Residents in Denver City Council District 8 have a choice between one candidate who touts her experience in government and one who relies on her expertise in the neighborhoods.
Sharon Bailey and Carla Madison are squaring off in a runoff election to fill the seat of former Councilwoman Elbra Wedgeworth, who left office because of term limits.
Bailey and Madison survived the general election May 1, but neither received the more than 50 percent of votes required to avoid a runoff.
Both candidates have acknowledged the other’s skills. Madison said Bailey has “a very strong background in budget and education” from Bailey’s experience as director of accounting in the Denver Auditor’s Office and as a member of the Denver School Board.
But Madison said she hopes her relationship with neighborhoods will put her on the council. She has been president of the City Park West Neighborhood Association since 1999.
“If you want somebody who will continue to stay involved with the neighborhood, I may be the logical choice for you,” she said.
Bailey said “Carla (Madison) is a nice lady, and she knows zoning.”
But Bailey, who has a Ph.D. in public policy from the University of Colorado, said she knows both the inner workings of city government and the nuances of policy-making.
Both candidates have leaned on their expertise to point out where District 8’s diverse neighborhoods can be improved.
Bailey said more needs to be done to give young people a place to go. She said the smattering of recent gang-related crime in Denver has residents worried about violence.
“They think this is going to be another hot summer in terms of gangs,” Bailey said.
And Madison said she hopes to work to preserve neighborhood character in the face of housing scrape-offs and infill development.
The problem the neighborhoods are having, Madison said, is what’s being built and what the zoning allows.
Meanwhile, both campaigns have come under criticism over campaign signs.
Madison’s signs bear a strong resemblance to the city’s official flag – implying an endorsement or official status from the city, critics say.
Bailey’s campaign has been criticized for placing signs where they are not allowed.
When resident Rob Price confronted the campaign about putting them on street rights of way and public property, Bailey’s husband, John Bailey, left a phone message saying: “Part of what I do, man, is aggressive campaigning.”
Bailey’s message said, “If I catch you out there, there is going to be a problem.”
Price said he considered the message a threat. Sharon Bailey said this week it was not a physical threat, but a warning not to remove signs.
“It was, ‘If we catch you we’re going to call the police.”‘
Mail ballots for the runoff election have been sent to voters in the district and are due back to the Denver Election Commission by the end of the day June 5.
Staff writer George Merritt can be reached at 303-954-1657 or gmerritt@denverpost.com.
Coming Wednesday
JoAnn Phillips and Paul Lopez are vying for the District 3 seat.
Ballot drop-off sites
These locations will be open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today through Friday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday; and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 5:
Barnum Recreation Center (Dist. 3), 360 Hooker St.
Schenck School (Dist. 3), 1300 S. Lowell Blvd.
College View Recreation Center (Dist. 7), 2525 S. Decatur St.
Porter Place (Dist. 7), 1001 E. Yale Ave.
Glenarm Recreation Center (Dist. 8), 2800 Glenarm Place
New Hope Baptist Church (Dist. 8), 3701 Colorado Blvd.
Denver Election Commission headquarters, 303 W. Colfax Ave., will also be open for ballot drop-off 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. today through Friday; 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday; and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 5.
