The Denver Urban Spectrum is committed to providing important political information to communities of color. Following are summaries of responses to a questionnaire sent to candidates vying for the position of Clerk and Recorder and Denver City Council, Districts 3, 4 and 8. We hope their answers help you make a sound decision when casting your vote by mail for the upcoming May election.

Scroll down or select the cadidate you wish to read about.

Clerk and Recorder
Stephanie O'Malley || Jacob Werther

Denver City Council - District 3
Niccolo Casewit || Paul Lopez || Jo Ann Phillips
Mark Roggeman || Kathy Sandoval

Denver City Council - District 4
Ike Kelly || Bill Rutherford

Denver City Council - District 8
Sharon Bailey || Carla Madison
Greg Rasheed || Darrell B. Watson

Clerk and Recorder

Stephanie O’Malley
I believe the citizens of Denver deserve the best leadership from this position and I believe I can provide that leadership.
For the last four years I have successfully served the City as Director of the Department of Excise and Licenses. In this position I have been responsible for overseeing four major divisions including business licensing, liquor/cabaret licensing, alarms permitting and inspections and enforcements, managing an annual budget of $1.3 million. As the current appointed Clerk and Recorder, I have already engaged in steps to lead the Clerk’s office and the Denver Election Commission in a more efficient and professional direction to remedy the problems that existed during the November 2006 election.

I believe my experience as the former Director of the Department of Excise and Licenses, my experience as the sitting Clerk and Recorder, an attorney with two major law firms and as a former criminal prosecutor has prepared me for this position.

The three most important priorities of the Clerk and Recorder are (1) to exercise management leadership that lends to operational efficiencies and effectiveness within each division of the office of the Clerk and Recorder including the newly created division of the Office of Elections; (2) to assure that each end user who engages in business with the office of the Clerk and Recorder is provided with responsive, quality, and courteous service; and (3) to lead the office of the Clerk and Recorder such that each and every initiative is designed to assure members of the public that information maintained within the Clerk’s office is processed and maintained in accordance with statutory requirements, and in a manner that will provide easy access by members of the public.

In the first 100 days, I will immediately begin collaborative work with a partner county, such as Larimer, to learn how the county successfully engages in delivering the “vote center” voting model to members of the public. I will lead work efforts to execute on a voting model that will assure Denver citizens that their rights to vote are not abridged. I will lead audits of both the clerk’s office as well as what is formerly known as the Denver Election Commission. I will lead work efforts to determine how work flows are currently configured within the Clerk’s office.

I am the best candidate for this office because I am the only candidate for the position who has successfully led a city agency. Leaders of city departments must be able to exercise strong management skills. The leader of a city department must be able to exercise leadership around budget and personnel considerations. My plans to address Denver ’s election problems and restore voter confidence include

• Reviewing and auditing Denver ’s election methods, processes and procedures. I will use results of the election audit to further guide decisions focused on holding successful elections in the City of Denver.
• Partnering with a neighboring county, such as Larimer County, that has successfully engaged in a “vote center” model election, and use this collaborative partnering experience to develop strategies that will lend to Denver successfully engaging in a vote center model.
• Fixing all challenges associated with Denver’s e-poll book.
• Hiring the best available Election Director.
• Reviewing the cost associated with hosting various types of election models, and using the results of this review to assure that adequate resources are delivered during elections.
• Engaging in collaborative efforts with the Secretary of State’s office to comply with Federal and State legislation that has significant impacts on elections within the City and County of Denver.
• Working with the disabled community to deliver a voting model that affords them the opportunity to vote independently.

To address Denver ’s high foreclosure rates, I will work collaboratively with Denver’s development, financial lending, real estate, and brokerage communities to educate the purchasing public about the realties of entering into specific types of real estate transactions. We can educate the public about variable interest rate loans as well as no interest loans. These products often are the beginning of the end for first time or desperate home buyers whose property often ends up in the foreclosure process.
As the elected clerk, I will fight to obtain needed additional resources for the Public Trustee’s Office.

Return to Top

Jacob Werther

I am running for Clerk and Recorder to help the office return to being an efficient agency. I have 11 years experience in the agency and worked in all facets, City Clerk, Campaign Finance, Recording and Public Trustee (foreclosures) and was a point person for the Election Commission for the Clerk and Recorder.

My priorities involve voting technology. I will create a parallel computer server for the Election Commission at DIA and at the City’s Technical Services Galapago facility, so if the voting system goes down on one end, the other parallel system could take over and without down time. In the Recording department, I would re-create a real e-recording system and repair and update the new e-foreclosure system. In the City Clerk area, I would re-start the Campaign Finance System that was abandoned when I left City Clerk to the Public Trustee side.

In order to address Denver’s election problems and restore voter confidence, we need voter input as well as Political Party input, I plan to have bi-weekly meetings at the Election Commission.

To address Denver’s high foreclosure rates, care must be given that all parties are represented equally. Nobody wants to be in the foreclosure process. The banks do not want the property. Home owners want their property.

Return to Top

Denver City Council, District 3

Niccolo Casewit

As an architect with experience in City Planning, I am uniquely qualified to make sure Developments in our district are done right; taking into consideration the need for business development, transportation concerns and pedestrian safety. I was born and raised in West Denver’s Barnum neighborhood. I went to Barnum Elementary, later graduating from Manual High School. I went to M.I.T. in Boston for my architecture degree. I came back to the district, because I know what the West Side can be with the right leadership in City Hall. Our neighbors will feel safer when intelligent zoning decisions are made that take into account business and community concerns.

My first priority would be creating the right environment for participation in our district since many neighbors are new to this country. We need new informal meeting places, and a variety of businesses such as ethnic restaurants. We need more green on Federal Boulevard. City Beautiful parkway ordinances must be reestablished on Federal and pedestrian connections to transit is key to each neighborhood district along Federal. District 3 is ideally located and our strength is our diversity. If elected councilman, I will make myself available on a regular basis to meet with residents and listen to their concerns and solutions. District 3 is undergoing significant change. With the right leadership it can be an even greater place to live.

Denver’s gang problem is an issue. Graffiti vandalism can be a gateway Gang Crime. Tagging or wall writing is a serious problem that afflicts all of Denver - and it is getting worse. Many other cities in the US have had success fighting it, by making parents more responsible and by giving teenagers positive after-school activities which lead directly to summer jobs and, eventually, careers. Enforcement is only one aspect of solving the problem. The Broken Windows Policing Program is helping some neighborhoods enforce basic NIS requirements (“American” standards) for maintaining properties. Violent crime and “meth” labs are top priorities also.

Return to Top

Paul Lopez

I’m running for Denver City Council because I want to create opportunities for all of the working families in West Denver so that they can live in a safe neighborhood with world-class schools and after-school programs/jobs for our youth, well maintained parks for our children, and jobs that pay a dignified and living wage in Denver.

I respectfully believe that I’m the best candidate because I was born and raised in the community and understand the issues that we face everyday to make ends meet. I also have the best vision for improving our neighborhood. For example, I know first-hand the hard decisions and struggles that working families have to make on a daily basis in order to place food on their table, pay the rent and figure out how to sustain their families. West Denver is a proud and strong community that deserves a responsive city government that prioritizes the needs of all working families. I am working to make West Denver a great place to work, live and raise our children.

My highest priorities for West Denver my first 100 days in office and beyond, include investing in good youth and after-school programs that invest in our future leaders; working with community leaders and police to make our streets safer; investing in better libraries to foster the spirit of education in our neighborhoods; cleaning up our parks, and supporting responsible economic development along Federal Boulevard, Morrison Road, and Alameda Square. I also plan on organizing a district-wide, resident-led, Congress to create a comprehensive neighborhood plan for the next 10 years. The District 3 Congress will be an inclusive multilingual /multicultural collaboration of community-based organizations, residents, businesses, schools, the police department, and Denver Health, to make West Denver a vibrant, safe community.

Specifically, I would like to focus on reviving and refreshing West Denver by:

• Revitalizing Federal Boulevard, Morrison Road, and Alameda Square by creating opportunities with locally owned, worker/community-friendly businesses.
• Prioritizing maintenance and clean up of our parks, streets, alleyways—building a more accountable relationship with the city’s infrastructure team.
• Cracking Down on Crime and Graffiti.
• Partnering with the Denver Public Schools, the police department, and community leaders.
• Implementing better neighborhood watch programs
• Toughening sentences for repeat offenders.
• Improving after school and youth leadership programs and creating job opportunities for our youth.

Gang issues are a top priority in Denver, too. I will work with the Metro Denver Gang Coalition, One Way Denver, the Escuela Tlatelolco, the Denver Public Schools and the police department and other local leaders and youth to expand gang prevention services and alternatives for those entangled in gang activity. On April 9 I will be helping with the facilitation of the Chicano Caucus on Gangs; a meeting geared to begin dialogue, organizing, and redirection of gang activity in Denver. I also support a working collaboration with these community partners to reduce gang activity and create alternative programs to redirect our community on a path towards “Yale, not Jail.”

Return to Top

Jo Ann Phillips

I am running for City Council District #3 because I believe I possess the experience and knowledge of the community to start working immediately on issues that affect my community; such as graffiti, basic services, safety, jobs, affordable housing and the increased foreclosure rates. Not only do I live in Council District 3, but I have also worked for this District, as a council aide, which gives me the experience and knowledge to be the next representative for District 3. I started working for Public Works in 1999 as a Community Relations Consultant dealing with community issues citywide; again, experience and knowledge.

Addressing graffiti abatement, improved city services, foreclosure rates, improved public safety and economic redevelopment will be my top priorities my first 100 days in office and beyond. I will build relationships between my constituents with city and private agencies to strategize on what will work for the community.

To address the gang problem, I believe we need to educate our children and our communities on the harm that gangs do, not only to our families, but also to our communities. The city needs to put money back into programs that keep our children safe. Such as after-school programs and keeping our recreation centers open during the times our children are out, including weekends. We also need to increase outreach programs to improve relationships between our community and the police.

Return to Top

Mark Roggeman

I am running for City Council District 3 to continue to serve in this area as I have as a Denver. Police Community Resource Officer. I have lived and worked here for 20 years. I know the problems and the resources available in the city to solve them. I want to be part of effecting change in this area and, if possible, assist people in foreclosure.

The number one complaints in District 3 are graffiti and gang activity. I have been, and will continue to be, involved in the Graffiti Task Force. I will be available to attend all neighborhood meetings to be in constant touch with those I represent to listen to their concerns.

To improve relationships with the police and address the gang problem, I will work with the police with the Broken Windows programs, and hopefully be able to give the gang unit the manpower they need.

Return to Top

Kathy Sandoval

I am the best candidate for the district because I will hit the ground running and I have priorities that are frequently expressed by the neighborhoods in District 3. For more than 20 years, I have worked on issues facing West Denver neighborhoods. I have a good understanding on how to solve neighborhood problems. I want to take this experience to the whole district.

My top priorities in my first 100 days as councilperson would include improving our alleys, streets and basic infrastructure and working with Public Works to outline all the unpaved alleys in District 3. Our previous councilperson had discussed with the current manager how to streamline alley paving. I will meet with him to understand the streamlined process. I want to address these changes by setting a timetable for these improvements. I’d also work to create more parks and open space for our communities. As a neighborhood activist for Villa Park Neighborhood Association, I have been working to get the Lakewood and Dry Gulch Open Space dedicated as a park. Lakewood and Dry Gulch has not been dedicated due to the West Corridor light rail project. At this point, land acquisitions and alignments have been determined and I will propose getting the open space dedicated. In addition, there are many parcels of parkland that have not been dedicated in District 3. I will send to the Park and Recreation Department the park parcels that should be dedicated. We also need to develop our commercial areas to provide services and economic development – Federal Blvd in the northern end of the District. The District is in the process of getting business owners together to look at improving the commercial area. I want to expand the effort south by getting business owners together to a similar process.

My priorities include improving neighborhood safety. I want to meet with the Commanders of District 4 and 1 to see how the pilot program of Broken Window policing can be expanded. This program focuses on improving the policing of minor problems to prevent them from becoming bigger problems. I want to strategize with them on how this program can be expanded to the whole district.

I also want to increase homeownership and reduce foreclosures. I want to meet with housing development non-profits to develop a housing fair and strategize on ways to expand information to District 3 residents about predatory lending, sub prime loans and the foreclosure process.

To address Denver’s gang problem and also improve Community/Police relations at the same time, I need to understand from the police their strategies and get a better sense of the scope of the problem. Recent news articles have indicated that tagging is a gateway crime to gang membership. District 3 is faced with these types of problems. However, my gut also tells me that the other side of the coin is equally important, in that we need to realize how we are failing our children. We need to create a culture of success for our children. We need schools that teach our children to succeed. We need after-school programs to keep them busy and diversions programs to help when they make mistakes and of course, we need to catch and punish the people that are doing crimes in our neighborhoods. In order to do this, we need to create partnerships with police, schools, business and the community.

Return to Top

Denver City Council, District 4

Ike Kelley

I’m running for city council because I believe that the incumbent is out of touch with the real values of Southeast Denver voters. This community has been very good to me, and I believe I have a responsibility to give back to it the hope of good public policy decisions that improve our quality of life. I am the best candidate because I will represent the thoughts and wisdom of District 4 at all times. For over 30 years I have fought for safer neighborhoods, government accountably, asking more of government bureaucrats before asking for more of the hard-earned money of taxpayers.

My priority is Southeast Denver. Southeast Denver stands for fiscal responsibility through lower taxes and increased government efficiency. Southeast Denver stands for safer neighborhoods. Southeast Denver stands for better schools for our children. Southeast Denver stands for helping seniors and those unable to take care of themselves. Southeast Denver stands for accountable and responsive representation. These are my values, and they will serve as the foundation of my priorities on government. Eliminating government waste, fraud, and mismanagement will be my top priority.

Since we have been exposed to 12 tax increases in less than four years, I will not support nor sponsor any new taxes.

Regarding public safety, crime in Southeast Denver is up but arrests are down, I will support increasing the size of our police force to address this problem. I believe the key to solving this problem is increasing substantive communication between the police and our communities, while simultaneously prosecuting gang violence to the fullest extent of the law.

Return to Top

Bill Rutherford

I am running for city council to give the voters a choice for a new kind of candidate. My campaign is all about people, protection, and service. I will be an advocate for the citizens and local businesses, fighting for the rights of property and local business owners. I am not accepting any contributions or endorsements from “special interest” groups. My only obligation will be to voters. I disagree with eminent domain for retail development. I’m not anti-business, just pro-people; I believe in smart, non-invasive development that compliments our neighborhoods.

Safety services are extremely important. The Police Department needs higher technology tools to do their jobs more efficiently and reduce their workloads, allowing them to spend more time serving and protecting. I support firehouse-based EMS to save time and lives. This could also save the city money. For the safety of the children, I would sponsor free workshops to teach parents how to monitor their children on the Internet. I also would do whatever I’m asked to make the lives of seniors and the disabled more enjoyable and rewarding.

Many constituents are not satisfied with the level of support they are receiving. I will listen to them (all) and take appropriate actions. Once a month, I want to spend a day doing the same job as our city workers, filling in potholes, picking up trash, “ride alongs” with police teams, or spending time at a firehouse.

In my first 100 days, I would set up the communication process that I would need to really get the pulse of the communities. Most voters are concerned about education, zoning and traffic and intersection safety. With the permission of DPS, I’d champion a tutoring program with businesses donating “qualified” employees time during the school day or money to sponsor an accredited tutor. This idea has worked in many areas. It would lessen the burden on teachers, too. Also In the first 100 days, I will become more educated about the infrastructure reports. The city needs to show more fiscal responsibility to the taxpayers. TIF spending should be used as designed, to help develop blighted areas, not to supplement high scale private developments. I support maintaining infrastructure but not every 10 to 15 years as in the past. Lastly, I will start my city employee job plan and get into a street cleaner and start cleaning up filthy curbs.

Regarding public safety and Denver ’s gang problem, more resources for the District Attorney’s office is a good start to prosecute, but not the answer. We don’t need more police, just more efficient tools, like the scanning device that reads 1500 license plates daily and instantly tell officers if a car is stolen, involved in a crime, or registered to a known gang member, and portable finger print scanners that identify people instantly when arrested. These tools can help police, not just with gangs, but with all crimes. Lastly, the need to involve all Metro agencies and early intervention involving communities and families is important. We also need to take advantage of the expertise of the State and Federal organizations. But I strongly discourage profiling. Training is important. The police department will certainly understand, and I expect them to support, my priority of people first and above all else.

Return to Top

Denver City Council, District 8

Sharon Bailey

I am running for City Council because I care deeply about my community. I am a daughter of the district. I was born and raised in the district and have brought my children up in this community. I am not job hunting and will not use this position as a jumping off point for other political aspirations. In fact, I will take a $20,000 per year decrease in salary if elected. I am running because I believe in community service and giving back to community. I am the best candidate for the district at this time because I am aware of the many changes taking place in District 8 neighborhoods; I have a long history of community involvement and advocating for programs and services for youth, seniors and families. My educational foundation and professional experience give me a broad perspective on multiple issues impacting urban communities. Through my tenure in the Denver Auditor’s Office I have gained an understanding of city operations and key personnel that other candidates do not have. I can hit the ground running. I am the only candidate with policymaking experience as a former elected member of the DPS Board of Education, and I am willing and prepared to work with neighborhoods, businesses, and residents to maximize the benefits of our ethnic and economic diversity.

My eight priorities for District 8 are: effective and efficient responses to constituents; neighborhood and school safety; services for children and families; development of more affordable housing; economic opportunity and workforce development; city-school partnerships; service and support for seniors; and advocate for more youth services and programs.

I will integrate these priorities into an action agenda in my first “100” days and beyond by: setting up my community office and focusing staff on these issues and additional fact finding, meeting with neighborhood and community groups to gain feedback on these and other issues, and establishing community advisory groups in priority areas, e.g. economic opportunity, schools, housing, services and programs for youth and seniors.

I plan to be actively involved in moving our city from a diversionary environment for young people to a youth development environment. Youth diversion in this case means waiting for youth to get in trouble and then attempting to assist them. On the other hand, youth development is a process that prepares young people to meet the challenges of everyday life. Our youth are in need of mentors, enrichment experiences, volunteer opportunities, and workforce development. Over the many years I have worked in the community, I have learned there are a lot of good young people facing a lot of problems, and a lot of caring parents trying to help them.

I will also work with the Police Department to monitor and alleviate gang activity in the district. There is also a need for the city, schools, and the private sector to reinvest in programs that can improve community/police relations like Cops in Schools and High School Resource Officers. The recruitment of additional minority officers, adequate training in cultural competencies, and community policing, can all positively impact the level of safety throughout our neighborhoods and around our schools.

Return to Top

Carla Madison

For the past 8 years I have consistently been involved in issues that come before council such as zoning and land use, crime and safety and business development as neighborhood president of City Park West. The zoning code rewrite will be the single most important issue facing council over the next four years and I have been involved since the beginning. It will be imperative to have someone representing the district that is experienced working in this area from land marking to rezoning. I know the people, the language, the individual neighborhood issues and I am considered an authority by neighborhood leaders and councilmen alike. I will represent District 8 and all it’s diversity with passion and a broad perspective.

My priorities begin with a seniors’ advocacy hot line to link elders with existing community services. I will bring neighborhoods together with a quarterly roundtable, a newsletter that covers all neighborhood issues and an interactive, real-time Web site.

I will also work to revitalize the commercial corridors in the district. I will work on partnerships to create movement on Welton, Park Avenue West, Downing and the 16th St Mall. I intend to locate my City Council District office on Welton in 5 Points to encourage development and bring attention to the area. Welton needs to be revived and at the same time maintain its historical character as the Afro-American cultural center. Vacant buildings are a great impediment to development. No building should sit vacant and deteriorate on a significant commercial corridor if there is a viable tenant or developer with a market rate offer. Commercial buildings should be maintained to code, inside and out, to encourage easy and economical rental.

I will, at every opportunity, work to secure dollars to create jobs and stabilize distressed areas. Partnerships and incentives are essential to inject new vitality into this area.

The gang issue requires a three-tiered approach – prevention, intervention and prosecution. Strong schools and educational opportunities in the community are our best hopes for prevention by giving youth hope for their future. I will encourage education and outreach programs that put youth together with police encouraging friendship and camaraderie so that social alienation and feelings of discrimination are suppressed early on. I will encourage programs that focus on early intervention, like GRASP and Prodigal Son Inc, to open the eyes of youth to the negative side of gangs. When all alternatives have been tried prosecution needs to be powerful enough to discourage others from following in the same steps.

When police and the community combine the most successful crime prevention programs happen. Neighborhood watch is a great program and a perfect example of how police and the community can come together with a common goal. I’ve been involved with the MOP Cole/Whittier group that is working along with the District 2 police to make the increased policing arm of the Broken Windows policy work better for both sides.

Return to Top

Greg Rasheed

I firmly believe that District 8 needs to have a visionary in City Council who understands the socio-economic changes that are occurring in the community. My 25 years of experience running community-based organizations has prepared me to understand those changes and to address them in a way that will bring consensus to the community issues we face. I have worked closely over the years with diverse segments of our community such as government officials, business leaders, law enforcement officers, ex-gang members, neighborhood activists and residents to work to bring positive changes to the community. I feel my experience in working with diverse coalitions and consensus building skills make me the best candidate for District 8.

District 8 is in a crisis. The crisis is that we as a community have ignored our youth. We have ignored their education by the fact that the test scores and dropout rates in our District 8 public schools are beyond the crisis stage. We have ignored the problem of safety and property damage as gangs and graffiti has increased to a boiling point in District 8. I want to make the following my priorities in my first three months in office:

• Creating an advisory committee of three to five District 8 teenagers who will help me look at ways to address issues concerning youth in the area.
• Begin creation of a “Blueprint for District 8 youth,“ similar to the Blueprint Denver model, to offer solutions and remedies youth issues.
• Talk to and encourage District 8 business leaders to offer summer jobs to every teen in District 8, beginning in 2008.
• Develop a restorative justice model in District 8 for first time youth offenders that will be used in conjunction with the District Attorney’s office, neighborhood associations, police department and public schools to address crime.
• Promote mentoring by professionals in the District 8 public schools.

It is key that we give our youth hope by mentoring them and giving them positive encouragement. I am a member of the Denver Citizen’s Police Academy and I have been and will continue to encourage residents of District 8 to become members of it. I would encourage diversity training at the two police stations in District 8 to give officers a better appreciation of the cultures and needs of our community. I will work on Council to find the finances to give the police the resources needed to walk our neighborhood.

Return to Top

Darrell B. Watson

I am running for Denver City Council District 8 because I believe that working families need a champion. Too many of our families cannot afford to live in the neighborhoods that make up Denver. I will fight for providing jobs and affordable housing for working families in District 8.

I am the best candidate because of my ability to bring the diverse communities that make up Council District 8 together to confront the important issues and find common ground. I demonstrated this as the Chair of the Denver Biased Policing Task Force. I built collaborations between the Denver Police and the community to create systematic change within the Denver Police. On the Land Use Transportation and Advisory Committee, I collaborated with developers and the community to create Denver’s 20-year plan for growth, transportation and development. And as a young businessman I understand the importance of supporting small businesses. I’ve created a business council to collaborate with the community and provide advice to my campaign on best practices to spur economic growth and economic opportunity throughout the District.

My priorities for City Council District 8 are to provide support for affordable housing and working families, provide for economic growth throughout the district, to provide for increased community policing, and to support building a stronger community by providing better access to healthcare, as well building the foundation for premier schools from pre-school to high school within the district.

Through my business council, we will identify specific steps to spur economic growth, develop affordable house and create jobs within the district. I will build a partnership with the Denver School Board and work collaboratively to support building premier schools throughout the district.

I will partner with service providers and health clinics to streamline the healthcare information provided to residents and provide a resource through my office to communicate the healthcare options provided by the city.

In order to tackle the gang issue, a city council person has to deal with the socio-economic and educational issues that create the conditions where joining a gang becomes a viable option for our youth.

We have to provide alternatives for our children. I will support our community schools providing after school and extra curricular activities by working with non-profits, local businesses and community foundations to identify additional resources.

I will support local churches and other community groups that provide mentorship programs and outreach to at-risk youth.

I will provide the financial resources needed so that law enforcement can respond quickly to gang-related activity.

By confronting the socio-economic issues, providing alternatives and support within the community for our youth while providing the resources to police to enforce existing law, we can reduce gang activity in Denver.

Return to Top

Editor’s note: All ballots must be received at the Denver Election Commission, not postmarked, by 7 p.m. on May 1 to be counted. For more information, call 720-913-8683 (VOTE) or go to www.denvergov.org/election_commission for ballot drop-off locations throughout the city.