Voting Guide: City Elections, April 5, 2011

This April, voters in Colorado Springs will decide on a strong-mayor and seven spots on the city council. KRCC's Andrea Chalfin sat in on a media panel at two voter forums, and that audio is available in each race.

Voter information from the city of Colorado Springs can be found here. Residents who did not vote in the November 2010 general election will not be receiving a ballot in the mail, and will need to pick one up at the City Clerk's office. In addition, deadlines have passed for changing voter information, and registering to vote for this municipal election. The city's official election page can be found here.

Scroll to look at the information gathered here, or, click on one of the links below to jump to a particular race. In each race, candidates will be presented in alphabetical order. His/her top three issues will be paraphrased as gathered from individual websites, and links to external interviews will be provided. KRCC and KRCC News provides information and links as a service, and makes no endorsements. We encourage readers to visit the website of each candidate for further information.

Strong-Mayor Candidates
City Council, 2nd District
City Council, 3rd District
City Council, At-Large
City Issues

All inclusive voter guides:

Citizens Project
CitizenLink and Focus on the Family
Gazette

A look at how the role of council might change with a strong mayor: Gazette


Strong-Mayor

Audio of the Citizen Project voter forum, mayoral candidates:

Part 1: Introduction, Opening statements, Media questions (27 minutes):

Part 2: Media questions, Audience questions, Closing statements (58 minutes, begins with Kenneth Paul Duncan answering a media question about the transition to a strong-mayor style of government--question omitted from audio):

Candidates (in alphabetical order):

Steve Bach
Official Website
Email: [email protected]

Top three issues:

Government: Seeks to make city government more efficient and empower employees; Seeks to rebuild trust with the community.

Jobs: Seeks to foster the business climate; Seeks to attract new businesses.

Regional Partnerships: Seeks to ensure fair attention from the state on resources; Seeks to work with other communities in the Front Range.

Brian Bahr
Official Website
Email: [email protected]

Top three issues:

2nd Amendment: Seeks to protect the rights of gun owners; Encourages residents to keep and bear arms.

City Government: Seeks "Managed Competition;" Seeks to establish benchmarks for city departments, on performance and funding justifications, which he says will inject competition into government services.

Business: Seeks to establish fair incentives for businesses.

Kenneth Paul Duncan
Official Website
Email: [email protected]

Top three issues:

Employment: Supports the use of tax incentives to bring more businesses to Colorado Springs; Sees the arts as a way to appeal to new businesses.

Public Safety: Supports more officers; Seeks efficiency analysis of city enterprises and a freezing of city wages.

Education: Supports a racially diverse committee (as based on analyzed statistics) to examine and perform outreach regarding the need to graduate high school, with the goal of instilling a desire to graduate among students; Supports Christian prayer and outreach.

Tom Gallagher
Official Website (as provided by the Colorado Springs Independent online)
Email: [email protected]

Top three issues:

City Government: Seeks to reestablish accountability/"ownership" in city government.

Community: Seeks to reestablish trust in city government.

Pride: Seeks to reestablish a communal sense of pride in Colorado Springs.

Buddy Gilmore
Official Website
Email: [email protected]

Top three issues:

Government: Seeks to make city government more accessible and accountable; Seeks to create a way to measure the quality of city government.

Community: Seeks to recreate a city-wide sense of community.

Jobs: Seeks to create a coordinated effort to aid in the development of new businesses, growth of existing businesses, and recruitment of businesses looking to relocate to the city; Seeks strong community partnerships developed for promoting job growth.

Dave Munger
Official Website
Email: [email protected]

Top three issues:

Creating Jobs: Supports nurturing the veteran population and utilizing tourism industry to strengthen the local economy.

Trust: Seeks to restore trust between residents and local government through accessibility and public forums.

Community: Seeks to explore ways to more closely engage residents affected by issues.

Richard Skorman
Official Website
Email: [email protected]

Top three issues:

Jobs: Seeks to make job creation a priority of city government.

Local Businesses: Seeks to employ "Economic Gardening" to foster new and established local businesses.

Regional Partnerships: Seeks to foster stronger ties to other areas in the region.

Note: Phil McDonald and Mitch Christiansen will appear on the ballot, but they have officially withdrawn from the race.

Voter Guides, specific to the mayoral race:

Gazette
KOAA
KKTV
Colorado Springs Independent (contains endorsements; provided as a guide only, as KRCC and KRCC News make no endorsements)
Colorado Springs Business Journal


City Council, 2nd District

Audio of the Citizen Project voter forum, Council D2 Candidates (16 minutes):

Larry Bagley
Official Website
Email: [email protected]

Top three issues:

City Government: Seeks to define the roles, responsibilities, and authority of the strong mayor and council.

Trust: Seeks to restore confidence in city government; Seeks to diversify economic base.

Memorial Hospital: Seeks to determine in detail PERA (pension) liability, which he sees as potentially a major component to the future of Memorial Hospital.

Angela Dougan
Official Website
Email: [email protected]

Top three issues:

Government: Seeks to return to core services, meaning public safety, infrastructure, and economic growth.

Fiscal Responsibility: Seeks long term solutions to budget issues; Seeks to cut spending and focus on core services

Transparency: Seeks to utilize public forums for city government business.

David Jensen
Official Website
Email: [email protected]

Top three issues:
(Unclear from his website what Jensen's top three issues are, however, based on survey answers provided on his website, he says the following:)

Water: Supports the Southern Delivery Pipeline.

Jobs: Sees a revitalization of the downtown area as fulfilling most employment needs.

City Services: Seeks privatization based on a competitive bidding process.

Mike Terry
Official Website
Email: [email protected]

Top three issues:

Business: Seeks to promote local economic growth; Seeks to promote private sector growth through lowering taxes and regulations.

City Government: Seeks to limit growth of government; Seeks to focus on essential city services; Seeks to address pension obligations to city employees.

Community Trust: Seeks more transparency in city government.

Voter Guide, specific to 2nd District Race:

Gazette


City Council, 3rd District

Audio of the Citizen Project voter forum, Council D3 Candidates (13 minutes):

Lisa Czelatdko
Official Website
Email: [email protected]

Top three issues:

City Government: Seeks to utilize social media and other methods to improve communication with residents.

Business: Supports job growth; Supports the revitalization of Downtown, South Academy and South Nevada.

Work with Neighbors to Create Regional Solutions

Michael Merrifield
Official Website
Email: [email protected]

Top three issues:

Business: Supports reinvestment in South Academy Blvd., South Nevada, and downtown areas; Supports the recruitment of green energy businesses.

City/Community: Seeks to restore trust in city government; Seeks to reestablish a greater sense of community.

Image: Seeks to promote the city's assets like Pikes Peak and the trail system; Seeks to promote the city as the "Adventure Retirement Capital of the Rockies; Seeks to become the “Arts and Cultural Capital of the Rockies."

Voter Guide specific to 3rd District:

Gazette


City Council, At-Large

Audio of the Citizen Project voter forum, At-Large Council candidates (1 hour, 5 min; includes introduction):

Merv Bennett
Official Website
Email: [email protected]

Top three issues (as provided in email):

City Government: Seeks to restore trust in city government; Seeks accountable fiscal management.

Jobs: Seeks to foster an environment conducive to creating and retaining jobs in Colorado Springs and for city workers.

Business: Seeks to work collaboratively with Council, the Mayor, the Economic Development Corporation and more to strengthen local businesses.

Ed Bircham
Official Website
Email: [email protected]

Did not respond to email regarding top three issues.

Top three issues (as taken from ReformCityHall.com):

Government Spending: Seeks to prohibit deficit spending; Seeks to reduce taxes and fees.

City Owned Property: Seeks to sell surplus property at market value.

City Services: Seeks to privatize city services.

Douglas Bruce
Official Website
Email: [email protected]

Top three issues (as taken from ReformCityHall.com):

Government Spending: Seeks to prohibit deficit spending; Seeks to reduce taxes and fees.

City Owned Property: Seeks to sell surplus property at market value.

City Services: Seeks to privatize city services.

Richard Bruce
Official Website
Email: [email protected]

Did not respond to email regarding top three issues.

Top three issues (as taken from ReformCityHall.com):

Government Spending: Seeks to prohibit deficit spending; Seeks to reduce taxes and fees.

City Owned Property: Seeks to sell surplus property at market value.

City Services: Seeks to privatize city services.

Tony Carpenter
Official Website
Email: [email protected]

Top three issues:

City Government: Seeks oversight to transparency and best utilization of tax-payer dollars.

Traffic Fines: Seeks to funnel fines into quality of life issues.

Jobs: Seeks to utilize city contractors.

Helen Collins
Official Website
Email: [email protected]

Did not respond to email regarding top three issues.

Top three issues (as taken from ReformCityHall.com):

Government Spending: Seeks to prohibit deficit spending; Seeks to reduce taxes and fees.

City Owned Property: Seeks to sell surplus property at market value.

City Services: Seeks to privatize city services.

Thomas "Tony" Exum
Official Website
Email: [email protected]

Top three issues (as provided through email):

Public Safety: Seeks to ensure proper staffing.

Community Centers: Seeks to find funding solutions.

Fiscal Responsibility: Seeks a responsible budget that supports businesses, communities, and quality of life options.

Gretchen Kasameyer
Official Website (as provided through email)
Email: [email protected]

Top three issues (as provided in email):

Southern Delivery System: Seeks to stop or refigure the pipeling.

Memorial Hospital: Seeks to stop "giving away" of Memorial Hospital.

City Government: Seeks to make city officials responsible to the people.

Tim Leigh
Official Website
Email: [email protected]

City Government: Sees role of government primarily as public safety and infrastructure.

City Finances: Seeks to establish an accessible rainy day fund; Seeks to address public employee pensions in a "summit;" Seeks to determine if there's a more appropriate tax structure rather than the business personal property tax.

Enterprises: Seeks boards for city enterprises separate from council.

Dawn Lloyd
No Official Website
Email: [email protected]

Top three issues (as provided in email):

Representation: Seeks to be a voice for those under-served segments of the population, including women, elderly, and minorities.

Public Services: Seeks to prioritize funding; Seeks to support services including parks, public transportation, and libraries.

Projects: Seeks to prioritize funding for infrastructure repairs and improvements, revitalization of blighted neighborhoods, and improvement of east/west transportation routes.

Jan Martin
Official Website
Email: [email protected]

Top three issues:

Jobs: Seeks to attract, create, and retain jobs through attracting new businesses and supporting local businesses.

City Government: Seeks to facilitate the change to the strong-mayor form of government; Seeks to work cooperatively with council and the new mayor.

Develop New Leaders: Seeks ways to encourage young community leaders.

Bill Murray
Official Website
Email: [email protected]

Top three issues (as provided in email):

Bring Closure to Major Issues: Seeks to resolve issues such as Memorial Hospital, Southern Delivery System, and Colorado Springs Utilities to majority satisfaction; Seeks to be proactive rather than reactive.

City Government: Seeks to create council as full-time; Seeks to keep the community informed.

Vision: Seeks to establish a 5-10 year plan for the city, and develop a strategy to reach the goals.

Sean Paige
Official Website
Email: [email protected]

Top three issues (as provided via email):

Business: Seeks a "grow-our-own economic development strategy aimed at building small- and medium-size ventures from the ground-up by getting government out of the way."

City Government: Seeks to restore trust in city government through improved oversight, efficiency and accountability.

City Services: Seeks a streamlined, affordable, service-oriented city government, in the interests of taxpayers and utility customers.

Dan Reifschneider
Official Website
Email: [email protected]

Top three issues:

City Services: Seeks an evaluation of current city practices; Seeks to consider all options for providing services that include park maintenance, roads, and safety.

Economic Growth: Seeks to recruit businesses looking to relocate or expand.

Growth: Seeks to retain the USOC; Seeks to responsibly expand military installations; Seeks to increase role of the city on a national scale through, among other things, hosting national events.

Val Snider
Official Website
Email: [email protected]

Top three issues:

Jobs: Seeks to increase employment and economic development.

Safety: Seeks to keep consistency with safety and security.

Southern Delivery System: Seeks to complete the project; Sees the SDS as a way to support the community, economic development, and attract jobs.

Brandy Williams
Official Website
Email: [email protected]

Top three issues:

Safety: Supports a safe, welcoming, and well maintained city.

Jobs: Supports a business-friendly environment; Seeks new businesses, but also support for existing businesses.

City Government: Sees the role of council member as a public servant.

Voter Guides, specific to council races:

Colorado Springs Independent (contains endorsements; provided as a guide only, as KRCC and KRCC News make no endorsements)


City Issues

1A: Council Districts

1A asks if there should be a change in the City Charter to provide three at-large candidates and six representatives from specific districts. Currently, there are four districts and three at-large council members. (At the present time, the Mayor and Vice-Mayor are considered council members; the "strong-mayor" style of government maintains nine council positions.)

1B: Mayoral Participation in Council Meetings

1B asks if there should be a change in the City Charter to say the Mayor can attend and take part in any session held by City Council.

The Gazette takes a look at both issues.


Information sourced from official websites, unless otherwise noted.