents’ every-

BOCO Republican Caucus March 1, 2022 Paid for by Boulder County Republican Committee Registered Agent Marge Klein

20 • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • VOTER GUIDE

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day lives.

I have moved across the country multiple times and never found anywhere to call home until I moved to Lafayette. Now that I am in a place I plan on living in for the foreseeable future, I have decided that now is the time to follow my passion and really get involved.

What are your top agenda items you hope to accomplish if elected?

I will be focusing on sustainable “smart” growth, affordable housing, and preventing oil and gas drilling near our homes, parks, and waterways. These are all things that are important to me personally and, after speaking with constituents, seem to be important to the community as a whole.

What are some of the issues you feel need to be addressed within the community?

The top issues I have heard from members of the community are increased traffic, uncontained growth, and unequal access to government programs for Hispanic-owned businesses in our area. All three of these issues are directly influenced by the city council and I will work with city staff to ensure that progress is made to solve them.

www.vote411.org

Lafayette City Council Brian Wong Website: brianwonglafayette.com Age: 45 Family: My spouse, Amy, and 15-year-old son Kevin How long have you lived in Lafayette: 14 years Professional background: Human resources Political/community experience: Two years on Lafayette City Council, seven years on planning commission including four years as chairperson Education: Attended CU Boulder Why have you chosen to run for Lafayette City Council?

Lafayette has faced two of our most significant challenges during the last two years: the global

COVID-19 pandemic and the cyberattack against our city’s IT infrastructure. Addressing these challenges was my primary focus for my two years on council.

I am running for reelection to continue addressing these challenges to better prepare Lafayette for the future and to deliver on the vision for Lafayette I proposed during my first term. I want to elevate Lafayette by laying the groundwork for city broadband using Longmont’s NextLight as a model, build support for publicly funded local elections, and ensure that housing is attainable for all Lafayette residents.

What are your top agenda items you hope to accomplish if elected?

If elected, I would immediately work to build momentum for a city broadband feasibility study. The

COVID-19 pandemic provided an opportunity to demonstrate the need for an affordable and dependable city broadband service. Lafayette should begin to make investments in a city broadband solution for all residents. Though city broadband would take many years to implement, I would like to see the Council take a future-oriented approach.

I would work on building support for publicly funded city elections. I believe it is essential that our city’s leaders come from various backgrounds and hold various experiences. Publicly funded elections will ensure that an elite, entrenched political class does not arise in Lafayette.

What are some of the issues you feel need to be addressed within the community?

Affordable housing is a critical

issue the Council must make one of its primary focuses. All too often, Lafayette residents are not able to afford housing. I would propose that the city create a program that would provide incentives to increase affordable housing as part of new projects.

I would also like to see the city issue rules around Accessory Dwelling Units across the entire community. ADUs would provide an immediate increase in the number of rental units. These ADUs would also offer the opportunity for our senior residents to age in place.

I believe it is essential for our residents to get involved in the community. As our community continues to grow, it is vital all residents feel like they can find a place to build a connection to our city and neighbors.

Lafayette Ballot Issue 2B: Funding public safety services What it asks: Shall City of Lafayette taxes be increased by $1,990,000 annually in the first full fiscal year and by such amounts as are raised annually thereafter from an additional 0.27% sales and use tax (2.7 cents on a ten-dollar purchase), beginning January 1, 2022, and continuing thereafter, such revenues to be collected, retained, and spent to increase the level of public safety services and provide funding for public safety equipment and operating expenses, including, but not limited to:- providing mental health co-responder teams on calls involving persons

experiencing behavioral health crises;- providing Lafayette Fire and Police departments with additional firefighters and officers to improve response times and response capabilities to emergencies throughout the city;- providing resources for emergency management and resiliency planning, and recovery from environmental, climate, and human-caused disasters;- maintaining, replacing, and enhancing fire and police capital equipment and defraying operating expenses for equipment and facilities for the Lafayette Fire and Police departments; and shall the city be per-

mitted to collect, retain, and expend all revenues derived from such tax as a voter approved revenue change and an exception to limits which would otherwise apply under Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution or any other law?

What it means: The measure would increase the sales and use tax by 0.27%, or 2.7 cents on a $10 purchase, to fund public safety services. The measure also asks voters to allow the district to set aside the rules in the Taxpayer Bill of Rights and allow it to collect and keep all revenues raised by the tax

increase to spend on future needs.

What supporters say: Supporters said Lafayette has a critical need for additional resources to increase the level of public safety services given the population growth in the city. Lafayette’s current sales and use tax rate is 3.5%, making it the fourth lowest out of 11 nearby communities.

What opponents say: In addition to residents who oppose tax increases in general, there may be residents who specifically oppose more money being spent on funding law enforcement.

VOTER GUIDE • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • 21

Lafayette ballot Issue 2C: Funding Mental Health and Human Services What it asks: Shall City of Lafayette taxes be increased by $750,000 annually in the first full fiscal year and by such amounts as are raised annually thereafter from an additional 0.1% sales and use tax (1.0 cents on a ten-dollar purchase), beginning January 1, 2022, and continuing thereafter, such revenues to be collected, retained, and spent for the purpose of funding mental health services and human services through contractual partnerships with nonprofit agencies that provide critical safety net services and programs to

individuals, families, and children in the City of Lafayette, including, but not limited to: – assistance with food, rent, utilities, childcare, and medical care, mental health care and resources, and support for victims of domestic violence; and shall the city be permitted to collect, retain, and expend all revenues derived from such tax as a voter approved revenue change and an exception to limits which would otherwise apply under Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution or any other law?

What it means: The mental

Issue 2D: Gender Neutral Charter Language What it asks: Shall the Lafayette Home Rule Charter be amended to change all gender specific references (such as “he,” “she,” “his,” “her,” “him,” “himself,” and “herself”) to gender neutral references?

What it means: The measure will amend the Home Rule Charter to remove masculine and feminine pronouns and replace them with neutral, gender-free designations.

What supporters say: The change would use more inclusive language for all gender identities.

What opponents say: There has been no organized opposition to this measure.

health and human services initiative will ask voters whether to add 0.10% tax, or 1.0 cents on a $10 purchase, to help fund services like mental health, medical care, support for domestic violence victims, and help for families and individuals in crisis to cover rent, find childcare, pay utilities, or get emergency access to food. The measure also asks voters to allow the city to set aside the rules in the Taxpayer Bill of Rights and allow it to collect and keep all revenues raised by the tax increase to spend on future needs.

What supporters say: Lafayette doesn’t staff a department to help with human services, and agencies have said population and caseload growth, coupled with reduced financial support from county, state, and federal governments, continue to place significant strains on human service providers.

What opponents say: While there has been no organized opposition to the measure, there are residents who oppose tax increases in general.

Issue 2E: Removal and Replacement of Archaic Charter Language What it asks: “Shall the Prefatory Synopsis and Sections 2.3, 4.5(b), 4.14, and 6.4 of the Lafayette Home Rule Charter be amended to remove and replace archaic language, specifically, to remove and replace the word ‘citizen’ where United States citizenship is not legally required, and to replace the term ‘master plan’ with ‘comprehensive plan’?”

What it means: Proposes amendments to the Home Rule Charter to remove and replace archaic language with more modern terminology, including certain instances of the word “citizen” and the term “master.”

What supporters say: The measure would remove and update words with racist and xenophobic roots.

What opponents say: There has been no organized opposition to this measure.

Issue 2F: Residency Qualification for City Councilors What it asks: “Shall Section 5.1 of the Lafayette Home Rule Charter be amended to provide that the period of residency to qualify for the holding of elective office shall be at least one year immediately preceding the date of the election, in order to align the Charter with

the one-year residency requirement to hold municipal elective office in Colorado state law?”

What it means: The amendment would align the residency qualification for City Councilors.

Section 5.1 of the charter states that a councilor must be a resident

22 • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • VOTER GUIDE

of the city for at least one year immediately prior to the last day for filing for office. This requirement is in conflict with, and longer than, state laws requiring residency for one year immediately prior to the date of the election.

What supporters say: The

amendment would establish a uniform and consistent time frame for potential Lafayette City Council candidates consistent with state laws.

What opponents say: There has been no organized opposition to this measure.

Longmont Mayor Gregory Harris Name: Gregory Harris Website: Under development Age: 60 Family: Married, two grown sons How long have you lived in Longmont? 50 years Professional background: Property manager, retired construction executive Political/community experience: Active as a nonprofit trustee; church volunteer; assist seniors by delivering meals, snow removal, house repair, and delivering cars for maintenance.

Education: Attended Niwot, Skyline high schools What are the one or two most pressing issues or problems facing Longmont city government?

I’m tired of watching things be done the same old way. It’s time for change. I’m running for mayor to improve the lives of the people of Longmont. We need to stop government overreach. Government actions are needed, but only for those things individuals can’t do themselves.

What should the mayor and city council do to address those issues or resolve those problems?

The recent action by the Longmont City Council requiring restaurants to serve “healthy beverages” as the default option in meal kits was excessive government overreach and a perfect example of not listening to the voice of the people. We all know Longmont will

grow. Businesses want to come here.

To meet this need, we must support the construction of middleclass apartments and houses. I oppose any increases in taxes, water rates, connection fees or tap fees and all excessive policies, codes, regulations and fees attached to new construction since they would add to the costs for consumers. I oppose all efforts to limit residential growth. We must substantially increase the number of homes built in Longmont. Without addressing our infrastructure, our current growth is unsustainable. It will increase our vehicle emissions, especially during commuting hours. Longmont has many roads that go north and south, but east and west we only have (Colo.) 66 and 119. In 1957, the fences on (Colo.) 66 were moved back to expand into a fourlane highway — but it never happened. Then we were taxed for a train from the south, but it was never built, and we didn’t get our money back.

If elected, what experiences, background or qualifications would you bring to working on those issues or problems?

As mayor, I will lead the City Council and city agencies in expediting project development. As one of my first actions, I will require a quarterly progress report from the city manager and agencies responsible for project approval. I support increasing the budget for public safety and oppose any effort to defund the police. As mayor, I will do whatever needs to be done to keep all businesses open.

Joan Peck Website: joanpeckforlongmontmayor.com Age: 73 Family: Two sons How long have you lived in Longmont? 44 years Professional background: United Bank of Boulder, Arapahoe National Bank, Saint Vrain Valley School District, IBM Political/community experience: I led the effort on Proposition 300 to amend charter banning fracking; volunteer for HOPE; Library Board; Denver Regional Council of Governments board; vice chair of the Northern Area Transportation Alliance, and six years on Longmont City Council.

Education: Bachelor’s degree from Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff What are the one or two most pressing issues or problems facing Longmont city government?

Transportation and the changing climate, especially the impact on water, are important issues facing Longmont.

What should the mayor and city council do to address those issues or resolve those problems?

As mayor, I will continue the push to get rail between Union Station and Longmont, connecting the five cities on the northwest corridor. The probability of AmTrak and the Front Range Passenger Rail (FRPR) organization partnering with RTD will make the building of this commuter rail line a reality.

Longmont should continue to work with RTD for free local bus transportation. Conversations

with businesses and the public on how to supplement local transportation should be ongoing. Our air quality along the Front Range has been the worst in the nation and at times, in the world. Platt River Power Authority needs to move faster on taking coal out of the energy mix and incentivizing electrifying homes. New development should be required and incentivized to wire housing units with enough energy to charge an electric vehicle. Incentivize commercial development to use solar.

Build neighborhood solar gardens.

If elected, what experiences, background or qualifications would you bring to working on those issues or problems?

I have worked successfully for six years to turn the tide on building the FasTracks northwest peak service commuter rail line.

My meetings with FRPR, RTD and transportation organizations have taught me the politics that have kept Longmont from getting this rail line built. I traveled with Commuting Solutions to Washington speaking on behalf of our rail. I continue to work with the RTD directors representing our area, RTD staff and the city staff of Longmont to further advocacy with BNSF. Oil well fracking has been a known contributor to methane, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and ozone for many years. Fracking has led to the destabilization of our ozone layer and the heating of our earth. I led the petition drive to amend our city charter to ban fracking. I am openly opposed to fracking Union Reservoir and was instrumental in bringing the air quality monitoring stations to Union Reservoir and Vance Brand Airport.

VOTER GUIDE • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • 23

Longmont Mayor Tim Waters Website: timwaters4mayor.com Age: 73 Family: Wife Janie, of 50 years, and sons Ben, 46, and Travis, 44, daughter-in-law Amy and two granddaughters How long have you lived in Longmont? Since 1994 Professional background: Educator – 23 years as a practitioner and 21 years running an education research and development company Political/community experience: Member of City Council since 2018, volunteer at Columbine Elementary School Education: Bachelor’s degree

from the University of Denver, master’s degree and and doctorate from Arizona State University What are the one or two most pressing issues or problems facing Longmont city government?

Reducing the time required to permit new housing developments without compromising the quality of decision making. If we get this right we can reduce housing costs and see housing units catch up with growth in the number of Longmont households. Reduction of the city’s carbon footprint.

What should the mayor and city council do to address those issues or resolve those problems?

The council and city manager

need to set measurable objectives for streamlining our entitlement process, then hold everyone involved accountable for meeting deadlines. Hold Platte River Power Authority accountable for meeting the 100% renewable energy by 2030 goal. Develop and implement a regional solid waste diversion plan. Implement the highest-priority Citizen Climate Action Committee recommendations. Transition Vance Brand Airport to a hub for research, development, and manufacturing of green/electrified aviation.

If elected, what experiences, background or qualifications would you bring to working on those issues or problems?

As mayor, which has been true

Tireless and true.

Longmont voters want experience, straight talk, integrity — and a commitment to principled d leadership and advocacy for our city.

for me as a sitting council member, I will be driven more by evidence than ideology. I will be more interested in good ideas than worrying about whose ideas they are.

I will be clear on where I stand on issues, transparent in how I arrive at my conclusions, and accountable for my decisions, my statements, and my actions. I will provide the leadership Longmont needs to get us moving forward in the post-pandemic future. Leadership from the mayor will be more important than ever as we anticipate the end of the pandemic. I am the only candidate for mayor with the leadership experience and skills capable of moving us out of the cul de sac we’ve been circling for the last 20 months.

Vote for Joan

PAID FOR BY JOAN PECK FOR LONGMONT MAYOR

24 • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • VOTER GUIDE

TUESDAY NOV. 2nd!

Longmont City Council At-Large Diane Crist Jeremy Dejuan Johnson Website: cristforlongmontcouncil.com Age: Candidate did not provide.

Family: Married with four adult children How long have you lived in Longmont? Thirty-two years Professional background: Twenty-six years as a business growth professional helping businesses position for growth with efficient use of assets Political/community experience: …

I have assisted with every election since 2014. I have also worked with taxpayer-supported public agencies to create positive cash flow and balanced budgets.

Education: Professional accounting degree; bachelor’s of science degree, minor in mass communications, additional studies in nutrition What are the one or two most pressing issues or problems facing Longmont city government?

The existing council is thinking very small about some big issues, specifically transportation and hometown health and how these issues impact every citizen in Longmont. Longmont, isn’t it about time we planned a lasting solution to the problems we keep discussing but never really solve?

What should the mayor and city council do to address those issues or resolve those problems?

Direct our sales tax transporta-

tion dollars toward a station for the proposed Front Range and I-70 Hyperloop. Colorado Department of Transportation is working with three independent hyperloop technology providers to create a highspeed, magnetic, passenger pod transportation service that will make commuting time a mere 20 minutes from anywhere along the Front Range while reducing highway emissions by a third. Longmont City Council needs to engage with this program and ensure our place along the route.

Hyperloop is a game changer: It will allow people to live in towns where they can afford to live yet still commute and work where they are needed. Local traffic will become local again, our businesses will be insulated and thrive and it will bring our village feel back while truly offering a solution to take us through this century and beyond.

If elected, what experiences, background or qualifications would you bring to working on those issues or problems?

I am an inspired, vision-oriented leader who thinks big and has spent 26 years helping organizations find the money and resources to realize their dreams. An organized strategy, with an ability to build relationships that prioritize and utilize other people’s strengths and abilities will get us where we need to go. A future of infinite possibilities lies before us.

Let’s face that future with curiosity and courage.

Website: facebook.com/Jeremy-Johnson-For-City-Council110300157964965 Age: 37 Family: Wife Brenda Johnson; son Hayden Morford; daughter Gracie Morford, daughter Madelyn Johnson How long have you lived in Longmont? Almost 10 years Professional background: United States Army Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom veteran; international oil and gas manager; insurance agent Political/community experience: Work on election platform for current mayor of Andalusia, Alabama; active member of the Diversity Team at LifeBridge; coached high school basketball at Niwot High School Education: Graduated from Andalusia High School; professional training in the United States Army.

What are the one or two most pressing issues or problems facing Longmont city government?

The housing issue and figuring out how to balance the efforts between affordable and attainable

homes. The process of getting new development approved and to stay on the time so we can ensure the citizens are getting the most cost-effective products available. Obtaining and keeping small business, which are the backbone of our community, in Longmont.

What should the mayor and city council do to address those issues or resolve those problems?

Everyone has to work to together to streamline the approval process and by keeping those processes effective has so many benefits. Attracting new small business into downtown Longmont by having valuable conversation with owners on how Longmont needs them and making them feel needed and wanted.

If elected, what experiences, background or qualifications would you bring to working on those issues or problems?

Remember this is just not the elected official’s position. The position is for the entire city, not certain groups. We have to remember that we have to listen and show our citizens that we are with them and for them no matter how big or small the issue or idea is.

VOTER GUIDE • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • 25

Longmont City Council At-Large Aren Rodriguez Sean P. McCoy Website: mccoyforlongmont .com Age : 56 Family: Wife Maureen, daughters Claire and: Mollie How long have you lived in Longmont: 56 years Professional background: Social studies teacher at Monarch High School, Louisville.

Political/community experience: In the 1990s and 2000s served on boards and commissions including the Longmont Housing and Human Services Commission, Longmont Planning and Zoning Commission, Longmont Police Standards Board …

Served as Ward 3 Longmont City Council member from 2007 to 2011.

Education: Undergraduate degree in political science from Fort Lewis University. Master’s in education from the University of Northern Colorado.

What are the one or two most pressing issues or problems facing Longmont city government?

Affordable housing. This covers both single-family dwellings and apartments that can be purchased, as well as affordable rental units. I want to see safe and affordable housing within walking distance of transit and food so individuals of all economic levels can have an equal chance at an amazing life in our community. Affordable housing that addresses our community’s commitment to actively doing something meaningful about climate change. COVID-19 and working from home has changed how many folks view their work commute. As people return to the office, Longmont needs alternative transit options. I want to look into

options like commuter rail and bus rapid transit. Efficient mass transit options would help bring business to Longmont and help us decrease our carbon footprint.

What should the mayor and city council do to address those issues or resolve those problems?

All new development proposals must have walkability and bikeability aspects built in, similar to the Prospect neighborhood. We can expect the council to continue to see higher density developments presented for review. Consequently, it is imperative that we need to make it clear Longmont is open for business, but that our focus is on affordability and accessibility.

Mixed-use development, like those near the proposed train station at First Avenue and Main Street, will be our priority. This way, we can develop sensibly and sustainably in a way that enables the people of Longmont to live, work, and commute from their neighborhood.

If elected, what experiences, background or qualifications would you bring to working on those issues or problems?

I have been a Longmont Planning and Zoning Commissioner and served on many other area boards. I have seen development and community proposals as a council member from 2007-2011. I have earned a Bronze Level Certification from the National League of Cities for the municipal focused professional development courses.

I know firsthand the learning curve on council can take one to two years before being fully proficient at the duties and aspects of the job. With my prior experience I will be prepared to lead on day one. I believe with my experience that I am in a unique position to understand the needs and hopes of the Longmont community.

26 • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • VOTER GUIDE

Website: LongmontForAren .com Age: 38 Family: Married How long have you lived in Longmont? 26 years Professional background: Real estate appraiser Political/community experience: Former team leader of the Boulder County Democratic Party Outreach and Inclusion Team; former Secretary of Arts Longmont; former commissioner for the City of Longmont Planning and Zoning Commission, current City of Longmont Council member At-Large and Mayor Pro Tem Education: Bachelor of music, vocal performance What are the one or two most pressing issues or problems facing Longmont city government?

Similar to cities across the Front Range, Longmont is challenged by housing affordability and general growth. The city needs to continue to invest in affordable housing while also taking stock of the deficit of units available for entry-level or workforce populations. The city of Longmont also needs to continue

to be proactive in investing in and modernizing our infrastructure.

Materials and labor costs will only continue to rise as time goes on.

What should the mayor and city council do to address those issues or resolve those problems?

City council should take a deep dive into the number of units needed to increase the stock of attainable/workforce housing in our overall portfolio. Once this number is known, we can begin to guide policy and make the necessary changes to put ourselves in a stronger position in the missing housing diversity. Council will need to not be shy about investing in new technologies and the replacement needs of our current infrastructure system.

If elected, what experiences, background or qualifications would you bring to working on those issues or problems?

My background as a planning and zoning commissioner, as well as my experience as a real estate appraiser, make me uniquely qualified to sort out the changes needed to be made to our land development code to allow for the kind of flexibility and innovation necessary to provide more units that people can afford to purchase.

Longmont City Council At-Large Tallis Salamatian Website: Tallis.co Age: 36 Family: I live in Longmont with my wife and two dogs.

How long have you lived in Longmont? Five years Professional background: Entrepreneur, educator, author Political/community experience: Previous board member of Community Action Programs of Boulder County; business mentor; host and producer of The Savvy Entrepreneur on Longmont Public Media; the Face of Energize Colorado’s Digital Innovation Initiative; soccer coach at St. Vrain FC, recent volunteer with Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center Education: Bachelor’s degree in business management and economics; master’s of business

administration in marketing and global business What are the one or two most pressing issues or problems facing Longmont city government?

Helping businesses recover.

COVID has devastated businesses.

Many of their sales and revenues have diminished, the restrictions are onerous and it is difficult to find staff. By increasing the amount of workforce-attainable housing we can ensure businesses have a reliable workforce. With employees being able to live nearby, congestion and pollution will decrease, while productivity and quality of life will increase, and staff turnover will be reduced.

Another way to help businesses is to provide better communication regarding mandates and restrictions. Many business owners found out about new masking restrictions from social media, not

from any official city or county correspondence. This inefficiency adds instability, stress and costs to business owners.

What should the mayor and city council do to address those issues or resolve those problems?

Regarding attainable housing, there has been too much focus on affordable housing, which is usually in the form of subsidized rental housing. This does not achieve the goal of bringing people out of poverty, it only keeps people poor. If we were serious about getting people out of poverty, we’d be promoting home ownership. If we want to provide a stable and thriving business climate, elected officials need to increase dialogue with business owners. This will allow business owners the peace of mind of knowing they aren’t going to be blindsided by a sudden change, and that they are being heard by their

elected officials.

If elected, what experiences, background or qualifications would you bring to working on those issues or problems?

I’ve been involved in business and entrepreneurship for almost 20 years. During that time I’ve earned an MBA; taught business at CU Boulder; wrote a business book, The Savvy Entrepreneur’s Business Handbook; mentored dozens of businesses and entrepreneurs; helped businesses during COVID through my involvement in Energize Colorado; and started a TV show on Longmont Public Media about entrepreneurship, “The Savvy Entrepreneur”, creating well over 40 hours of content designed to help educate people on the topics of business, politics, economics and entrepreneurship.

Shiquita Yarbrough I believe in a Longmont where everyone can thrive.

Shiquita 4 LoCo

Longmont City Council At-Large

Leader.

Activist.

Single Mother.

With a track record of commitment and investment in this community.

Learn more at shiquita4loco.com.

Vote Early!

Ballots are due November 2.

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VOTER GUIDE • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • 27

Longmont City Council At Large Shiquita Yarbrough

Longmont City Council Ward 2 Marcia Martin

Website: shiquita4loco.com Age: 51 Family: I have four wonderful children.

How long have you lived in Longmont? Nine years Professional background: I have worked for a number of community organizations, including my current role at the YWCA Boulder County, Community Foundation Boulder County, and Boulder County Farmers Market. I also own a small business, providing racial equity training and retreats.

Political/community experience: I volunteer my time on the Longmont Housing and Human Services Advisory Board, KGNU Community Radio, and formerly with the League of Women Voters.

Education: Southwest Baptist University, psychology What are the one or two most pressing issues or problems facing Longmont city government?

The most immediate and important issue and opportunity that Longmont will be addressing is the utilization and deployment of ARPA — American Rescue Plan Act — funds coming to the city.

What should the mayor and city council do to address those issues or resolve those problems?

The City of Longmont is receiving $12.9 million in ARPA funds. In initial conversations, council discussed utilizing these one-time

Website: Marciafor2.com Age: 69 Family: One Daughter, Alexandra Martin Kane How long have you lived in Longmont? Intermittently, but seven years most recently.

Professional background: Software engineering, recent emphasis on digital signal processing and the smart grid Political/community experience: Entering second term on Longmont City Council. Democratic Precinct Leader, ACLU, Girls Who Code.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics, master’s degree in computer science, Sever Institute of Technology, Washington University in St. Louis.

What are the one or two most pressing issues or problems facing Longmont city government?

We must achieve a balanced and adequate housing inventory

funds for necessary areas such as housing, early childhood services, and infrastructure development.

To ensure that these funds are used to truly meet the community needs, community members must be involved in not only determining where funds will be spent, but also the ongoing implementation of funding and evaluation of its utilization. We have amazing cultural brokers within Longmont who can be tapped into to help with this process. We know COVID had disproportionate impacts on certain populations. We can ensure that the recovery serves them first and best as we develop a Longmont where everyone can truly thrive.

If elected, what experiences, background or qualifications would you bring to working on those issues or problems?

I’m all about action. I will work hard and in partnership with members of council and staff to continue to move Longmont in a positive direction, as quickly as possible.

Our youth, our seniors, and the historically excluded members of our community deserve representation. I believe everyone deserves a voice in our community. As an elected official, we must recognize and hear from the diverse voices of our community. Too often, decision-making bodies hear from the closest/easiest voices, missing out on hearing from those who may be the most negatively impacted by decisions that are made. I will ensure that City Council truly hears the voices of all of Longmont.

28 • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • VOTER GUIDE

emphasizing workforce and affordable housing as we recover from the worst of the pandemic. We are pledged to exceed state goals on renewable energy. Achieving the transition equitably is our greatest challenge.

What should the mayor and city council do to address those issues or resolve those problems?

Reduce time-to-market for new housing by improving city processes. Reduce average application-topermit time to one year or less.

Address both housing and energy issues with aggressive forwardlooking code updates. Refocus on urban density, transit-oriented development, and multimodal transit.

If elected, what experiences, background or qualifications would you bring to working on those issues or problems?

I am a high-achieving problem solver with relevant industry expertise in electric distribution systems, clean energy, and automation in general.

Longmont Municipal Court Judge Robert J. Frick What it asks: “Shall Municipal Judge Robert J. Frick be retained in office for two (2) years?”

What it means: Frick was first appointed as Longmont’s presiding municipal judge by Longmont City Council in 2016 and was then elected to his position in 2017. If re-

elected he would retain his seat for another two years.

What supporters say: There has been no organized support for this measure.

What opponents say: There has been no organized opposition to this measure.

Louisville City Council Ward 1 Keith Keller Chris Leh Website: N/A Age: 61 Family: My wife, Karin; my daughters Autumn and Chelcee, and my son, Branden How long have you lived in Louisville: I have been a resident of Louisville since 2005.

Professional background: I am retired from a career in project management.

Political/community experience: I served on the Louisville Historical Commission and the Louisville Historic Preservation Commission.

Education: My educational background includes two engineering degrees and an MBA. Why have you chosen to run for Louisville City Council?

The primary reasons I am running for city council are to preserve the unique small town character of Louisville, which I believe makes this city such a desirable community to live in, and to help

shape city policies that will maintain this character for future generations. I think a balance can be found between preserving historical structures and laying the groundwork for future generations.

What are your top agenda items you hope to accomplish if elected?

My top agenda items are sustainability for the entire city and determining the appropriate land use mix, commercial/residential, that will generate sufficient tax revenue to keep the city fiscally sound and provide a budget that will fund all of the necessary city operation and maintenance costs. For example, grooming parks and repairing trails.

What are some issues you feel need to be addressed within the community?

The three main issues that I believe must be addressed within the community for the future are affordable housing, sustainability (eco-friendly policies) and open space versus future development.

Website: lehforlouisville.org Age: 59 Family: Wife, Natalie HanlonLeh, a lawyer. We have two adult daughters, Maddie and Ella How long have you lived in Louisville: 27 years Professional background: Managing partner, Leh Law Group, LLC. I’m an attorney, advising clients about employment law and representing them in court.

Political/community experience: Currently councilmember, Ward 1. Formerly chair and board member, Blue Sky Bridge; trustee, Legal Aid Foundation; board member, Imagine! Foundation Education: BA, Princeton University; JD, NYU Law School Why have you chosen to run for Louisville City Council?

I chose to run for reelection to build on our previous successes to make Louisville an even more sustainable, thriving city in which people can live and raise healthy families in safety, strengthen and grow their businesses, and feel welcome to visit our signature events, eat at our restaurants, shop at our stores, and enjoy our trails, open spaces and other amenities. To make that happen, we need principled, pragmatic and proven leadership on our council.

I believe I can continue to provide that.

What are your top agenda items you hope to accomplish if elected?

•Increasing sustainable practices in land use, commerce and industry, while also fostering an economy that enables businesses to thrive •Reduction of airplane noise from RMMA aircraft •Improving maintenance of our

open space, trails and parks, and adding small dog parks •Constructing underpasses to promote safety, connectivity and commerce •Finding practical ways to increase the supply of affordable housing •Ensuring delivery of top quality basic services to taxpayers, including public safety, great tasting and safe drinking water, roads, senior services, library services, snow and solid waste removal and recreational opportunities What are some of the issues you feel need to be addressed within the community?

First, there is the ongoing pandemic recovery. The coronavirus and public health orders spurred our council to establish business grant programs, open up Main Street for outdoor restaurant dining, and appropriate additional funds to assist hard-hit residents to meet basic needs. We may have to consider similar measures if COVID-19 resurges.

Also, we will be revising our comprehensive plan which helps to guide future land use decisions and other planning processes.

These will be opportunities for stakeholders to help reshape the landscape of sustainable development and redevelopment and the affordability of housing.

Finally, Louisville’s small-town character is its superpower. But that has resulted in skyrocketing home prices for most people and higher taxes for those on fixed incomes. We need to find creative ways to help address the lack of affordable housing in Louisville.

Further, we have agreed, as a community, to take responsibility for contributing to Boulder County’s supply of affordable housing.

Our community will need to grapple with these housing issues, but I look forward to that opportunity.

VOTER GUIDE • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • 29

Louisville City Council Ward 2 Maxine Most

Louisville City Council Ward 3 Kyle Brown

Website: most4louisville.com Age: 60 Family: Single mother by choice of my daughter Minna, junior at Monarch High How long have you lived in Louisville: 15 years Professional background: Strategic marketing and business development consultant for emerging technology companies Political/community experience: BVSD Transportation Task Force member, Boulder Jewish Day School board member. BVSD advocacy on transportation, teacher accountability and open enrollment.

Louisville advocacy on airport noise and sustainable development. Presidential campaign volunteer – 2008, 2016, 2020 Education: BA in Mathematics and Computer Science, University of California San Diego Why have you chosen to run for Louisville City Council?

It is not enough to believe in sustainable development, affordable and accessible housing, retail revitalization, or providing safe routes to school. Louisville needs bold leadership that will take action that puts our community first. Leaders willing to use all municipal levers of power to preserve the historic character of our community while advancing and protecting its future.

This is where I believe the city council has fallen short and where I can make a real difference.

What are your top agenda items you hope to accomplish if elected?

Addressing retail and commercial vacancy and underutilization, improving city council community engagement, especially with Louisville families with school-age chil-

Website: kyleforlouisville.com Age: 39 Family: Spouse and two kids How long have you lived in Louisville: 24 years Professional background: Health care and public service Political/community experience: City Council since January 2020, Local Licensing Authority 2018-2019, board member of local health care nonprofit, senior adviser for Colorado governors and U.S. senators Education: Fireside Elementary; Louisville Middle School; B.S. from Georgetown; doctorate from Harvard in genetics Why have you chosen to run for Louisville City Council?

I am running to continue to use my background in health care and public service to help our community respond to the toughest challenges our community is facing.

On Council, I will continue to focus on supporting residents and businesses that have been hardest hit by COVID-19.

I will also continue to make Louisville more sustainable, taking meaningful climate action by working to provide the city with 100% renewable energy. As our community continues to recover from the pandemic, I will continue to use my expertise to help support our residents and businesses.

dren, and establishing sustainability standards for all new residential commercial construction.

What are some of the issues you feel need to be addressed within the community?

The unmistakable impacts of climate change can no longer be ignored. We are seeing this on a global, national and local scale. Louisville should be a leader in all aspects of sustainable living. I will fight to make Louisville a beacon for what is possible while helping make our little corner of the world a better place for generations to come.

Louisville is a great place to live, work and play. To keep it this way, we need to maintain our small-town character and feel while prioritizing: •Parks and open spaces •Infrastructure that works for all of us •Support for the arts, entertainment, innovation, and entrepreneurs •Retail that meets community needs and provides a strong sales tax base •Inclusive support of all community members, regardless of age, race, religion, ability or disability, gender identity, orientation or family status Louisville must continue to be one of the best places in the state and the nation to raise a family, be a young professional or retire with security and dignity. This means: •Safe routes to school and expanded pedestrian and bike access •Minimizing greenhouse emissions •Quiet and peaceful skies and neighborhoods •Maintaining and expanding community, recreational, senior and special needs services and facilities I am committed to approaching these issues, and all the challenges we face with honesty, integrity, innovation and compassion.

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What are your top agenda items you hope to accomplish if elected?

I remain focused on economic vitality and environmental sustainability. We must continue to work to attract and retain local businesses while taking climate action. I have been proud to provide more than $1 million in financial relief to Louisville residents and businesses hardest hit by the global pandemic. I have voted to protect property in Ward III as open space, voted to add electric vehicle charging stations to new development and worked to eliminate the use of toxic chemicals in parks and open spaces. I will continue to work to make Louisville the best place to live and work while doing our part to fight climate change.

What are some of the issues you feel need to be addressed within the community?

Boulder County housing markets, on their own, will not be able to provide meaningful affordable housing options. I was proud to lead efforts to pass an inclusionary zoning ordinance that will provide more affordable housing in Louisville. The Council should continue to work to hold developers accountable for creating affordable housing in our city.

Additionally, Louisville should continue to root out explicit and implicit bias throughout our city. I helped create an equity, diversity and inclusion task force for Louisville, and I look forward to considering their recommendations later this year.

Town of Lyons Referred Ballot Question 2G: Bohn Park Solar Facility What it asks: “Shall the construction of a solar generation and battery storage facility be permitted on approximately one acre of Bohn Park, southwest of the Bohn Park Dirt Jump Bike Park in the Town of Lyons?”

What it means: The measure would allow the town to build a solar farm at Bohn Park in south Lyons.

What supporters say: The farm would help Lyons’ commitment to sustainability and increasing the use of renewable energy. This particular site is currently unused, has great solar access and has a shorter distance for underground distribution.

What opponents say: The site has no room for future expansion.

Would block other potential uses for the space.

Louisville ballot Issue 2A: Transportation improvements tax What it asks: “Shall city of Louisville debt be increased $51,420,000, with a repayment cost of up to $90,240,000; and shall city property taxes be increased up to $3,786,000 annually, or by such lesser amount as may be necessary to pay such debt from an additional ad valorem property tax mill levy not to exceed 5.450 mills subject to the following conditions: (1) Such debt and taxes shall be used for the purpose of financing the acquisition and construction of transportation improvements including but not limited to underpasses, bike paths, pedestrian walk ways, trails, and related improvements or to refund such debt at a higher or lower interest rate (or to create a reserve for such purposes); (2) Such debt shall be a limited tax general obligation of the city, may be to maturity, with or without payment of a premium not to exceed 3.00%; and shall the city be authorized to increase such mill levy beginning in tax collection year 2022 and annually thereafter to offset property tax refunds or abatements or reductions in the percentage of actual valuation used to determine assessed valuation; and shall the earnings from the investment of the proceeds of such debt, such sales and use tax reve-

nues, and such property tax revenues be collected, retained, and spent as a voter-approved revenue change and an exception to limits which would otherwise apply under article X, section 20 of the Colorado constitution or any other law? Evidenced by bonds, notes, contracts or loan agreements and shall be payable from a property tax mill levy not to exceed 5.450 mills and also from existing city sales and use taxes as determined by the council and from other available revenue of the city; (3) Such debt shall be sold in one or more series, on terms and conditions and with such maturities as permitted by law and as the city may determine, including provisions for sale of the bonds at a price above or below par, and for redemption or prepayment prior to maturity, with or without payment of a premium not to exceed 3.00%; and shall the city be authorized to increase such mill levy beginning in tax collection year 2022 and annually thereafter to offset property tax refunds or abatements or reductions in the percentage of actual valuation used to determine assessed valuation; and shall the earnings from the investment of the proceeds of such debt, such sales and use tax revenues, and

such property tax revenues be collected, retained, and spent as a voter-approved revenue change and an exception to limits which would otherwise apply under article X, section 20 of the Colorado constitution or any other law?

What it means: This ballot issue was created to fund specific transportation improvements after the city in 2019 created short-term and long-term visions for its Transportation Master Plan. Leaders hosted public meetings to determine what improvements residents wanted and to determine several large projects to pursue, including the construction of six underpasses, bike paths, trails and pedestrian ways.

The ballot issue, if approved, would allow the city debt to be increased by $51,420,000 with a repayment cost of up to $90,240,000 with property taxes increased up to $3,786,000 annually and a maximum authorized mill levy of 5.450 mills, according to the city’s online voter guide. The increased mill levy would be in tax collection year 2023. The city emphasized that the issue is not a tax to fund all transportation improvement and ongoing maintenance, rather it was created to fund specific transportation projects.

What supporters say: When

completed, the projects will improve public safety by removing cyclists and pedestrians from hightraffic roadways. The plan also aims to improve multi-modal transportation options.

The projects were identified by the public during a year and half of input gathering. People who support the issue call the proposed improvements needed for Louisville’s transportation system.

Finally, the transportation improvements vision might remain incomplete if not for the ballot issue. The City’s Capital Improvement Fund can’t sustain the costs of the proposed improvements unless funded through other sources of revenue such as property tax.

What opponents say: The tax increase could have a disproportionate impact on people with fixed incomes. The bond could limit the city’s options should emergencies arise, because it maxes out Louisville’s bonding capacity and the bond package is too large. Interest is required for 20 years, which would make $50,000,000 capital costs increase to $90,000,000, according to the city’s voter guide.

There’s also the concern that future economic decline could force the city to raise property taxes or cut services to make bond payments because bonding capacity is calculated based on current property values.

Superior Ballot Issue 2H: Transportation improvement funding

town hasn’t explored different funding avenues, like grants. The town says in its voter guide that and interest thereon without limiamount to an additional $1 million while some grant funding for What it asks: “Shall town of tation and without limiting the per year in 2022 and $1.6 million in transportation projects has been Superior taxes be increased by obtained in the past, most grant $1,100,000 annually in the first full expenditure of any other revenues 2023 and annually thereafter. The or funds under article X, section town has identified more than $33 funding is focused on multi-modal fiscal year (2022), and by another projects and doesn’t apply to cer20, of the Colorado Constitution?” million in transportation project $500,000 annually in the second tain road improvements, like paveWhat it means: The town is needs. This exceeds the available fiscal year (2023), and by whatever ment preservation. The guide proposing a permanent 0.28% sales funding and repairs are expected additional amounts are collected notes that the town is expected to and use tax increase.

The funding to get more costly.

If passed, it annually thereafter, by an increase is restricted for use only on trans- would also mean the improvement received about $3.2 million from in the sales and use tax rate of the COVID-19 relief package, but portation projects, according to of a number of streets that the 0.28% in 2022 and 0.16% in 2023, pavement preservation isn’t an eliSuperior’s online voter guide. If town has identified to be in the for a phased-in sales and use tax gible expense. Other questions passed, it will amount to taxpayers poorest conditions, as well as a rate increase totaling 0.44% over raised in opposition ask how an contributing about 28 cents for two years, with the revenues from every $100 spent. For the average number of other projects, like additional $1 million per year will enhanced traffic calming. such tax increase to be used for make up $33 million in project household in Superior, it means a transportation improvements; and cost of about $59 per year in addiWhat opponents say: Opponeeds, to which the town counters shall the town be authorized to col- tional sales tax. nents of the proposal might point that the tax will be supplemented lect, retain, and spend all such revout that the tax increase is perma- with other forms of funding, What supporters say: If including state and federal grants. nent. They may also ask why the enue and any investment earnings passed, the tax increase would VOTER GUIDE • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • 31

Boulder Valley School Board District B Gala Orba William Hamilton Website: hamiltonforbvsd.com Age: Not provided Family: Myself, my husband and two children, ages 7 and 1 How long have you lived in Boulder: 4 1/2 years Professional background: IT analyst, project and program manager for 20+ years Political/community experience: No political experience. I served on the Board of Trustees of two schools, in California and in Boulder. Vice president of the PTO at Foothill Elementary.

Education: BS in Spanish and an MBA in International Marketing from UT Austin. Teaching certificate in Texas for bilingual elementary.

What do you think of BVSD’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, and what would you like to see moving forward?

The school district worked diligently with both Boulder and Broomfield county health to make decisions on masking and opening the schools.

At the beginning of the school year, before the vaccine was available and the caseload of COVID in the area was surging, the district made the best choice by closing schools. Once more information was available on transmission, I think that the choice to send students back to school, masked when indoors, was the correct one, based on the information at hand. Although some exceptions were made for medical reasons, I think that the board should look at the exceptions again and determine if there are more areas where exceptions should be made,

such as speech therapy, where mouth movements need to be seen. The best way for the community to move forward and ensure that students can learn in-person, without masks, is for everyone who can get vaccinated to do so.

How can BVSD address achievement gaps for students of color, students from low-income homes and students who are English-language learners?

Focus on training and retaining experienced and well-qualified teachers in schools with high levels of poverty and students of color. Provide training, coaching, mentoring, and support to teachers working with struggling learners. There may be very highly qualified teachers that do not have the ability to deal with struggling learners. It is imperative of the school district to get these teachers the training that is needed to ensure their success in high poverty and high minority schools.

What are your priorities for BVSD’s budget?

There is a strong need to increase student proficiency.

Focus should be given to certain items to enable this goal, such as increasing resources in early childhood development to give children a good head start for school; increasing teacher retention, especially in schools in low-income neighborhoods and schools with high levels of students of minority populations; ensuring English-language learners have access to extra resources; and working with a diverse group of community members (students, parents, teachers, administrators and community members) to determine the needs and priorities of all of our neighborhood schools.

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Website: galaforbvsd.vote Age: 39 Family: Father John Stanely Butch IV, mum Josephine Orba, brother Montana Butch and sister-in-law Bea Jimenez and their two children, all of Chicago.

How long have you lived here? 12 years Professional background: High school math teacher and curriculum director; shortterm rental operator; aerial yoga teacher; fine dining server Political/community experience: Our Mayor Our Choice Ballot Measure Campaign, 2020, canvass coordinator and newsletter editor; Boulder Democratic Party, fall 2018, area coordinator; Genewise Activist, Chicago, 2003 – 2007 Education: Teaching license, CU Boulder: bachelor’s in actuarial science, DePaul University What do you think of BVSD’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, and what would you like to see moving forward?

The Back Together BVSD COVID Protocol is scientifically researched and data-based approach to the facts regarding the transmission of COVID-19. I find it to be one of the best protocols I have researched nationwide. … I believe this policy will quell the spread of the delta virus and end the pandemic sooner rather than later. I appreciate the transparency that the bvsd.org website provides and the detailed tracking of our staff. … Moving forward I would like to see that parents keep informing staff about the health of their children and it’s important that resources are allocated appropriately to keep the tracking website up to

date. I would also like to see information given to all parents and all staff regarding receiving the vaccination… and paid time off given to teachers and staff to receive the vaccine.

How can BVSD address achievement gaps for students of color, students from low-income homes and students who are English-language learners?

I would like to ensure a Chromebook or Dell laptop in all the hands of high schoolers who qualify for this type of assistance.

I would like to make sure each Chromebook kid has internet access at home. Dell computers will be given to those without home internet access. Let’s make sure access to printers and time allocated to print papers and assignments is available.

Also, I learned that Crestview parents recently started a nonprofit to make it easy for local parents to support other parents in need. I will … invite parent leaders to start a nonprofit at every district school, as I know many want to do more.

What are your priorities for BVSD’s budget?

In general, I approve of the way our district budgets its money. I would take a little money off the top of the Bond Retention Fund, Charter School Fund, and Risk Management fund to allocate over to the technology fund to pay for all our new Chromebooks.

Then, let’s pay coffeeshops and other kid-appropriate places a little cash to let our kids use the wifi onsite. We owe it our students to ensure all our facilities are in great working order. Lastly, it’s important to me that teachers receive regular raises and I will find out what this raise schedule currently looks like.

Website: rajpalforbvsd.com Age: 38 Family: Sharad, Kai & Sonja Rajpal How long have you lived in Boulder: 11 years Professional background: Adjunct faculty/instructor, registered dietitian nutritionist Political/community experience: Served as a member of the BVSD District Accountability Committee (DAC) for 6 years, 2 years as chairperson. During that time I served on many committees including equity, budget, policy, Strategic Plan, Phase 2+, etc.

Education: BS in nutritional science & MS in curriculum and instruction How do you think of BVSD’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, and what would you like to see moving forward?

I appreciate that BVSD relies on the recommendations from our public health partners, and believe the layered approach, in addition to a high rate of (optional) vaccine participation, has allowed in-person learning to occur as safely as possible. Increased frequency of school-based COVID-19 screening should be considered as cases rise in our community. Moving forward I would like to see BVSD spend its time and resources on providing high-quality educational programing and wrap-around services to address learning losses that resulted from, or were exacerbated by, the coronavirus pandemic.

How can BVSD address achievement gaps for students of color, students from low-income homes and students who are English-language learners?

We need to ensure that all of our students have equitable access to

high quality courses and programs — socioeconomic status, ethnicity, gender identity, learning needs nor geography should not limit the potential of our students, schools or our communities. The current Strategic Plan and Unified Improvement Plan address some of the more pressing issues and it is critical that we hold BVSD accountable to implementing those plans with fidelity. BVSD must continue to leverage parent engagement groups (Equity Council, POCC, CAPL, DAC, DPC, etc.) as thought partners. Building upon relationships with city and county governments and community organizations are also vital because food and housing insecurities, transportation, internet access, mental and physical health needs have an impact on educational opportunities and outcomes.

Bottom line, this is a multifaceted problem that has troubled the district for decades, and it will take all stakeholders working collectively to close the gaps in opportunity and achievement.

What are your priorities for BVSD’s budget?

Education funding in the state of Colorado is among the lowest in the nation. Declining enrollment, labor shortages, wage pressures and potential changes in tax revenues and state education funding allocations will stress our budget further; therefore, we must allocate the funds we have responsibly. Prior to the pandemic, BVSD evaluated the return on investment for many of its programs and services; as we return to regular programming with in person learning, I would like to ensure any programs and services provided are evidence based and have a high return on investment. I will also prioritize advocating for improved education funding at the local, state and federal levels.

Sky Van Horn Sky Van Horn could not be reached to complete a candidate profile.

INTEGRITY LITERACY EQ U IT Y

Boulder Valley School Board District B Nicole Rajpal

DeannBucher BVSD SCHOOL BOARD

Experienced Educator & Champion of Diversity for the BVSD Board!

Deann’s Qualifications:

3 Experienced

Education Leader

3 Committed to Equity, Literacy, Integrity in BVSD

Endorsed by the Boulder Valley Education Association

3 Supports Families and Educators 3 Dedicated to creating the best learning community possible for all students.

_

Learn more at

DeannBucher.com Paid for by Deann Bucher for Boulder Valley School District

VOTER GUIDE • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • 33

Boulder Valley School Board District E Deann Bucher Website: DeannBucher.com Age: 57 Family: Spouse and daughter, all Colorado natives!

How long have you lived in Boulder County: Since 1986 Professional background: Teacher Political/community experience: n/a Education: BA in music history, teacher’s license, MA in information and learning technology, Leaders for Colorado (Principal’s License).

What do you think of BVSD’s response to the coronavirus

pandemic, and what would you like to see moving forward?

I applaud the leaders of BVSD with the decision to follow Boulder County Health Department guidelines. This is our best chance of simultaneously getting all students back to full-time school, protecting students, teachers and all educators in our system. Because we have tremendous staff shortages in areas like substitute teachers, bus drivers, and cafeteria workers, we must protect the health of all personnel or we will not be able to keep schools open. This will be important moving forward until the pandemic is over.

How can BVSD address

EQUITY FOR ALL DIVERSE VOICE I WILL STRIVE TO ENSURE BVSD: Removes institutional barriers to success.

Embraces and respects the dignity and diversity of each individual within our community.

Confronts discrimination against all identities.

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achievement gaps for students of color, students from low-income homes, and students who are English-language learners?

This is a very complicated issue and one very important to me. The achievement gap is not going to improve by repeating the programs we have in place. It will only change with a dedication of resources to making sure our BIPOC, English language learners and students of low income are given increased resources to allow them to benefit from programs like AP and concurrent enrollment options. The current system has successfully increased the gradua-

tion rate for all students but has failed to supply an equal amount of success for each student.

What are your priorities for BVSD’s budget?

My priorities for budgeting would be to demand program integrity where we make transformational innovations, support alternative pathways for graduates, fully fund preschool / kindergarten, enhance reading requirements k-12, fund innovative solutions to educational disparities, support community partnerships for mental health and invest in capital improvements that lower the carbon footprint.

Boulder Valley School Board District E Kara Awaitha Frost Beth Niznik Website: votekarabvsd.com Age: 46 Family: Married to Aaron for 21 years; 12-year-old son Braden, 10year-old daughter Emily How long have you lived in your town? 12 years Professional background: CU Boulder instructor and supervisor for secondary math education students; 26-year educator teaching math, English as a second language; served as vice president of district teacher’s union.

Political/community experience: Advocate with National Advocates for the Mentally Ill; Kiwanis Volunteer Club Education: Bachelor’s in education, summa cum laude, endorsement in diversity and English as a second language; master’s in counseling and secondary curriculum and instruction.

How do you think of BVSD’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, and what would you like to see moving forward?

Their response was typical; BVSD and schools across our country have been catapulted into uncharted territory. Moving forward through COVID-19, I would like to create think tanks (with input from our taxpayers, local businesses, students, teachers and school district leaders) that lead to difficult conversations, hard work and change. According to U.S. News & World Report, we live in the best city in the nation, and I believe that through collaborative conversations and hard work, our district will accompany this distinction and be named the “best school district in the nation” (both during and post-pandemic).

How can BVSD address achievement gaps for students of color, students from low-in-

come homes and students who are English-language learners?

I specialize in working with lowincome (Title 1), English-language learners. From my experience, I have found that, in order to address the achievement gaps, districts need to allocate additional funding for the at-risk population; reduce class sizes; provide teacher training from qualified, exemplary teacher trainers who will remain on staff to provide ongoing support for teachers and students; engage local businesses and community members and invite them to partner with and support our schools; and provide students and families with emotional support and coping mechanisms to deal with trauma. Our students have walked through an immense amount of emotional trauma in the last 18 months and, as educators, we must first tend to their hearts and emotional states, before we introduce new curriculum. All students should be taught to feel heard, valued, supported and loved, so that they will feel safe to take risks, make mistakes and learn new material.

We also need to offer additional COVID-19 teacher pay for weekly team celebrations, planning and data analysis and provide authentic enrichment resources.

I am the social change agent that you have been searching for! I possess a deep love and passion for working with all children and am fueled by teaching communities to unite and connect by celebrating their commonalities and their differences. I believe that all students should have access to the same opportunities and support and will work day and night to ensure that all BVSD students are in classrooms where they feel safe, loved, heard, challenged and supported.

What are your priorities for BVSD’s budget? See website.

Website: bethforbvsd.com Age: 39 Family: Married and first grader in BVSD How long have you lived in Boulder: 8 years Professional background: Research assistant at CU (cognitive neuroscience), special education teacher in Baltimore, 8 years school psychologist (preschool-high school), 3 years student services coordinator (district-level administrative role), currently special education facilitator/mediator with Colorado Department of Education.

Political/community experience: Meals on Wheels, PTA, Alternative Dispute Resolution Board Education: B.A., psychology, University of Colorado, Summa Cum Laude; M.Ed., educational psychology, University of Washington; M.Ed., educational leadership, University of Washington What do you think of BVSD’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, and what would you like to see moving forward?

I am pro-in-person learning because I believe it is overwhelmingly the best place for our kids to learn and have their socialemotional needs met. Accordingly, I support the district’s goal of in-person learning five days per week. I support the district’s partnership with local health experts and continued efforts to follow science. If wearing a mask means my daughter can go to school, then I support in-person learning with layered measures of protection until otherwise directed by health experts.

COVID-19 has created anxiety and profound uncertainty in budgeting and in programming. Moving forward we need to have a good relationship with the state to facilitate seamless support,

open communication with teachers and parents to best navigate this together and school board leadership that can be responsive in these unprecedented times.

How can BVSD address achievement gaps for students of color, students from low-income homes and students who are English-language learners?

Equity is at the heart of public education. If you believe, as I do, that public education is the great equalizer, for the common good, then we must focus our work on creating more equitable outcomes for all students. Addressing equity is complex work because it is a cultural shift. The district has made strides in establishing the equity council and in enhanced parent engagement, but we have work to do in examining our own biases, unpacking the source of disproportionate discipline, engaging historically marginalized students, providing extended enrichment opportunities and revamping our bullying policies. We address equity one policy at a time.

What are your priorities for BVSD’s budget?

Enrollment is the major driver of our budget. Fewer kids in schools means less funding with far-reaching implications. Less money means difficult decisions about how to adjust our workforce, increased class sizes and possible school closures. My budget priorities lie in creating a sustainable budget that will allow us to weather these budgetary shortfalls with minimal impact to our workforce, our class sizes and our buildings.

We need to address the staffing shortage. We must attract and retain the most talented and diverse workforce by cultivating a climate that is supportive of professional growth. We need to offer competitive wages for our teachers, support staff and substitute teachers.

VOTER GUIDE • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • 35

Boulder Valley School Board District F Kitty Sargent

SVVSD School Board Director District B Karen Ragland

Website URL: N/A Age: 66 Family: I have two grown daughters who are BVSD graduates.

How long have you lived in Superior? 16 years Professional background: I have been a teacher and a social worker.

Political/community experi-

Website: svvsd.org/about/ board-of-education/ Age: 45 Family: Husband, Paul. Children, all current or graduated SVVSD students: Tasha, Cyia and Russ How long have you lived in the school district: Since 2007 Professional background: Mental health counselor, health care quality improvement consultant, project management consultant Political/community experience: Volunteering in schools, parent group leadership, Community Bond Task Force co-chairperson, Longmont Multicultural Action Committee Education: Master’s degree in community counseling from Fairfield University What do you think about the district’s response to the pandemic so far? Are there changes you want to see going forward?

We responded to the pandemic with strength to ensure safety for all individuals in our buildings, in addition to perseverance to keep kids learning through technology and in the buildings as much as possible while following guidance from the local and state health departments. Overall, I believe we continue to do an exceptional job — in our third school year affected by the pandemic — in providing stable employment, educational opportunities, strategies and resources for our students and our community.

The school district recently ended its relationship with A Queer Endeavor and has made changes to the language used on its website in describing its equity work. What approach do you think the district should take to equity training for teachers and to teaching students about equity topics?

We are proud of our work and

ence: Four years on the BVSD Board, officer in Boulder County Democratic Party and Colorado Democratic Party, volunteer on various issue campaigns.

Education: B.A. in elementary and special education, University of Arizona, and master’s of social work, University of Denver Editor’s note: The candidate did not respond with answers to the questions for candidates.

36 • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • VOTER GUIDE

the great successes we have had in creating equity across the district over many years. Our commitment to this work is unwavering, and the district continues to build on the strong foundation cultivated over the past decade.

We have funded and resourced a new equity department led by our assistant superintendent of student services that also includes a former lead trainer from the Colorado Department of Education with extensive experience in equity training. We will also continue annual equity, inclusion and diversity training with our teachers that includes monthly professional development across all schools during late start days. Training will also be outsourced to multiple national and local organizations that have come highly recommended by CDE. This work is constantly evolving, and it is critical to progress as needs arise on an ongoing basis. The SVVS Community Diversity Committee will continue to assist with refining content on the website and advancing the programs and opportunities that strengthen support and resources for all students. What I believe most speaks to our work in equity is the significant academic growth and success among our students.

(Highlights in achievement are outlined on the district’s equity webpage at svvsd.org/about/ equity-in-st-vrain.)

What are your budget priorities for the next school year, including spending the federal coronavirus relief money, and how would you balance all the needs with limited funding?

Timing of this question is tough — we are in the process of gathering input from our community about what they believe are the most important areas for ESSER funds spending. That data will be important in determining priorities for next year. We have been fortunate to have an incredibly conscientious finance department that has kept the district in a strong financial position, before and throughout the pandemic.

SVVSD School Board Director District D Meosha Brooks Tyler Gearhart Website: brooks4svvsd.org Age: 44 Family: Husband, Justin, and four children How long have you lived in the school district: 12.5 years Professional background: Aerospace engineer/business development manager, co-instructor at Johns Hopkins University Political/community experience: Boy Scout, Cub Scout and Girl Scout leader.

Current PTO board and School Accountability Committee member. Current Education Foundation Board member, Colorado Space Business Roundtable Board member and Colorado Futuretek Board member Education: Master’s degree in systems engineering, bachelor’s degree in computer engineering technology, bachelor’s degree in physics What do you think about the district’s response to the pandemic so far? Are there changes you want to see going forward? The district has done a great job in their response to the pandemic thus far. The district was set up financially to be able to get iPads for all students. At the beginning of the pandemic, they reacted as quickly as possible to getting technology up and running to enable students continued learning.Since then, they have been striving to ensure the continued health and safety for all students.

While there were some areas of improvement, overall, they have handled it well.

The school district recently ended its relationship with A Queer Endeavor and has made changes to the language used on its website in describing its equity work. What approach do you think the district should

take to equity training for teachers and to teaching students about equity topics? Like a business, there are standards and policies. In order for teachers to teach children, they need to understand those standards and policies. Everyone should have access to the same resources, support, spaces, etc. These are requirements and nonnegotiable.

Teachers should be trained to understand that every student is different and might need a different type of equity at different times. Becoming a well-rounded person means that one is informed about many things. Equity doesn’t have to be a separate topic as much as it can be developing an understanding that facilitates dignity and respect for all.

What are your budget priorities for the next school year, including spending the federal coronavirus relief money, and how would you balance all the needs with limited funding? As in many cases, funding is limited from government sources. In no specific order, the increase in teacher salaries and direct reading and math programs, and monies for special needs students, should be a district priority. Many teachers had longer hours of academic prep time and dealt with situations that may have gone beyond the classroom during the pandemic.

The increased workload was great for many teachers, but their steadfastness remained paramount to the success of the students, thus it should be supplemented with a pay increase. Secondly, many students, whether they had extra tutoring or not, may have had some learning loss. Thus, investing in directed reading and math programs to supplement the learning loss that many students may have endured should be a top priority.

Website: gearhart4svvsd.com Age: 40 Family: Wife, four sons attending SVVSD schools How long have you lived in the school district: Six years.

Professional background: Twenty years of budgeting, accounting, financial reporting, government funding and executive leadership support.

Political/community experience: Youth group leader, youth basketball team coach and financial auditor of 12 congregations for my church.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in business with an emphasis in marketing at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, project management professional certification from the Program Management Institute, Master’s of Business Administration at Colorado State University.

What do you think about the district’s response to the pandemic so far? Are there changes you want to see going forward?

School districts have been in the precarious position of balancing the health and safety of students with helping students progressing academically. I think SVVSD did the best that they could with a polarizing dynamic situation. Going forward, it is imperative to keep students in school five days a week where they learn best. Any health and wellness changes should be wellplanned and communicated with great detail to the community.

The school district recently ended its relationship with A Queer Endeavor and has made changes to the language used on its website in describing its equity work. What approach do you think the district should take to equity training for teachers and to teaching students about equity topics?

SVVSD is one of the best districts in the state and still has 50%

of third through eighth graders that cannot read and write at grade level (as of the spring 2019 CMAS testing). Teachers should teach academics, families should teach values. Training for teachers should be focused on academics so that all students can have the opportunity to exit the public school system ready to contribute in whatever path they choose to take beyond high school.

What are your budget priorities for the next school year, including spending the federal coronavirus relief money, and how would you balance all the needs with limited funding?

SVVSD is very well funded, so much so that the district currently has hundreds of millions of dollars in surplus. Going in to the 2022 fiscal year, each student has $8,700 of funding for one academic year. There is simply no excuse for having teachers who are not well paid, and still have to dig into their own pockets to create an environment for academic excellence. Families should not be forced to choose between paying lab fees, material fees and course fees over meeting their family financial needs. All students deserve the same quality of education, no matter their economic standing. The district should not broaden economic inequality by imposing fees on families and instead should use their multimillion dollar surplus to cover these expenses to ensure, above all else, that the student’s academic needs are met. Any pandemic recovery funds should be used wholly to support academic programs that will help students recover losses in academic progress. We should also find ways to make our limited allocated funds go further. Create school energy hubs that produce 100% of the energy schools consume through green initiatives, such as solar power and wind power generation. This could save our district millions of dollars a year.

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SVVSD School Board Director District F Natalie Abshier Sarah Hurianek Website: natalie4svvsd.com Age: 57 Family: Married, grown children all attended SVVSD schools.

How long have you lived in the school district: Since 1998 Professional background: Business owner, worked in the information technology industry for over twenty years as an innovator of technology to help improve business processes.

Political/community experience: No prior political experience.

Education: I went to school in Berthoud, attended the University of Colorado Boulder and Colorado Christian University for business and operational management What do you think about the district’s response to the pandemic so far? Are there changes you want to see going forward?

SVVSD did the right thing for the community by allowing people to wear masks while also providing the ability for parents decide if wearing masks aligns with their children’s health and personal issues. SVVSD must consider recommendations from both Boulder and Weld County health departments, as many SVVSD schools are located outside of Boulder County and mask mandates vary between counties.

The school district recently ended its relationship with A Queer Endeavor and has made changes to the language used on its website in describing its equity work. What approach do you think the district should take to equity training for teachers and to teaching students about equity topics?

Everyone should have the opportunity for success, not just a chosen few. Equity training should

include teaching that an individual should be judged by who they are as a person not by their race, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation. The outcome of opportunity is largely dependent on hard work, perseverance and personal accountability. To be completely equitable, equity training must include parental input. To exclude parents or dismiss their concerns is not an equitable solution for the parents of SVVSD students. As social issues arise within the schools we must join together and work to solve problems. This includes input from teachers, students, staff, parents and community members. Focusing on education and teaching about the rights and wrongs of U.S. and world history will only improve our understanding and allow us to build better communities. That doesn’t mean we overlook our wrongdoings in history, but it doesn’t mean we rewrite history either.

What are your budget priorities for the next school year, including spending the federal coronavirus relief money, and how would you balance all the needs with limited funding?

SVVSD has a large surplus of funds, including the coronavirus relief money, and these fund should be applied to: •Decreasing student fees and increasing per classroom spending so teachers are not forced to pay out-of-pocket to provided needed supplies in their classrooms.

•Building new schools and maintaining schools and support facilities.

•Lower costs for students to participate in extra-curricular activities such as sports, arts and music programs.

•Providing technology tools to students.

•Increase implementation of camera systems in the schools and classrooms.

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Website: None Age: 43 Family: Husband, also an educator, and two children attending Mead Elementary.

How long have you lived in the school district: Off and on since 1993.

Professional background: My teaching career has always been in early childhood.

When we started a family, I decided to stay home with our children. I help provide child care for teachers.

Political/community experience: Mead Elementary PAC, chairperson of the annual spring fundraiser; Boulder Homeless Shelter; chaperone with the High Plains Honor Flight.

Education: Skyline High School, University of Northern Colorado and Front Range Community College.

What do you think about the district’s response to the pandemic so far? Are there changes you want to see going forward?

Education is such a complex system in which they are responsible for transporting, feeding and educating people’s children.

The impacts and stresses of the pandemic caused a disruption to every aspect of education.

SVVSD has done a great job of being transparent and communicative with parents throughout

the pandemic all while providing a safe and welcoming environment for students to learn both digitally and in person. If elected, I look forward to working with the district on examining what positive outcomes could be carried forward and what changes need to be implemented.

The school district recently ended its relationship with A Queer Endeavor and has made changes to the language used on its website in describing its equity work.

What approach do you think the district should take to equity training for teachers and to teaching students about equity topics?

The district has committed to ensuring equity throughout its systems and practices, however there is always room for improvement. If elected I’m happy to assist in continuing this work.

What are your budget priorities for the next school year, including spending the federal coronavirus relief money, and how would you balance all the needs with limited funding?

The use of federal relief funds provided to districts I believe are best suited to help ensure all students are provided with fair and equitable access to a high quality education. SVVSD has mentioned allocation of these funds in recent school board meetings, and I have no reason to think they should have be spend elsewhere.

Hygiene Fire Protection District Ballot Issue 6A: Mill Levy Increase What it asks: “Shall Hygiene Fire Protection District taxes be increased by $340,000 (final full fiscal year increase for collection year 2024) with the increase phased-in over the next three calendar years at a rate of 11.099 mills (first year increase of 2 mills) in levy year 2021 for collection in calendar year 2022, an additional increase to 12.099 mills (second year increase of 1 mill) in levy year 2022 for collection in calendar year 2023, and an additional increase to 13.099 mills (third year increase of 1 mill) in levy year 2023 for collection in calendar year 2024, for a total general operations mill levy increase of not more than 4.0 mills to be in addition to the existing 9.099 mills with such proceeds to be used for the increased costs of the district’s general operations, specifically including, but not limited to: – avoiding cuts in training and emergency services, and maintaining 911 response times – providing firefighters with essential safety gear and communications equipment, such as air packs and radios – repairing and replacing aging emergency response vehicles, apparatus and equipment – extending the useful life of the fire station, and providing living quarters for volunteers while they are on

call with all revenue spending disclosed in an annual independent audit, and all revenue and earnings on this tax constituting a permanent voter approved change to revenue and spending limits within Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution and an exception to the limitations set forth in Section 29-1301 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, and any other law?”

What it means: The measure would increase property taxes gradually in the Hygiene Fire Protection District by $0.001 per dollar of property value each year until 2024, when the increase would be equal to $0.004 on each dollar of property value, to raise $340,000 for emergency response equipment and other general operating expenses. The measure also asks voters to allow the district to set aside the rules in the Taxpayer Bill of Rights and allow it to collect and keep all revenues raised by the tax increase to spend on future needs.

What supporters say: The tax increase would help to maintain response times and pay for new equipment and equipment repairs for emergency responders.

What opponents say: Property owners in the district would see increased property taxes.

Dacono Mayor Adam Morehead Website: N/A Age: 52 Family: Spouse, Sarah Morehead, two adult sons and a granddaughter.

How long have you lived in Dacono: Five years Professional background: Chairman of the Dacono Urban Renewal Authority, parole team leader, Colorado Department of Corrections, five years as a Weld County deputy sheriff. I have worked with many communities in this capacity over the years and continue today.

Political experience: Elected to Dacono City Council November 2020 Education: Bachelor’s degree, 1992, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill What do you believe are the biggest challenges facing Dacono today and how do you plan to tackle them if elected mayor?

Residential growth works hand in hand with attracting businesses. Supporting that growth brings the revenue to repair infrastructure. It’s also time to explore the future need for a high school in Dacono. I will support our current law enforcement officers by giving them the tools and resources needed to decrease the rising crime in our neighborhoods. This rise in crime is alarming, and I often hear it’s one of people’s biggest concerns. I would also like to see Dacono build on developing a real “downtown” area — a place with restaurants, parks, retail and more.

What unique experience do you have that would make you the best fit as mayor?

I was elected to Dacono City Council in 2020, five years at the Weld County Sheriff’s Office, and 24 years with Colorado Department of Corrections as a parole team leader. I am currently serving as chair of the Dacono Urban Renewal Authority, Dacono City Councilmember, and mayor pro tem.

As mayoral candidates who have already served as Dacono city leaders, what do you believe you’ve accomplished so far that you could build on as mayor?

As mayor, I will support all of Dacono, knowing there are different needs in each area. My time in law enforcement of over 29 years gives me experience working with all levels of government and being in touch with what our community needs. I recognize that Dacono needs new leadership. We are not keeping up with the cities around us and I am frequently asked why. The answer to that “why” is the reason I am running for mayor. I have spoken to hundreds of my fellow Dacono residents in person and on social media. It is important to be accessible. I know what Dacono needs; I have the vision and ability to lead Dacono into the future.

I am new to elected office and served during the lockdown and restrictions. I have not been able to accomplish as much as I would like. I believe Dacono is poised to see rapid residential growth.

With that growth comes the decisions of what type of housing and business do we want to see. I see the big picture of what we want to look like in the decades to come, not continue more of the same we have already had for years.

VOTER GUIDE • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • 39

Dacono City Council Jackie Thomas

Dacono Mayor Kathy Wittman Website: N/A Age: 68 Family: Husband, son, daughter, one grandson, three granddaughters and three great-granddaughters Residence in Dacono: 30 years Professional Background: Business management, contract negotiations, cost containment, government regulations, business development, human relations, budget reconciliation, federal employment regulations, objective analysis.

Political/community experience: Appointed to Dacono City Council in September 2016; reelected in November 2017 and 2020. Volunteer on city’s Board of Adjustments, Liquor Authority and Planning Commission. Serving on Weld County Board of Adjustments, DRCOG, Hwy. 52 North Coalition, URAD. What do you believe are the biggest challenges facing Dacono today and how do you plan to tackle them if elected mayor?

The need for growth in Dacono, including new businesses to increase resources to it’s residences. As mayor, I would first tackle past ordinances in the city to ensure there are not extreme prohibiting reasons why this has not been accomplished to date and work diligently to address those issues to advance changes. Another challenge would be, as a growing city, the need for more person-

nel throughout to accommodate aspects presented by growth. I would work with council in addressing the city’s budget to examine where cost savings could be made.

What unique experience do you have that would make you the best fit as mayor?

My time serving on city council has enabled me the knowledge of the inner workings of city government and the procedures and policies that must be followed. Time has been spent actively engaged throughout the city with businesses and residents. Having resided in the city for 30 years has allowed me to watch growth and success take place. I have full ability to guide the city to prosper in the future.

As mayoral candidates who have already served as Dacono city leaders, what do you believe you’ve accomplished so far that you could build on as mayor?

The ethical character to work with a vast array of individuals in order to have cohesive fruition.

The knowledge required to correctly address a myriad of issues during the course of business in the city. The ability to communicate in a professional manner to others for direction of issues. My biggest accomplishment, to date, was bringing forth specific language on an item, and having the language removed, in order to avoid legal ramifications on the city.

I would be honored to receive your vote! Thank you.

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Website: N/A Age: 63 Family: Husband, and 3 grown daughters. 4 grandchildren — all of which attend local public schools.

How long have you lived in Dacono: Seven years Professional background: Motorola Solutions, INC, 22 years project management and pre-sales.

Political/community experience: I have assisted in bringing the Weld Food Bank into the city of Dacono, and last year alone we served an estimated 28,000 meals to needful families.

Education: Graduated from Longmont High School in 1976, Front Range Community College, Liberty Bible College – bachelor of theology How would you better the lives of Dacono residents if you were elected as a City Council member?

We are an independent people that live in Dacono. In the almost 20 years that our family has actively worked and/or lived within this community, one of the hallmark issues that has been promised by its politicians has been to go after a greater level of business growth to help lead the amount of the people moving in.

What has actually happened was Dacono has watched as the communities around it have grown and prospered, while Dacono has remained somewhat stagnant.

With the current leadership leading the way, we have watched businesses move into Frederick and Firestone, bypassing our fair city.

We are at one of the great crossroads of I-25, with Colo. 52

bringing through its corridor close to 25,000 cars daily, only to watch our wonderful city stay somewhat stagnant in its growth.

That needs to change.

While we have added a few great businesses, we have been dwarfed by growth external to our boundaries. I am excited to be part of a council that can make a difference now that leadership is changing.

What’s your plan to address any growing pains Dacono might face, as the city continues to face increasing industry and residential development?

Much of the Front Range is feeling the strain of its expansion.

Dacono is not. Historically, our town has been lived in by a growing senior community. In fact, in the last complete census, Dacono’s senior community provided over 63% of the primary care for its children and grandchildren, compared to a 6% national average. We need to address the care of our seniors, while bringing in a balanced housing growth that can offer affordability to all families.

What inspired you to run for City Council and what are the pillars of your campaign?

This will be my second term as council member if elected to serve this term. Never having served in local government, I learned the workings of local city government in my first term, and am now better equipped with knowledge and experience to better serve Dacono’s residents. It’s my goal to envision myself as being a servant to those who elect me, to give of my time to fairly represent the will of those people. I want to be connected/ available to my constituents so they feel that they truly have a connection.

Dacono City Council Jim Turini Website: facebook.com/Jim -Turini-for-Dacono-City-Council -104509101961578 Age: 66 Family: Significant other for 35 years How long have you lived in Dacono: 33 years Professional background: Retired electronic technician and technical support Political/community experience: Have observed our community for over 30 years watching its lack of development, assisting senior citizens providing needed services to help find resources for everything from yard work to emergency housing assistance.

Education: S.I.U Military, technical degree equal to electrical engineering degree at a four-year college.

How would you better the lives of Dacono residents if you were elected as a city council member?

I would like to work together with Frederick and Firestone to provide citywide high-speed internet. Also, work on addressing the needs of senior citizens and the severe lack of services in this area that I have observed from working at the Carbon Valley Parks and Recreation District Senior Center.

There is also a serious need to update infrastructure in parts of Dacono that have been neglected for decades.

What’s your plan to address any growing pains Dacono might face, as the city continues to face increasing industry

and residential development?

I would like to guide the growth of Dacono to increase new business incentives while supporting our current businesses. I would also encourage public facilities like parks and road upgrades to improve traffic flow specifically on Highway 52 and Colorado Boulevard. We need to grow all parts of Dacono together rather than building islands of development like Sweetgrass and Furniture Row. This would improve the opportunity for the businesses to flourish and encourage more development of community parks and services.

What inspired you to run for city council and what are the pillars of your campaign?

The thing that shocked me into action was a near disaster directly in front of my home. A road crew cut the gas main with a backhoe while laying a new waterline.

While the fire and police reaction was swift, they were not even notified until I called. The worst part of the catastrophic event was the total lack of infrastructure to deal with it. It took over two hours for the gas to be turned off. There were no emergency turn-offs available. They had to hand dig a hole on both sides of the street down to the gas line and crimp it off in order to stop the flow of gas.

My pillars would be to upgrade infrastructure, encourage business growth, improve resources for our senior citizens, provide transparency of city government to the community, improvement of public accessible parks, and Wi-Fi. We have a lot of work to do.

John Wargo Website: N/A Age: 57 Family: Wife, Robin, and four adult children — Kim, Natalie, Weston, Tina How long have you lived in Dacono: 2.5 years Professional background: Realtor, emergency management operations, instructing and consulting Political/community experience: Dacono City Council since February; volunteer for Carbon Valley Emergency Operations Center; volunteer for HOPE (Homeless Outreach); Catasauqua, Pa., Chamber of Commerce; North Catasauqua Business Betterment Bureau; EMT for hospital-based Medevac and two county stations; HazMat responder Education: Attended Northampton Community College and DeSales University How would you better the lives of Dacono residents if you were elected as a city councilmember?

By being an educator, supporter and advocate for any and all residents of Dacono. By meeting with residents and business owners, listening to the questions or comments they have, encouraging them to have their voices heard in city government, and assisting them when they need guidance with a particular issue. I will continue to utilize my skills and background to make and keep Dacono safe, resilient and ready as it applies to public safety.

I’d like to make cardiopulmonary resuscitation/basic life support/ automated external defibrillator training available to any resident of Dacono through corporate sponsorships, grants and volun-

teer instruction.

What’s your plan to address any growing pains Dacono might face, as the city continues to face increasing industry and residential development?

Dacono has made, and will continue to make, the permitting process streamlined, fair and beneficial to the city and its residents.

In addition, our infrastructure needs to improve to support increased growth; specifically, improved roads and access points to major thoroughfares. Several councilmembers have taken part in meetings with (the) Colorado Department of Transportation to offer input to improvements to the Colo. 52 corridor. This involvement needs to continue as we grow, and I plan on being part of the team of councilmembers that participates in these meetings. We need to network with and attract businesses that significantly contribute to our tax base without depleting or straining municipal services, to allow us to keep residential taxes in check.

What inspired you to run for city council and what are the pillars of your campaign?

At a high level, I am running to serve and represent the residents of Dacono, as part of a team of servants at large, for not one area of the city, but for the entire population. I have always served the community in which I live and would like to continue that here in Dacono. More specifically, I want to facilitate making Dacono a favorable location for both residential developers as well as commercial businesses, to provide continued growth in both areas.

In addition, we need to keep our roads and access points well maintained both for our residents and to attract the growth that we desire.

VOTER GUIDE • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • 41

Town of Mead Ballot Issue 2D: Street improvements What it asks: “Shall the Town of Mead taxes be increased not more than $2,900,000 annually beginning January 1, 2022 and by such amounts as are raised annually thereafter by an additional sales and use tax imposed at a rate of one percent (1.0%) beginning January 1, 2022 to pay exclusively for street improvements in the Town of Mead and shall the tax revenues collected be retained in a segregated account separate from all other town financial accounts

and be used only to pay for street improvements in the Town of Mead and never be transferred into the Town General Fund or used for any purpose other than street improvements, and shall the resulting revenue and investment earnings thereon be collected, retained and spent by the Town notwithstanding the limits of Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution or any other law?”

What it means: Revenues from the proposed 1% sales and use tax

would be dedicated to help cover the costs of street improvements in Mead and could not be used for any other town expenses.

$1.4 million annually just to keep Mead’s roads in fair condition.

Continuing to operate as is, in 10 years, the roads’ quality rating will decrease to 47, nearly “very poor,” What supporters say: The its street network will get worse town doesn’t have the budget to and become more expensive to fix. keep up with street maintenance What opponents say: Mead needs. Mead currently spends officials report there was no orgaapproximately $375,000 a year on nized opposition and that the town street maintenance to care for 50 received no written comments miles of roads. Despite its best against Ballot Issue 2D by the efforts, Mead’s overall street quali- deadline for submitting such comty rating is 67 out of 100, or “fair.” ments for publication in the elecIt needs to invest an additional tion’s ballot-question booklet.

Issue 2E: Marijuana businesses What it asks: “Shall the Town of Mead adopt an Ordinance in the specific form set forth in Citizens’ Initiative Petition (2021-CI 1) permitting the operation of medical and retail marijuana businesses within the boundaries of the Town and replacing Article VI of Chapter 6 of the Mead Municipal Code with regulations concerning the

operation of such medical and retail marijuana businesses?”

What it means: This would repeal Mead’s current ban on medical and recreational marijuana sales and would allow state-authorized stores to open within its borders, ending a prohibition enacted by the Town Board of Trustees several years ago. If vot-

ers lift the ban, the Town Board would abide by Colorado laws that regulate and control authorized marijuana businesses within townships and cities.

What supporters say: The potential tax revenue generated through marijuana is needed to ensure financial stability in Mead and could fund things like infra-

structure improvements. Mead residents who can purchase cannabis products legally shouldn’t have to drive to businesses in other communities to do so.

What opponents say: Marijuana sales aren’t something that are necessary or wanted in Mead.

There also are concerns about minors using the drug and people driving while high.

Carbon Valley Ballot Carbon Valley Parks and Recreation District Issue 6A: Mill levy increase What it asks: “Shall Carbon Valley Parks and Recreation District taxes be increased $2.5 million annually (for collection in calendar year 2022) and by such additional amounts generated annually thereafter from a property tax mill levy imposed at a rate of two and seventenths (2.7) mills for a 30-year period (through tax collection year 2051) in order to fund district capital needs, operational costs and finance: •A second community recreation center; •An outdoor pool and water park; and

•A senior center addition, which 2.7 mills shall after the limited 30-year period, shall be reduced to one (1.0) mill (commencing in tax collection year 2052) to provide for ongoing operation and maintenance costs and shall be in addition to the operating mill levy currently imposed by the district; and shall the revenue from the mill levy authorized above constitute a voter-approved revenue change and an exception to the limitations set forth in Section 29-1-301 of the Colorado Revised Statutes?”

What it means: The Parks and

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Recreation District is proposing a property tax increase to generate revenues to pay the expenses of constructing, operating and maintaining another recreation center, an outdoor pool and water park and an addition to its senior center.

What supporters say: The expansion plans for a new Recreation Center and outdoor pool/ water park, recreational amenities in Firestone, addition to the current Senior Center in Frederick, and the ongoing operation of the Recreation Center in Frederick, addresses the needs/desires of

the residents of the district as demonstrated by feasibility studies, surveys, and population growth since the opening of the current facilities in Frederick. In addition to the direct benefit to the residents of the district, including Firestone, Frederick and Dacono, the new facilities will have an added benefit of contributing to the economic development of the entire district area.

What opponents say: No comments opposing the measure were filed by the constitutional deadline for doing so in order to be included in a voter information booklet.

Colorado Ballot Amendment 78

Item would make lawmakers OK all state spending

By Saja Hindi The Denver Post

effect.

Amendment 78 will ask voters whether to require the Colorado Legislature to approve spending of all state money, including what’s referred to as “custodial money.”

Custodial money, which “originates outside state government,” the state’s ballot “Blue Book” said, could include funds for emergency relief, federal funding for state programs, legal settlements, transportation funding, grants and even gifts and donations.

The measure, if passed on Nov. 2, would also require the custodial money to be placed in a new fund.

Lawmakers would likely have to develop a new process on how to spend the money and include a public hearing.

Because this would require a change to Colorado’s Constitution, the amendment needs at least 55% of the vote to pass.

Although the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office approved the measure for the ballots that are expected to be mailed the week of Oct. 8, a pending lawsuit filed Sept.

23 asked a district court to either have the secretary of state’s office to revoke the conservative-backed measure from the ballot or make sure votes cast have no legal

Executive Director Michael Fields of the conservative political advocacy organization Colorado Rising State Action said the goal is to increase transparency and accountability on how state money is spent and ensure that the state legislature does so through its budgeting processes.

His group had been discussing this initiative even before the governor needed to allocate federal stimulus money during COVID, when Fields said the amendment “became much more relevant.”

Backers wanted lawmakers and the public to have a say on where interest money from settlements to the attorney general’s office goes and money from private donations; Fields pointed to the governor’s use of donations to fund positions in his office.

Gov. Jared Polis’ office declined to comment on the measure, as did the attorney general’s office, the latter citing the pending lawsuit.

“It gets more people involved and more voices heard when it comes to allocating that money,” Fields said. It leaves the decisions in the hands of the lawmakers

What proponents are saying

elected across the state, he said, rather than just one governor or attorney general.

said “the case raises important constitutional issues, and we look forward to having a court resolve the questions presented by the What opponents are saying plaintiffs.”

It’s a layer of bureaucracy, oppoPogue also opposes Amendment nents said, and would have unin78 because of its potential impacts tended consequences — like takon delaying funding for emergening longer to get money for state cies like wildfires, something emergencies or making it harder Fields argues won’t happen if the for Colorado to get grant awards. legislature has a process in place Scott Wasserman, president of the progressive Bell Policy Center to address these types of situations. and Bell Action Network, and “It’s important that we receive Summit County Commissioner those funds quickly, and that they Tamara Pogue brought the lawnot get tied up in, for lack of a betsuit. It names Fields, Suzanne ter term partisan bickering, that Taheri (an attorney who is registhey come directly to the counties tered with the secretary of state’s office for Amendment 78) and Sec- as quickly as possible, and I am concerned that Amendment 78 retary of State Jena Griswold as doesn’t anticipate that situation defendants.

The lawsuit alleges that the mea- and can really have a very negative effect on my community sure shouldn’t have been placed should we encounter such events,” on the ballot because it doesn’t Pogue said. meet the constitutional requireWasserman also said he’s spoment that any question on an offken to a lot of people who didn’t year election ballot must involve fully understand that the ballot the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights. measure could affect everything “This kind of flies against the spirit of what we have in our laws,” from research dollars to transit.

“This is a Pandora’s box, and I Wasserman said. think once people look at it, Fields called the lawsuit frivothey’re going to have a lot of queslous and without merit, saying it tions about what this thing does,” meets all requirements and is coming too close to the election. he said.

In a statement, Griswold’s office

VOTER GUIDE • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • 43

Colorado Ballot Proposition 119

Higher recreational marijuana tax would fund out-of-school enrichment programs

By Saja Hindi The Denver Post

What proponents are saying

Advocates from the Yes on Prop 119 Campaign say the measure Proposition 119 will ask Colorawould lead to equity in education. do’s voters on Nov. 2 whether to Delanie Holton-Fessler is the coraise the state’s recreational mari- owner of Denver-based Craftsman juana sales tax to bring in about & Apprentice, which provides $137 million a year for out-ofcrafts workshops and camps durschool educational programs for ing and after school. She said that children ages 5-17 — with a priori- even though her organization proty on kids from low-income house- vides sliding-scale tuition and holds.

ReSchool Colorado has helped with scholarships to families, there The measure calls for a 5 perare still some that struggle to centage point increase by 2024 on access their programming. the state’s 15% sales tax for recreThese types of opportunities ational marijuana by 2024 (starting with a 3% rate increase in 2022 and help children not just academically but with their social and emotional 4% in 2023). If passed, about $20 million a year would also go toward skills and creative development, the enrichment programs from the she added.

The proposition “gives parents Colorado Land Board Trust, control over the opportunities that according to a Common Sense they seek out for their kids,” HolInstitute report, though that numton-Fessler said. “… We want to ber could fluctuate depending on level the playing field for kids and state land revenue. give them all access to these kinds A new nine-member state agenof enriching opportunities.” cy — separate from the Colorado The measure has support from Department of Education and the across the political spectrum and State Board of Education — would areas of the state, and former administer the Learning EnrichRepublican Gov. Bill Owens said in ment and Academic Progress Pro- a statement that’s because “they gram, in which each eligible child understand the futures of so many would receive at least $1,500 in of our young people — who are financial aid beginning in 2023. our future employees, employers, The money could be used for and community leaders — are on tutoring, support for children with the line.” He also said the measure special needs and learning disabili- would help close an opportunity ties, career and technical educagap that grew wider during the tion training or other types of COVID pandemic. enrichment programs.

The Colorado Education Associ-

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ation, the state teachers union, initially came out in support of the measure, but is now neutral.

CEA President Amie Baca-Oehlert said while the group’s board understood how chronic underfunding leads to education equity issues making their way onto the ballot, there are questions about how the program would get implemented, how the board dispersing the money would work and how rural communities that don’t have the same opportunities as those in urban areas would be able to get those resources.

“We need to be prioritizing funding our schools adequately, ensuring that our public schools have the resources that they need so that no matter where a child lives, what their zip code is, that they have access to opportunities that will help them thrive and succeed in our public schools,” she said.

What opponents are saying

Three issue committees have registered with the Colorado Secretary of State’s office to oppose the campaign, including the Cannabis Community for Fairness and Safety.

“This initiative imposes a regressive tax on people’s pain, especially veterans, teachers and the elderly who need cannabis for medicine but can’t get a medical card, and while local communities generate this tax, local school boards have no say over the education pro-

grams it pays for,” Chuck Smith, CEO of Bellrock Brands, said in a statement.

Smith, who is also the board president for Colorado Leads, a coalition of cannabis business leaders, said the industry is already highly taxed.

“If these ballot measures are so beneficial to all Coloradans, why aren’t other industries asked to pay their fair share of these taxes?” he added.

Judy Solano, a retired teacher and former Democratic state representative, is part of the No on Prop 119 campaign. She calls the measure deceptive and worries about a lack of oversight for the board that’ll distribute funds.

“We believe it’s unnecessary and feel like this is just a diversion of public monies for public education,” Solano said.

Her group opposes money being moved from the Colorado Land Board Trust that Solano said could instead go toward K-12 public schools.

But Solano also worries about the program serving as a “quasivoucher program.” Although the financial aid goes directly to students and their families and cannot be used for tuition, the money could be used for private programming and even religious institutions if the board considers them eligible providers.

Colorado Ballot Proposition 120

A property tax cut that isn’t what it seems

By Alex Burness The Denver Post

Here’s how this usually goes: Once a proposed measure qualifies for the ballots, campaigns have a few months to state their cases and voters decide. If the measure is approved, the state prepares to enact any resulting law changes.

Pretty straightforward, right?

Not in the case of Proposition 120 on the Nov. 2 ballot.

measure would cut the residential property tax assessment rate from 7.15% to 6.5% and the non-residential property tax assessment rate from 29% to 26.4%.

Here’s where things get tricky

A coalition of Colorado lawmakers — mostly Democrats but with several GOP supporters — saw this billion-dollar tax cut coming and wanted to stop it. So, in the closing hours of this year’s legislative session, they took the unusual What is Proposition 120? step of passing a bill to thwart Formerly known as Initiative 27, Proposition 120. the ballot measure is backed by SB21-293 makes a two-year cut the conservative nonprofit Colora- that will bring total property tax do Rising State Action, which has collections down by about $200 successfully fought for several million a year, and allows some recent policies to limit government property taxpayers to defer porspending in the state, like capping tions of their payments. new government fees and cutting Crucially, it also rewrites state the state income tax. property-tax laws to break busiProposition 120 is in the same ness and residential assessment vein, seeking to lower property tax categories into smaller subcategorates on homes and businesses for ries. On June 23, the day Gov. Jaran average annual $1 billion comed Polis signed the bill into law, bined savings for taxpayers. The

the ballot measure applied to outdated state law. And that was the point: The bill lawmakers passed effectively nullified close to 90% of the savings promised by the ballot measure.

By the time SB21-293 got going, it was too late for Colorado Rising State Action to update its measure by adjusting language. Getting approval to circulate petitions can take months — collecting signatures can then also take months — and they’d have had to start all over.

view with The Post earlier this year: “Do we really want to cut the budget for fire districts? I mean, really. That’s what will happen.”

He argued the legislature had an ethical duty to intervene.

Why support Proposition 120?

For one, it wasn’t entirely neutered by lawmakers: Under the updated state law, it still provides a tax cut for multifamily residential properties and commercial lodging properties.

It’s also possible that the meaWhy oppose sure could be enacted in its origiProposition 120? nal intent. Michael Fields, the Lawmakers opposed this propos- director of Colorado Rising State al because cutting property taxes Action, vowed that if voters pass it, permanently and at such a high he will sue under the argument rate would have profound impacts that of the competing policies — on local government operations SB21-293 and Proposition 120 — from schools to parks to police the one most recently approved departments. That’s the likely should be implemented. basis for opposition campaigns “It’s going to be a battle of which this fall, too. one wins out,” Fields said. “One Here’s how Republican state hundred percent, we’re going to Sen. Bob Rankin put it in an inter- sue if it passes.”

VOTER GUIDE • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • 45

2021 Election Ballot Overview Boulder County Boulder City Council Candidates

(Vote for no more than five) Michael Christy Mark Wallach Lauren Folkerts Matt Benjamin David Takahashi Tara Winer Nicole Speer Dan Williams Steve Rosenblum Jacques Decalo

Lafayette City Council Candidates (Vote for up to four) Nicole Samson Enihs Medrano Tonya Briggs Brandon Stites Brian Wong

Longmont Mayor (Vote for one) Joan Peck Gregory Harris Tim Waters

Longmont City Council Member At-Large (Vote for Two) Tallis Salamatian Diane Crist Sean P. McCoy Aren Rodriguez Shiquita Yarbrough Jeremy Dejuan Johnson

Longmont City Council Member Ward 2 (Vote for One) Marcia Martin

Louisville City Council Ward 1 (Vote for One) Keith Keller Chris Leh

Louisville City Council Ward 2 (Vote for One) Maxine Most

Louisville City Council Ward 3 (Vote for One) Kyle Brown

Boulder Valley School Board District B (Vote for One) Nicole Rajpal William Hamilton Gala W. Orba Sky Van Horn (write-in)

Boulder Valley School Board District E (Vote for One) Beth Niznik Deann E. Bucher Kara Awaitha Frost

Boulder Valley School Board District F (Vote for One) Kitty Sargent

St. Vrain Valley School Board District B (Vote for One) Karen Ragland

St. Vrain Valley School Board District D (Vote for One) Tyler Gearhart Meosha Brooks

St. Vrain Valley School Board District F (Vote for One) Natalie Abshier Sarah Hurianek

Weld County Dacono Mayor

(Vote for One) Kathryn Wittman Adam Morehead

Dacono City Council

(Vote for no more than two) Jackie Thomas Jim Turini John Wargo

46 • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • VOTER GUIDE

Colorado ballot measures

Lafayette ballot issues

Amendment 78 — Legislative Ballot Issue 2B — Public safety state spending approval funding Yes Yes No No Proposition 119 — Recreational Ballot Issue 2C — Mental health marijuana tax increase to fund out- and human services funding of-school enrichment programs Yes Yes No No Ballot Question 2D — Gender Proposition 120 — Property tax neutral charter language assessment rate cut Yes Yes No No Ballot Question 2E — Remove archaic language from charter Boulder ballot issues Yes Ballot Issue 2I — Community, No culture and safety tax extension Ballot Question 2F — Council Yes residency qualifications No Yes Ballot Issue 2J — Issuance of No bonds to be paid by tax extension Louisville ballot issues requested in Issue 2I Yes Ballot Issue 2A — TransportaNo tion improvement tax Ballot Issue 2K — Council comYes mittee appointments No Yes Lyons ballot issues No Ballot Question 2G — Solar genBallot Issue 2L — Petition signaeration and storage facility ture clarification Yes Yes No No Ballot Issue 2M — Council pay- Superior ballot issues ment schedule Ballot Issue 2H —TransportaYes tion improvement tax No Yes Ballot Question 300 — BedNo rooms are for People Mead ballot issues Yes No Ballot Issue 2D — Street Ballot Question 301 — Humane improvement tax increase Clothing Act Yes Yes No No Ballot Issue 2E — Recreational Ballot Question 302 — Let the marijuana sales Voters Decide on Annexation of Yes CU South No Yes Carbon Valley Parks and No

Recreation District ballot issues

Ballot Issue 6A — Mill levy increase Yes No

EI

O

RS

* P R

ECT

OUR * N

GHB

Flood protection NOW.

OT

*

Don't leave Boulder underwater.

Vote NO on 302 Question 302 puts years of work on flood protection, open space and affordable housing at risk.

VOTE NO ON BALLOT QUESTION 302 NOVEMBER 2ND TO: • Ensure 2,300+ South Boulder residents get urgently needed flood protection during the climate emergency we are facing.

• Permanently protect 119 acres of land at CU South as city open space.

• Support building 5 acres of permanently affordable housing.

ENDORSEMENTS

Suzy Ageton, Judy Amabile, Matt Applebaum, KC Becker, Aaron Brockett, Jan Burton, Macon Cowles, Leslie Durgin, Angelique Espinoza, Steve Fenberg, Rachel Friend, Elise Jones, Suzanne Jones, Junie Joseph, George Karakehian, Lisa Sweeney-Miran, Andrew Shoemaker, Linda Shoemaker, Adam Swetlik, Will Toor, Jim Topping, Mark Wallach, Sam Weaver, Bob Yates, Mary Young

Learn more at ProtectOurNeighbors.org

VOTER GUIDE • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • 47

Boulder City council Election 2021

VOTE FOR AN

INCLUSIVE

BOULDER COALITION MEMBERS

The Boulder Coalition is a partnership of community groups, each dedicated to making our city more inclusive, safe, livable and welcoming for all people. We’ve come together to endorse city council candidates that will uphold our values and will work toward our shared vision of: u

Expanding housing opportunities

u

Accelerated climate action & resiliency

u

Protecting natural resources & access to Open Space

u

Improved public safety & transportation infrastructure

u

Inclusive policies that promote social justice

u

Better governance and fiscal responsibility

JOIN US IN ELECTING COUNCIL CANDIDATES

Matt benjamin Lauren Folkerts Nicole speer Dan Williams UNITED CAMPUS WORKERS

VISIT u BOULDERCOALITION.ORG To learn more about why we came together for these candidates.

Paid for by The Coalition. Not affiliated with any candidate or candidate committee.

48 • OCTOBER 10, 2021 • VOTER GUIDE