Roaming The Range
Council At-Large Members Represent All Of Denver
Compiled by Cara DeGette
Editor, GPHN
The City of Denver is comprised of 13 members of the city council. These include 11 members from assigned districts, and two members who are designated “At-Large” — meaning their district is the entire city. The tax-paid salary for all city council members is currently $96,557, and whoever is appointed council president makes another $12,000 on top of that.
The two current At-Large members — Debbie Ortega and Robin Kniech — are term-limited this year and can’t run again (though Ortega is now running for mayor). Nine candidates are in the running for At-Large seats.
We asked all nine of them to provide us with highlights of what’s on their minds as their campaigns start to heat up. Note the emphasis on the Park Hill Golf Course, as the future of the property will undoubtedly be one of the driving issues in this year’s municipal election.
Seven of the nine submitted the questionnaires. Two of the candidates did not respond to repeated requests to submit responses. Those include Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, who is currently a state legislator representing House District 4, and Dominic Diaz, who currently works for the city in the office of children’s affairs.
Penfield Tate
tateforcitycouncilatlarge.com
How long have you lived in Denver?
I have lived in Denver for over 40 years. I spent just over 3 years in Five Points before moving to Park Hill, where I have resided ever since.
List any previous public service positions that you’ve held.
• I served as an aide in the office of former Mayor Federico Peña.
• I served in the cabinet of Gov. Roy Romer as the Executive Director of the Department of Administration.
• Colorado State Representative for House District 8 from 1997-2000.
• Colorado State Senator for District 33 from 2021-2023.
• Board Member of the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority.
• Board Member of History Colorado.
Identify the top three issues you want to tackle if you are elected to the city council.
1. Collaborating with the private and nonprofit sectors to create more affordable housing.
2. Partnering with the appropriate partners to address the plight of the unhoused and our community.
3. Improving and reforming public safety to reduce crime and create a more effective police force that reflects the community it serves.
What is your biggest frustration about Denver’s municipal government right now?
Its failure to be respectful of and responsive to the needs of Denver’s neighborhoods and communities to preserve the quality of life we have all come to expect. Our quality of life has slipped over the years, and we need to reclaim it.
What is your position on the city and Westside Investment Partners’ plan to develop the Park Hill Golf Course property?
I strongly oppose the planned development of the site being pushed through the system by the City on behalf of the developer, Westside Investment Partners. Since 1997, the residents of Denver have paid for and have owned a conservation easement that protects the property, and the related development rights it includes. The developer purchased the land knowing it did not include the right to develop the site.
On April 4, will you personally vote to lift the conservation easement on the Park Hill Golf Course property?
No. State law is very clear on how a conservation easement can be abolished or amended. The process the City has used, and the ballot question the City is proposing, does not comply with state law and is improper.
Tim Hoffman
timfordenver.com
How long have you lived in Denver?
I grew up in Metro Denver, leaving to attend college in 2006. After graduating law school in 2016, I moved back to Denver. My wife and I currently live in southeast Denver with our three children.
List any previous public service positions that you’ve held.
I served as a deputy district attorney at the Denver DA’s office for over 5 years. I also worked in the Obama administration at the White House and State Department.
Identify the top three issues you want to tackle if you are elected to the city council.
1. Affordable housing: We need to immediately increase the supply of housing and make it more affordable for those who need it most. To address the scale of the problem, we need both public and private sectors working towards this goal.
2. Public safety: Ensuring the safety of our residents is a top priority. We need to address the root causes of crime, poverty, etc., while also investing in community policing and other strategies that promote trust and collaboration between law enforcement and the community.
3. Infrastructure: In a growing city, we must have a multimodal transit system that is safe and efficient for all Denverites.
What is your biggest frustration about Denver’s municipal government right now?
We must better track and report out the uses of taxpayer money on programs and their effectiveness.
What is your position on the city and Westside Investment Partners’ plan to develop the Park Hill Golf Course property?
We have a housing shortage in Denver. I believe the currently proposed plan that creates one of the largest green spaces in the city while providing thousands of additional homes is a step in the right direction. I am also cognizant of the concerns of Park Hill residents and those worried about promises being made that they fear will not be kept if the development is allowed to proceed. Were the easement to be lifted, my role on Denver City Council would be to hold to Westside to the promises made throughout the engagement process with the community, with an emphasis on the green spaces and affordable housing units.
On April 4, will you personally vote to lift the conservation easement on the Park Hill Golf Course property?
Yes.
Will Chan
willchanfordenver.com
How long have you lived in Denver?
Born and raised in West Denver.
List any previous public service positions that you’ve held.
I have been a servant leader my entire career. I have organized in labor unions, led immigrant and refugee programming in Denver Public Libraries, and have worked alongside small business owners and historically under-resourced neighborhoods within various city agencies. Currently I work for Denver Economic Development & Opportunity.
Identify the top three issues you want to tackle if you are elected to the city council.
My platform is working to make Denver greener, more affordable, more prosperous, and safer. My top three issues will be to address safety through public service navigators and alternatives to police response, to address affordability by subsidizing childcare, and to address the housing crisis by streamlining the permitting process.
What is your biggest frustration about Denver’s municipal government right now?
Some of the most dedicated and hardest-working folks I’ve met in my career are in municipal government. However, the City is hamstrung by bureaucracy, which makes us afraid and/or unable to take risks and think creatively to effect change.
What is your position on the city and Westside Investment Partners’ plan to develop the Park Hill Golf Course property?
Westside’s plan was thoughtfully constructed with input from constituents across the city and in this community. It addresses gaps in food security, provides affordable housing, and creates one of the city’s largest parks. However, it is not perfect. I am particularly concerned about displacement of both families and small businesses. If Denver voters choose to remove the conservation easement and allow the development, I will hold both Westside and the City accountable to keep their promises to Park Hill neighbors.
On April 4, will you personally vote to lift the conservation easement on the Park Hill Golf Course property?
I will vote in favor of removing the easement because I think the development will provide added value to the neighborhood and the City. Of course, as a member of council I will respect the outcome and work to enact the voters’ will.
Travis Leiker
www.travisleiker.com
How long have you lived in Denver?
16 years
List any previous public service positions that you’ve held.
As an aide to entrepreneur and then-member of the State Board of Education Jared Polis, I worked to invest in education. At Conservation Colorado, I deepened our environmental work in the Latino community. As Senior Director at CU, I created scholarship programs for underrepresented students. I championed, as president of Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods, more affordable housing. I led NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado from near insolvency to stability as its chair.
Identify the top three issues you want to tackle if you are elected to the city council.
2023 is the most consequential election in decades. The at-large role is uniquely positioned to build solutions beyond geographic boundaries and lines of difference. Top issues: affordable housing, homelessness, neighborhood safety, and city services.
What is your biggest frustration about Denver’s municipal government right now?
We need stability, predictability, and steady leadership. Homelessness is up, 10 neighborhoods account for the most violent crimes, housing is out of reach, and many lack effective services. I am running for council at-large because Denver needs citywide perspective and solutions. I have enhanced stable organizations and saved others from collapse — skills needed to get Denver on track.
What is your position on the city and Westside Investment Partners’ plan to develop the Park Hill Golf Course property?
I am monitoring the ongoing deliberations and continue to have conversations with stakeholders. The current council made its decision, approving the area plan and referring the measure to Denver voters. Soon, the development agreement(s) will be released and considered by the same council. Whatever voters decide, I remain unequivocally committed to parks and green spaces, affordable housing options, eliminating food deserts, and thoughtful urban planning.
On April 4, will you personally vote to lift the conservation easement on the Park Hill Golf Course property?
When elected, I am tasked with implementing the will of voters. If the easement is lifted, I will ensure the developers deliver on their expectations. If not, Denver will likely chart next steps in partnership with the owners. I want to be in the best negotiating position possible — handle discussions strategically, set expectations, and proceed unencumbered by prior “yes/no” answers.
Marty Zimmerman
martyfordenver.com
How long have you lived in Denver?
I was born and raised in Denver. I left after high school and returned with my family in 2005.
List any previous public service positions that you’ve held.
I was the Adult Chair of the Denver Mayor’s Youth Commission in the year that the commission won the “Agents of Change Advocacy Award.” The focus of my service has been with Denver’s many nonprofit organizations who are doing great work in our city.
Identify the top three issues you want to tackle if you are elected to the city council.
1. Affordable Housing: Increasing affordable housing will positively impact Denver’s economy, improve health outcomes, and create housing stability for individuals and families experiencing housing insecurity.
2. Economic Development: Providing new employment opportunities to grow Denver’s workforce and developing programs for people to start new businesses that will enhance our economy.
3. Community Representation: Ensuring that all of Denver’s diverse voices are heard and that policies aren’t made for neighborhoods without genuine community input.
What is your biggest frustration about Denver’s municipal government right now?
Substandard evaluation measures. We don’t know if the city’s programs and initiatives are successfully solving key problems.
What is your position on the city and Westside Investment Partners’ plan to develop the Park Hill Golf Course property?
I am in favor of the plan for the following reasons:
1. It will add affordable housing units with preference going to people who were displaced from the neighborhood.
2. A park on land this size along with more green buildings and native grasses will help address climate change.
3. North Park Hill is currently a food desert. This development will include locally owned shops that will support residents’ health and nutrition needs.
4. The land is currently vacant and blighted. The development will ensure that the residents are safe and have a well-lit path to connect to the RTD station without having to walk along Colorado Blvd.
I am confident that Westside’s nonprofit partners including Volunteers of America, Brother’s Redevelopment, and Elevations Land Trust will engage and support the community.
On April 4, will you personally vote to lift the conservation easement on the Park Hill Golf Course property?
Yes. Without the easement lifted, nothing can happen.
Jeff Walker
WALKERFORDENVER.COM
How long have you lived in Denver?
Moved to Denver in February 2000 (moved to Glendale from Cincinnati, Ohio in August 1999)
List any previous public service positions that you’ve held.
• Task Force to Reimagine Policing and Public Safety (2020-present)
• Rosedale/Harvard Gulch Neighborhood Association Board, President (2018-2019)
• Better Denver Transportation and Mobility Subcommittee (2017)
• Blueprint Denver Task Force (2016-2019)
• American Public Transportation Association Board of Directors, Finance Committee Leadership APTA Committee, Nominating Committee (2015-2020)
• I-25 & Broadway Station Area Plan Steering Committee (2015)
• Regional Transportation District Board of Directors (2011-2020)
• Denver Architectural Foundation (2010-2012)
• American Planning Association – Colorado Chapter Executive Committee (2008-2010)
• Infrastructure Priority Task Force (2007)
• Saint Anthony Hospital Redevelopment Task Force (2005)
• Denver Planning Board (2004-2010)
Identify the top three issues you want to tackle if you are elected to the city council.
1. Improve access to transit through sidewalk construction/improvement on high frequency transit corridors.
2. Eliminate traffic fatalities. Yes, eliminate traffic fatalities. It can be done.
3. Communication between residents/business proprietors and departments. Most of my professional career has involved public involvement for infrastructure projects. The method has been to identify a problem, alternatives to address the problem, and development of a plan to implement the preferred alternative. This approach gives responsibility for creating an alternative to address a problem. It also shows constituents that several alternatives can be viable, rather than a politician posturing that they know the one solution better than the collective.
What is your biggest frustration about Denver’s municipal government right now?
The frustration I hear most is the cleanliness of the city in general.
What is your position on the city and Westside Investment Partners’ plan to develop the Park Hill Golf Course property?
The voters of Denver decided that termination of the conservation easement and creation of a park on the property should be determined by voters. I support that.
On April 4, will you personally vote to lift the conservation easement on the Park Hill Golf Course property?
I don’t know. I get a new perspective with every conversation.
Sarah Parady
www.sarah4denver.com
How long have you lived in Denver?
16 years.
List any previous public service positions that you’ve held.
I have been a legal aid attorney, a federal judicial law clerk, an Americorps VISTA volunteer, the president of several bar associations, and a board member for the Colorado Center on Law and Policy.
Identify the top three issues you want to tackle if you are elected to the city council.
1. Attainable housing for Denverites at all incomes.
2. Investing in true public safety through proven interventions.
3. Clean, accessible, equitable transit and decarbonization.
What is your biggest frustration about Denver’s municipal government right now?
I’d love to see a city government that has the political courage and vision to take our biggest challenges head on.
What is your position on the city and Westside Investment Partners’ plan to develop the Park Hill Golf Course property?
The plan does not provide enough truly affordable housing or other public benefit to be worth building on the biggest remaining green space in Denver. We can and should invest in infill housing across the city. We should also lift the “golf course” portion of the easement and invest in building a regional park in Park Hill just as we once did in Wash Park and City Park.
On April 4, will you personally vote to lift the conservation easement on the Park Hill Golf Course property?
No.