Off And Running
Denver’s New City Council Map Gives Park Hill Two Reps. Six Are Vying In District 8; Three In District 9.
By Cara DeGette
Editor, GPHN
The November midterm election may be behind us, but do you know who will be your next voice at Denver City Hall?
On April 4, Denver voters will pick a new mayor for the first time in 12 years. Because of term-limits — along with a newly-redrawn council district map — the makeup of the 13-member city council will change dramatically as well.
In Park Hill, District 8 is currently represented by Councilman Chris Herndon, who is term-limited and can’t run again. Six candidates have so far announced they are running for the seat. District 9, which is currently represented by Candi CdeBaca, now includes a portion of Park Hill. CdeBaca is being challenged by two candidates in her reelection bid.
We asked all nine candidates 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. (Click here for additional election-related info and what’s to come.)
Here’s what the candidates had to say.
District 8
Tyler Drum
Website: Drum4Denver.com
How long have you lived in the district?
I bought my house in Montbello in 2016, soon after graduating from college at CSU.
Identify the top three issues you want to tackle if you are elected to the city council.
My top three issues are bringing grocery stores to the food deserts in the district, especially in Montbello and Park Hill, particularly through a community ownership model like the FreshLo project in Montbello. Expanding the Denver Department of Transportation to address the last mile and better connect residents to RTD lines through programs like the Montbello Connector that have been a huge help to my family since my mother-in-law arrived as a refugee on the Uniting for Ukraine Program and cannot drive. We would like these programs accessible to more throughout Denver. I also oppose luxury developments in the district and want to promote more attainable housing.
What is your biggest frustration about Denver’s municipal government right now?
My biggest frustration is the policies that incentivize new, more affluent residents into Denver at the expense of those already here. My impression is that they work for the developers of Denver at the expense of Denverites.
What is your position on the city and Westside Investment Partners’ plan to develop the Park Hill Golf Course property?
I oppose the project. Residents of Denver spoke loud and clear when they passed 301 and rejected 302 in 2021. I commit to fighting to keep the golf course 100 percent open space. The developers want to convince us the only way we can get a grocery store and affordable housing is through this project, but we can bring more of both into the district and keep our open space. Once the space is gone, it will be lost forever!
On April 4, will you personally vote to lift the conservation easement on the Park Hill Golf Course property?
I will never vote to lift the conversation easement.
Shontel M. Lewis
Website: Shontelforcouncil.com
How long have you lived in the district?
Born and raised in Colorado, purchased my home in the district in 2016.
Identify the top three issues you want to tackle if you are elected to the city council.
To become and maintain being the healthiest district in the city.
What is your biggest frustration about Denver’s municipal government right now?
We have an opportunity to represent the interest, not voice, of communities in order to move this city forward.
What is your position on the city and Westside Investment Partners’ plan to develop the Park Hill Golf Course property?
With the PHGC in District 8 and close by in my neighborhood, I am following the intense city-wide debates about what is to be done with this currently out-of-operation golf course. I believe the next District 8 councilor should be closely listening to community input on the many sides of this complex issue, and urge residents of District 8 to continue to share their perspectives with me. As someone not currently elected to council I am not privy to all the information the council might have access to and would want to be thoroughly informed prior to making a decision.
On April 4, will you personally vote to lift the conservation easement on the Park Hill Golf Course property?
I am currently undecided and gathering information. I trust that we can all agree that an out-of-operation golf course has very limited benefits.
Brad Revare
Mr. Revare indicated he was unable to submit responses to this candidate questionnaire by the deadline.
Rita R. Lewis
Website: ritalewisfordenver.com
How long have you lived in the district?
I am a Denver native and I’ve lived in District 8 for the majority of my life since I was three years old. I am a proud Park Hill resident.
Identify the top three issues you want to tackle if you are elected to the city council.
I would like to tackle these three issues if I’m elected to Denver City Council:
1. Advocate for “reasonable” rent control.
2. Advocate for “attainable” affordable housing.
3. Advocate for more voter input on sensitive issues that directly impact Denver residents. Denver is in a housing crisis where our homeless epidemic has exploded, housing is not affordable and rent is not based on “living wages.”
What is your biggest frustration about Denver’s municipal government right now?
My primary point of contention regarding Denver’s municipal government is its failure to incorporate citizen input in its decision-making. The City of Denver should allow its citizens to vote on proposed actions before implementing new plans/actions as well as vote on highly contested issues.
What is your position on the city and Westside Investment Partners’ plan to develop the Park Hill Golf Course property?
I am not taking a position on the plan to develop the Park Hill Golf Course property and rather see what happens with a possible city referendum. People on both sides are very passionate about this issue. I grew up in Northeast Park Hill, I’ve played golf at PHGC, attended many events at the PHGC clubhouse and definitely care about the future of PHGC.
On April 4, will you personally vote to lift the conservation easement on the Park Hill Golf Course property?
Again, I want to see what happens now that this issue may become a city referendum before I can make an objective decision on how I would vote on this issue on April 4.
Christian A. Steward
Website: district8steward.com
How long have you lived in the district?
I am [the] community connector for the Denver Department of Transportation of Infrastructure. This is an important fact to know because I live and work in our district doing community engagement in Montbello, Central Park, Northeast Park Hill and East Colfax for four years.
Identify the top three issues you want to tackle if you are elected to the city council.
1. Creating citizen patrol groups to address safety and provide wellness checks. The principle [purpose] of these groups is to coordinate community policing with police officers and other city officials.
2. Creating cohesive neighborhood coalitions to identify and develop creative city laws to address housing, rent prices and our unhoused populations.
3. Modernizing city processes to streamline city permits and contracts impacting residential and commercial properties.
What is your biggest frustration about Denver’s municipal government right now?
I would say the recruiting and retention of a diverse and qualified workforce.
What is your position on the city and Westside Investment Partners’ plan to develop the Park Hill Golf Course property?
I do not support keeping the land a golf property. I believe owners and investors should develop mixed use with the community and history of the community in mind. There should be smart and environmental ways to produce housing, green open spaces, and multi-modal infrastructure. The WHOLE neighborhood should be engaged and kept involved in every phase of development. The community engagement efforts should be robust and include those living in the area, those misplaced, and those vulnerable to being misplaced.
On April 4, will you personally vote to lift the conservation easement on the Park Hill Golf Course property?
I think it is wise for me to know the ballot language before I can commit my vote. In general, I support lifting the conversation if it serves many of the people in the neighborhood.
Leslie Twarogowski
Website: leslieforcouncil.com
How long have you lived in the district?
My husband and I purchased our current home in 2000. At the time, it was in District 5, and was redistricted to District 8 in 2015.
Identify the top three issues you want to tackle if you are elected to the city council.
1. Housing: Not just trying to make it more affordable, but also trying to keep our historically diverse community (what’s left of it) intact.
2. More effective solutions for our unhoused neighbors in order to reduce disorganized tent camping, including expanding mental health and substance abuse services.
3. Shoring up our public transportation system, which is currently unreliable, unsafe and perpetually underfunded.
What is your biggest frustration about Denver’s municipal government right now?
My biggest frustration with the current government is the lack of transparency and honesty.
What is your position on the city and Westside Investment Partners’ plan to develop the Park Hill Golf Course property?
I’m not a fan. I am very well aware of Denver’s need for more housing, but building on what is left of our open space should be the last resort. We have so many other spaces that can be infilled with residential units, and we will need that open space to provide recreational opportunities for current and future Denverites.
On April 4, will you personally vote to lift the conservation easement on the Park Hill Golf Course property?
No. I will vote to keep the easement in place, and if elected, I’d like to amend the easement language to remove the language regarding usage as a golf course. My hope is that the land will continue to be zoned open space, but that it will be parkland accessible to all Denverites.
District 9
Candi CdeBaca
Website: CandiCdeBaca.com
How long have you lived in the district?
I’m a fifth generation resident of D9. I live in my great-grandmother’s home where I was raised.
Identify the top three issues you want to tackle if you are elected to the city council.
I came into council in 2019 with plans on addressing 1. housing/wages, 2. traffic/pollution, and 3. transparency/accountability. My focus on these areas of interest has remained steadfast even while other pressing issues have competed for my attention. At the core of every decision I have made and will make is the desire for responsible growth, people-centered transportation and co-governance with the residents of our city. I’d say those focus areas have evolved to be more broadly:
1. Housing & New Economy
2. Environmental Justice
3. Co-Governance.
What is your biggest frustration about Denver’s municipal government right now?
I’ve consistently shared my frustration with the power imbalance between The People, the Mayor (the executive branch), and Council (the legislative branch). This power imbalance gives almost absolute power over all city services/resources, and even legislation to the mayor with zero checks and balances. It makes any mayor susceptible to corruption and it takes away meaningful opportunities for The People to have true ownership over their government.
What is your position on the city and Westside Investment Partners’ plan to develop the Park Hill Golf Course property?
I live a mile and a half from this golf course and was the original proposer of the 301 ballot initiative that was passed overwhelmingly by the voters of Denver. I do not support lifting this publicly-owned conservation easement for private development. I also despise the false premise that in order for Denver to build affordable housing and food access, we must sacrifice the planet and open space even further in the already most polluted zip code in America. I have explained some of my thoughts preceding my vote on the small area plan here: https://youtu.be/-EiWrCjdRf4.
On April 4, will you personally vote to lift the conservation easement on the Park Hill Golf Course property?
No.
Darrell Watson
Website: WatsonforDenver.com
How long have you lived in the district?
30 years.
Identify the top three issues you want to tackle if you are elected to the city council.
As I have been communicating with community members across District 9, their priorities are providing increased access to attainable and affordable housing; creating healthier communities, including more green spaces, shared/safe streets, innovative micro-transportation options, and energy policies to reduce carbon footprint; and finally, making our neighborhoods safer.
What is your biggest frustration about Denver’s municipal government right now?
Some of our elected officials are focused on divisive politics instead of making progress on the biggest issues impacting city residents.
What is your position on the city and Westside Investment Partners’ plan to develop the Park Hill Golf Course property?
I support the requirement for a vote by the current Denver City Council to review the site plan and then a vote by Denver residents on whether they approve the removal of the conservation easement in April 2023. I also recognize that this issue highlights the need for park space and affordable housing — both are necessary.
On April 4, will you personally vote to lift the conservation easement on the Park Hill Golf Course property?
To me, the legislative question is, “Do I have the skill and the will to work collaboratively with community members, council members, and the administration to execute the will of the people?” First, city officials and council members should have worked more collaboratively with community members early and continuously throughout this process. I have a history of working collaboratively with the community and elected officials to tackle difficult public policy issues and drive community informed decisions through the lens of social equity. Second, this complex issue will become the responsibility of the next council and I will work closely with the new District 8 council member to ensure an outcome that reflects the needs of residents in the Park Hill community.
Kwon Atlas
Website: Kwonatlas.com
How long have you lived in the district?
I lived and went to school in Park Hill for part of my childhood but I have been living in Five Points since 2018.
Identify the top three issues you want to tackle if you are elected to the city council.
1. Racial Equity
2. Economic Security
3. Public Safety
What is your biggest frustration about Denver’s municipal government right now?
The city is understaffed and needs more support to provide high quality service to the community. Community planning and public safety have become key areas that need improvement. The divisiveness on city council and on the Denver Public Schools board is also extremely frustrating. Everyone needs to work together to tackle the immense challenges we are facing as a city.
What is your position on the city and Westside Investment Partners’ plan to develop the Park Hill Golf Course property?
I like the plan that has been put forward but I think it could be better and I am hoping that the [developer] achieves and exceeds their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and sustainability goals and create a diverse and welcoming community.
On April 4, will you personally vote to lift the conservation easement on the Park Hill Golf Course property?
Yes, I believe so.
