Denver Votes: The Best Thing
Candidates Weigh In On The Best Thing About Park Hill, And Why Voters Should Pick Them
Greater Park Hill has been represented at city hall for eight years by Councilman Chris Herndon, who is term-limited from office this year. Because of redistricting, the neighborhood has been split.
That means part of Park Hill is in District 8 — which includes most of Northeast Park Hill, plus a portion of South Park Hill east of Monaco. The district also includes East Colfax, Central Park and Montbello neighborhoods.
The rest of Park Hill is now in District 9 — including a substantial portion of South and North Park Hill. The district also includes the Cole, Whittier, Five Points, Globeville, Elyria and Swansea neighborhoods.
Five candidates are vying to replace Herndon in District 8 — including Tyler Drum, Shontel Lewis, Brad Revare, Christian Steward and Leslie Twarogowski.
District 9 is currently represented by Councilwoman Candi CdeBaca, who is up for reelection. She is being challenged by Kwan Atlas and Darrell Watson.
In January, the candidates weighed in on several topics, from their biggest frustration at city hall to the three top priorities if elected. They were asked their positions on whether they support lifting the conservation easement on the Park Hill Golf Course property, as it is one of the driving issues in this year’s election. (See the reference box at right on where each candidate stands; and check out the January Q&As online at greaterparkhill.org/news-and-opinion/off-and-running/).
This month, we followed up to learn more about the candidates. We also asked them to submit a favorite photo of themselves in Park Hill — either campaigning or just in the neighborhood. Here’s what they had to say.
City Council District 8
Tyler Drum
Drum4Denver.com
What is the best thing about District 8, in eight words or less.
The people, our diversity, and it’s our home!
What is the biggest challenge District 8 faces over the next four years?
The biggest challenge facing Park Hill in the next four years is the future of the Park Hill Golf Course.
Why are you the best candidate in this race to tackle this challenge?
Most of my challengers (except Leslie Twarogowski) are in favor of allowing development on the perpetual conservation easement. We need someone who will advocate for the land to be acquired by the city to turn it into a city park. I will support any measure that ensures this area remains open space because once it’s gone, it will be lost forever! I believe that if we can defeat the referred measure 2 O in April, the city will be in a position to acquire the land if we can also elect a pro-open space majority on city council. Every effort should be made by the city council to acquire the land so that we are not having to replay this debate again. City councils and mayors come and go but a perpetual conservation easement should be perpetual. Contrary to what the developers will have people believe, we do not need to keep the area as a golf course. We can honor the conservation easement while still allowing for more general use — open space. Planting more trees, walking trails, and recreational areas, all of these are respectful of the easement. A vibrant 155-acre city park is what the community wants and what I will fight for.
What is your favorite historical fact about Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood?
The Greater Park Hill Community was founded as Park Hill Action Committee to fight for the integration of Park Hill.
What does Park Hill have that the rest of the city of Denver could benefit by having and/or replicating? Why?
A close sense of community. Every neighborhood should care for each other like they do in Park Hill.
Shontel Lewis
shontelforcouncil.com
What is the best thing about District 8, in eight words or less:
Our people, our community.
What is the biggest challenge District 8 faces over the next four years?
Economic insecurity and the social determinants of health. I believe the health of our city is the wealth of our city and I’m running to tackle the challenge of providing a healthier, more affordable future for residents of D8.
Why are you the best candidate in this race to tackle this challenge?
I’m the best candidate to tackle our multifaceted challenges because I’ve got a record of co-governance with the community and tackling complex problems. I’ve served as RTD Director for District B (which includes Park Hill neighborhoods), where I fought for transportation justice and equity and better conditions for RTD employees. I was a vice president of Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, working to address many of the community’s housing needs. I’ve been a director of strategy and engagement at Denver Public Schools, serving alongside our educators and students and parents in order to bridge divides and build connections. My record shows a holistic approach to community service and engagement, and a commitment to the people in my neighborhoods that I will fight for their needs and their prosperity.
What is your favorite historical fact about Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood?
Park Hill has many interesting historical details, particularly its original racial restrictions and covenants to keep Park Hill exclusively white, until neighbors gathered at a church as a coalition to push back resulting in Black families moving beyond the redlined Five Points into Park Hill.
What does Park Hill have that the rest of the city of Denver could benefit by having and/or replicating? Why?
Park Hill has the best vibes. We don’t take ourselves too seriously, but we show up for one another and always have the best time, such as with the Fourth of July Parade. Take notes, Denver.
Brad Revare
bradfordenver.com
What is the best thing about District 8, in eight words or less.
It’s a great place for families.
What is the biggest challenge District 8 faces over the next four years?
Affordability and the cost of living. You should not need to be a millionaire to live comfortably in Denver and there is a question of fairness about Denver quickly becoming that.
Why are you the best candidate in this race to tackle this challenge?
My background and ability to take ideas from neighbors and put them into action. I worked for then-State Sen. Mike Johnston running his citizen policy committee at his office in Park Hill. I’ve worked for Attorney General Phil Weiser to implement innovative ideas inside the City and County of Denver around city services. I’ve helped promote affordable housing through advising the Fax Partnership around community land trusts in East Colfax, represented District 8 on the Mayor’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee to promote safer walking and biking infrastructure, and have spent my career building out Denver and Colorado’s youth apprenticeship system as part of the founding team of the nonprofit CareerWise Colorado to help youth earn while they learn. Finally, I’ve helped write legislation with State Sen. James Coleman to incentivize business to hire Denver youth for internships and apprenticeships.
What is your favorite historical fact about Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood?
I am a diehard CU Buffs basketball fan and grew up watching the King of Park Hill, Chauncey Billups, play both at CU and in the NBA. I love that he and so many other notable public figures are from Park Hill. It is a special neighborhood.
What does Park Hill have that the rest of the city of Denver could benefit by having and/or replicating? Why?
I think we could all benefit from having more locally-owned businesses inside our neighborhoods that we can support by making it easy to walk and bike to them. District 8’s (and 9’s) portion of Park Hill has several great examples of this concept that my family enjoys.
Leslie Twarogowski
LeslieforCouncil.com
What is the best thing about District 8, in eight words or less.
Our diverse residents and our central Denver location.
What is the biggest challenge District 8 faces over the next four years?
Living here seems to get more expensive by the day.
Why are you the best candidate in this race to tackle this challenge?
My years working with directly with city agencies, including a successful charter change request and acquisition of bond and taxpayer financing, gives me the experience to forge a pathway to fund attainable and “missing middle” housing projects and to make citywide policy changes.
What is your favorite historical fact about Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood?
I’m deeply grateful for the Park Hill Action Committee (now the Greater Park Hill Community, Inc.), a group that did a lot of difficult work during the 1960’s to overcome the racial divides in our neighborhood. The fight to keep our community diverse is definitely not over.
What does Park Hill have that the rest of the city of Denver could benefit by having and/or replicating? Why?
I love our tree canopy in the south portion of Park Hill, but it is noticeably absent in the northern and eastern portions of our neighborhood. I’d like to work with the City Forester to replicate that lush tree canopy in the District 8 areas that need it.
Christian Steward
district8steward.com
What is the best thing about District 8, in eight words or less?
We have one of the most diverse neighborhoods.
What is the biggest challenge District 8 faces over the next four years?
Developing creative city laws that address housing, rent prices, and our unhoused populations. I would advocate for modernizing city processes by streamlining the recruiting and hiring of city employees, bolstering efficiency of city permit applications, decreasing the time for accounts payable, simplifying contracts for local businesses to request for proposals, increasing wrap around services to support building and/or remodeling residential and commercial properties.
Why are you the best candidate in this race to tackle this challenge?
I am currently working with the City and County of Denver as a community connector for the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI). I am the only candidate that works for the city of Denver. The intersectionality of serving residents as a Community Connector in the neighborhoods of District 8 gives me a unique opportunity to be impactful immediately as a city councilmember. I have working relationships with city employees and have worked with many of them to deliver projects, services, and programs that meaningfully impact our neighborhood and city.
What is your favorite historical fact about Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood?
As a kid, I remember the airport being a nuisance and more importantly the excitement that came when it was decommissioned.
What does Park Hill have that the rest of the city of Denver could benefit by having and/or replicating? Why?
I think the Dahlia Campus is a great example of how people can and do recover from mental illness. The range of treatments they offer impact many residents in Park Hill and across the city. The community garden at the campus is a great gathering place of people, organizations, and nature. More communities could benefit from places like Dahlia Campus.
City Council District 9
Kwon Atlas
kwonatlas.com
What is the best thing about District 9, in nine words or less?
Its cultural diversity and access to resources.
What is the biggest challenge District 9 faces over the next four years?
Reducing crime and cost of living.
Why are you the best candidate in this race to tackle this challenge?
I’ve studied this issue in other cities and have delivered real solutions for Denverites.
What is your favorite historical fact about Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood?
The 80207 ZIP code is only predominantly African American ZIP code in Denver.
What does Park Hill have that the rest of the city of Denver could benefit by having and/or replicating? Why?
I would actually say that Park Hill has one of the strongest registered neighborhood organizations in Denver, with its community newspaper. As a newspaper owner I believe all neighborhoods should have this.
Candi CdeBaca
CandiCdeBaca.com
What is the best thing about District 9, in nine words or less?
Diverse, historic and engaged neighborhoods that value stability/community.
What is the biggest challenge District 9 faces over the next four years?
We’re the most centrally located neighborhoods and oldest neighborhoods in the city, thus highly desirable due to our location and also a target for density so that more people can access said location. Striking a fair balance in development while preserving what character, affordability and diversity remain, are the greatest challenges District 9 will face in the next four years.
Why are you the best candidate in this race to tackle this challenge?
As a 5th generation District 9 native as well as being Indigenous to this land, I know nothing we are building in this city matters more than building up our people, especially the most vulnerable. I’m a social worker, policy expert and community organizer who has spent two decades working in/with/around government at all three levels to ensure equity and justice. I have been at the forefront of several fights for justice in the District 9 community — forcing our government to listen to us on health, safety, property and equity issues. I’ve generated services and supports as well as built entities for community wealth-building in this district.
What is your favorite historical fact about Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood?
Smiley (now McAuliffe) was the first desegregated junior high school in Denver as a result of the Keyes v. School District No. 1 case.
What does Park Hill have that the rest of the city of Denver could benefit by having and/or replicating? Why?
There was always a group of Park Hill residents willing to stand for racial harmony through activism. That activism is really a very special part of Park Hill and I would love to see the activism and level of community organization throughout the city.
Photo courtesy of Darrell Watson
Darrell Watson
watsonfordenver.com
What is the best thing about District 9, in nine words or less?
Nine neighborhoods built upon shared love of community.
What is the biggest challenge District 9 faces over the next four years?
The biggest challenge is housing affordability. In Park Hill, I spoke with a family that raised their children in the neighborhood. They are both retired now, and their child lives in Aurora. Their child would love to move back to Park Hill and start a family in Park Hill, but can’t afford it on a teacher’s salary. This story is playing out in every neighborhood in D9. We need a councilperson who can collaborate with communities and with their fellow council members to provide for workforce housing in every neighborhood.
Why are you the best candidate in this race to tackle this challenge?
I have the expertise from over 20 years of collaborating with community members and elected officials to pass and implement commonsense housing policies. As a member of the [city’s] first Land Use and Transportation Advisory committee, we co-created the original Blueprint Denver. I co-facilitated the Whittier Neighborhood plan process in the late 90s and contributed to one of the first TOD and affordable housing developments along the 30th & Welton corridor. As chair of the Housing Stability Strategic Advisors Board, we passed the first affordable housing mandate in the state. I’ve demonstrated consistent leadership in providing practical solutions to housing affordability in Denver.
What is your favorite historical fact about Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood?
Rachel Noel and the Noel Resolution and Dr. Wilfred Keyes in Keyes vs. School District 1 are intertwined milestones rooted in Park Hill history that dismantled de facto segregation in DPS. The Supreme Court ruling made Denver the only municipality outside of the deep South to have court-ordered busing to force integration of public schools.
What does Park Hill have that the rest of the city of Denver could benefit by having and/or replicating? Why?
Park Hill has an engaged and informed electorate. Because of that engagement, Park Hill often votes at higher rates than most other neighborhoods in Denver. The Greater Park Hill News provides timely stories and information to inform a progressive and involved citizenry.
Campaign Cash
The following is how much each candidate has raised as of Jan. 31. For updated numbers, check out the Clerk & Recorder’s new handy search engine at denver.maplight.com/public/transaction-search. The site allows you to easily research who’s contributed dough to individual candidates and committees.
Total contributions (as of Jan. 31)
District 8
• Tyler Drum: $33,750 in 185 contributions
• Shontel Lewis: $16,777 in 248 contributions
• Brad Revare: $154,130 in 428 contributions
• Christian Steward: $1,200 in 6 contributions
• Leslie Twarogowski: $61,511 in 222 contributions
District 9
• Kwon Atlas: $53,235 in 238 contributions
• Candi CdeBaca: $150,152 in 741 contributions
• Darrell Watson: $223,964 in 858 contributions