Without the hype of a presidential race, this fall’s election feels downright low key, but there are still some critical issues on metro-area ballots.
The Post has weighed in on the Denver School Board races and Initiative 300. Below, you’ll find a recap of our endorsements. To read statements from the DPS board candidates, go to . (For details on all of the races in your neighborhood, go to .)
Denver Public Schools
Four of the district’s seven board seats are up for grabs, and the election could mean the difference between pushing forward with reform efforts that really have just begun or putting the brakes on progress.
At-large seat: Mary Seawell is the clear choice for the at-large seat. As executive director of the Sturm Family Foundation, she evaluated public schools in an effort to determine what factors predict success. For the last year, she has worked with University of Denver to create an MBA program in school leadership.
She believes in the district’s merit- pay plan, but wants to see it improved. She thinks the current dispute between whether there ought to be more or fewer charter schools misses the point.
District 2, southwest Denver: Ismael Garcia has been an organizer for the Denver District Attorney’s office, a neighborhood association president and a founding board member of the successful West Denver Prep.
We think Garcia will be a voice for reform, grounded in community knowledge, and we urge voters to support him.
District 3, central Denver: Jeanne Kaplan, who is running unopposed for re-election, has served well for the past four years. She’s been a valued member of the board and we recommend her for re-election.
District 4, northeast Denver: The board chose not to endorse in this race.
Denver’s Initiative 300
We urge a “no” vote on Initiative 300, which concerns the mandatory impounding of cars whose drivers are not licensed. While we certainly do not want to see unlicensed drivers on the roads, the proposed ballot initiative is a blunt instrument that would burden local police and the city budget.
It would take away the discretion of law enforcement to decide whether it’s better for an officer to sit with a car driven by an unlicensed driver and wait for a tow truck, or, say, chase an armed robber or something else more serious. It is an ill-advised attempt to dictate law enforcement by ballot initiative.
