Denver’s May 1 municipal elections have generated only a handful of competitive contests and all too little public interest. Nonetheless, we’ve been struck by the quality of candidates who have put themselves forward for city offices.
Ballots for the mail-in election are already being distributed.
The Post has reviewed the records of the candidates and their agendas, and we have followed the various forums in order to reach our endorsements.
Our piece on the Denver mayoral race will run on Monday. Today, we want to look at other city races and Denver’s sole ballot initiative.
We start with a historic election:
Thanks to a charter change approved last January, this will be the first time since Denver became a combined city and county in 1902 that voters will elect their clerk and recorder. Our choice is Stephanie O’Malley over Jacob Werther, a deputy public trustee.
O’Malley, a lawyer and the daughter of former Mayor Wellington Webb, served as the city’s director of excise and licenses before being appointed to the clerk and recorder’s post Jan. 9. We hope her political background will help her wield the enhanced powers of the new elected clerk’s office to clean up the city’s inept election process.
We’ll stick with incumbent auditor Dennis Gallagher over challenger Bill Wells despite Gallagher’s desultory work habits. The auditor’s office, which was formerly overburdened with payroll and accounting functions, was revamped by a 2006 charter change that transferred those chores to an appointed chief financial officer. Gallagher initially resisted that reform but ultimately benefitted because it freed up resources in the auditor’s office to conduct the kind of financial and performance audits that Gallagher is familiar with after serving 16 years on the state Legislative Audit Committee. His opponent, Wells, is a professional auditor but has shown no grasp of the political side of what is, after all, an elected office.
Voters will fill two at-large seats on the City Council from just three candidates. We like incumbents Carol Boigon and Doug Linkhart over community activist Carol Campbell. Boigon has represented Denver well in key state and regional forums and helped lead the successful fight to expand Denver preschool offerings. Linkhart, as chair of the Crime Prevention and Control Commission, helped bring the Drug Court and other vital anti-crime tools back to Denver.
Five incumbent council members are running unopposed: Rick Garcia (District 1); Jeanne Faatz (District 2); Charlie Brown (District 6); Jeanne Robb (District 10); and Michael Hancock (District 11.)
District 3 has a seven-way melee to fill the seat vacated when Rosemary Rodriguez resigned to take a position on the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.
Our choice is JoAnn Phillips, who has an intimate knowledge of the district gleaned from her service as an aide to former Councilwoman Ramona Martinez. Phillips has solid views on economic development, strengthening neighborhoods and public safety. She faces Kathy Sandoval, Paul Lopez, Mark Roggeman, Ben Romero, Antoinette Alire and Niccolo Casewit.
In District 4, incumbent Peggy Lehmann is a clear choice over challengers Ike Kelley and William Rutherford III. Lehmann has worked hard on parks and zoning issues, and her interests will benefit the council as a whole.
In District 5, incumbent Marcia Johnson has earned a second term over challengers Mitchell Poindexter and Ronald Ours. Johnson chairs the public works committee and will be expected to keep a keen eye on such basic city efforts as snow removal and pothole repair.
District 7 has a spirited four-way race to replace term-limited Kathleen MacKenzie. We lean to Shelly Watters, a one-time aide to former Councilwoman Joyce Foster and later to Boigon. Watters also has a strong background in civic affairs. She faces Julie Connor, Chris Nevitt and Dennis Smith.
District 8 has a talented four-way field vying to replace term-limited Elbra Wedgeworth. Our choice is Carla Madison, president of the City Park West Neighborhood Association. Madison has a solid grasp on planning and zoning issues in this rapidly changing district. The call is close because Sharon Bailey, a former Denver school board member, also shows a strong understanding of district issues. Greg Rasheed and Darrell Watson round out this able field.
In District 9, incumbent Judy Montero is a clear choice over anti-illegal-immigration activist Waldo Benevides. Montero has worked well on city issues ranging from transportation to aiding the homeless.
Voters will also face one ballot issue. Measure 1A would extend the term limits for Denver district attorney from the current two four-year terms, to the same three-term limit that covers other city offices. The Post recommends a “yes” vote.
How to get informed
Denver voters can go to the city’s website, www.denvergov.org, and click on the “Denver 8” icon to find a schedule of when candidate forums are broadcast. Channel 8 allows viewers to see the forums online and read written transcripts of the events.
All voting is by mail, and ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on May 1. For information on dropoff locations, or if you did not receive a ballot, call 720-913-VOTE.
