JEFFERSON COUNTY — Change is coming to Wheat Ridge and Westminster following the final tallies of last week’s election.
Both cities will swear in new mayors, as well as a total of eight new council members — four in Westminster and four in Wheat Ridge.
In Wheat Ridge, that’s half the city council, with voters failing to return to office any incumbent up for re-election Nov. 5.
In Westminster, only two councilors from the previous council remain, after three were replaced due to term limits and a fourth was elected mayor.
Herb Atchison, winner of the three-way race for Westminster mayor, said the city is facing a “big transition time” in the coming months.
Atchison was sworn in as mayor Nov. 11, along with three council newcomers, Bruce Baker, Alberto Garcia and Emma Pinter. The fourth new councilor will be appointed within 30 days to finish out the remainder of Atchison’s council term.
“A lot of the things that the council has been working on aren’t finished,” Atchison said. “We have to get people up to speed on the things that need to be done.”
That starts, he said, with the redevelopment of the Westminster Mall site. In one of its final acts, the previous council approved a preliminary development plan for the 105-acre site.
“We’ve had four years where we haven’t had any success in getting anything started over there. We have to fix that,” Atchison said.
“We have a major financial investment in it as a city,” he said. “My goal is to see it become a regional center the way it was.”
In Wheat Ridge, Joyce Jay will be sworn in as mayor Nov. 18. She bested Mike Stites, a fellow council member and son of former mayor Frank “Hank” Stites, on Nov. 5.
Jay will be joined by four new council members, although one is no stranger to city government.
Jerry DiTullio , the outgoing mayor, ran for the council seat in District 1 and narrowly beat incumbent Davis Reinhart and two other candidates. He has been part of Wheat Ridge government since 1995, serving on city council for 10 years before being elected mayor in 2005. He was term limited as mayor this year.
The other council members-elect are new to city politics.
In the two open races, Zachary Urban came out on top in District 2 to replace Jay, who stepped down to run for mayor. In District 3, Tim Fitzgerald will succeed Stites, who was term limited on council.
In District 4, Genevieve Wooden toppled one-term incumbent Joseph DeMott.
As the city’s first new mayor since 2005, Jay said she’s looking forward to working with her new colleagues as well as partners throughout the region.
“It feels like a group that will walk in stride together. I’m pretty happy about it,” Jay said of the new council. “I think it’s going to be a collaborative, conscientious, dedicated council that wants to see the city move forward and yet still hold on to our own personal identity as a city.”
“Residents are excited about what’s happening in Wheat Ridge,” Jay added. “They’re excited about the progress we’re making and they want it to continue.”
Who won Nov. 5?
Arvada
Ward 1
Rachel Zenzinger (I), 100 percent
Ward 3
John Marriott, 47.1 percent
Ted Terranova, 39.0 percent
Justin Vicory, 13.9 percent
At-large
Don Allard (I), 56.5 percent
Ascenzo Di Giacomo, 43.5 percent
Westminster
Mayor
Herb Atchison, 41.3 percent
Bob Briggs, 30.9 percent
Mary Lindsey, 27.8 percent
City Council (top three)
Emma Pinter, 18.8 percent
Bruce Baker, 15.0 percent
Alberto Garcia, 13.5 percent
Suzanne Ramirez, 12.5 percent
David DeMott, 12.4 percent
Debbie Bergamo, 10.6 percent
Mike Litzau, 10.5 percent
A.J. Elserougi, 6.7 percent
Wheat Ridge
Mayor
Joyce Jay, 53.8 percent
Mike Stites, 44.9 percent
Write-in, 1.4 percent
District 1
Jerry DiTullio, 30.8 percent
Davis Reinhart (I), 29.2 percent
Monica Duran, 26.7 percent
Karen Thaler, 13.2 percent
District 2
Zachary Urban, 54.6 percent
Chad Harr, 45.4 percent
District 3
Tim Fitzgerald, 60.4 percent
Dick Matthews, 39.6 percent
District 4
Genevieve Wooden, 53.2 percent
Joseph DeMott (I), 46.8 percent
Based on unofficial county results
