Inefficiency and waste of resources has a negative impact on all taxpayers, especially the poor, who are forced to choose between paying their highest ever taxes and utilities costs, or buying Christmas gifts for their children or grandchildren. I will fight for your interests by negotiating better deals with vendors, contractors, and employees to get more ‘bang for the buck’ and maximize government efficiency. Whether you’re rich or poor you should oppose waste and demand better faster cheaper government. As a former Strategic Planning expert with an MBA I have the experience to improve the quality of government.
I strongly support transparency measures and I oppose allowing ‘secret meetings’ of city council and lawyers who have (reportedly) secretly negotiated financial settlements for unknown demands. The public has a right to know, and city resources should only be spent with full disclosure to the public as allowed by existing ordinances.
I personally volunteered and helped administer this year’s 2019 Point In Time survey to identify homeless needs and population/locations. My charity and I personally gave free coats to homeless veterans last year in Colorado Springs, and as a Chaplain my programs have won community service awards for serving the homeless. As a former State Representative I voted for the Homeless Bill of Rights, and I introduced amendments to law that would resolve the affordable housing crisis. I also support lower energy costs so people can pay their heating bills, unlike incumbents who voted to raise everyone’s utility bills.
The working class needs affordable transportation services, and I support measures to ensure transportation efficiency for all members of the public, good roads, and better infrastructure. Transportation is a basic function of government, and taxpayers deserve better access to get where they need to go, so the economy can grow.
There exists a ‘vicious triangle’ between trial lawyers (who often frivolously sue providers of affordable housing), and big-government regulators (who increase heavy regulatory burdens on providers) and the providers and builders of condominium units who are doubly-attacked by regulations and lawsuits. If liability costs raise the cost of a condominium unit by $15,000 or 10% more, it causes shortages now confirmed by 11 Colorado Mayors. No wonder we’re 26,000 units short in Colorado Springs, and homelessness is rising. We must stop creating disincentives to builders of affordable housing, and let the free market provide more homes.
I first joined the NAACP in 2014 and I’m a dues-paying member today. I fully support the provisions of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and its enforcement in Colorado Springs.
I have personally organized and sent 5 million petitions to Congress defending religious freedom for people of all faiths, and as a 20-year veteran and former Navy Chaplain I’ve defended the Constitution and First Amendment with great personal sacrifice. I respect the rights of people of diverse faith practices, just as I would hope they also respect my liberty. I have also co-founded a civil rights organization, and I believe that only by defending others rights can we expect to have our own liberty respected.
As a former First-Chair musician, I enthusiastically support the arts. Well-funded arts and cultural programs are vital to the economy. I therefore fully support private financing of the arts, through free-market ticket sales, charitable donations, and free-press advertising. Government’s role is to secure freedom for all artists, not pick and choose which arts are best.
gordon@gordonforcolorado.com ; gordonforcolorado.com ; 719.247.1266; PhD Theology, MBA, M.Div, B.S. Air Force Academy ; Chaplain
Public safety – build towards full complement (120 police addition positions)/ increase 911 efficiency and operations. Sustainability and Strategic thinking – reduce incentives for development and insure that development really pays for itself, and– a SMART city begins with an information driven philosophy which starts with a defined data infrastructure (need more fiber/5G and cheaper for everyone).
Improve the quality of the city’s web site, increase our capacity to deliver our message through a greater emphasis on inexpensive broadband to our citizens. Also increase the amount of town halls in each district.
With the City Council’s help these are the actions taken thus far. Broader access to shelter and services Reducing barriers for “people ready to exit homelessness” Improving access to housing Cleaning up illegal camps The plan still calls for creating 370 more “low barrier” shelter beds. The shelter beds were expected to cost about $2 million — most of which has already been paid for using federal grants and a $500,000 special appropriation from the city's general fund.
By insuring that development does pay for itself and limiting tax incentives that is accelerating this growth! Work on street master plans that provide better routes, work on a new bus terminal downtown and routes that provide all access to mass transit. Concentrate on lessons learned and reduce mass transit costs so they are truly competitive with car ownership. Would also like to move on high speed rail to Denver.
Engage wisely and use incentives sparingly for the best impact. Work with employers to develop living areas that are dedicated to the workers we need. Start with a complex, incentivized by the medical community, only for nurses. Set aside reduced cost homes for both police and fire in each community. Work with Greccio and other affordable housing advocates to build affordable homes. Land use should be included in insuring new development includes affordable units.
The community ensures the Council serves all the diverse interests, by electing individuals, who can be trusted to facilitate this end.
By standing up for what is right and fair for all! I have four years of experience and my record speaks for itself.
Its’ an expression of how a community feels about itself. I’ve had numerous visitors favorably remark about our arts and cultural displays. My favorite is the deer, on Cascade, who wants to become a tree. I have and will continue to support this community whenever possible.
wpmurrayIII@aol.com https://gazette.com/news/colorado-springs-councilman-bill-murray-seeks-a-second-term-to/article_70ba6138-267a-11e9-8120-5fb6cd1fea01.html 719-357-0635 MA
1. Addressing homelessness. While the challenges of homelessness are well known, the solutions are not one-dimensional. But there are solutions. This isn’t just a local problem. I’ll help us implement proven best practices in collaboration with other communities. 2. Planning for growth while protecting what we have. My prior City Council experience and 17 years of community engagement on Colorado Springs commissions and task forces will allow me to offer a rigorous balance between what Colorado Springs needs for inevitable future growth while preserving what makes our community great.
I plan to work through community centers, like the Hillside Community Center, to engage citizens on impending issues and decision-making and I’ll work with my fellow District Council Members to team up in their districts and engage citizens. Citizens get more engaged when they understand what’s personally at stake.
As an elected leader I’d partner with government agencies, such as the El Paso County Human Services Department to address the real needs of our homeless citizens. I will also assist in being proactive through prevention across multiple systems—housing, healthcare, homelessness education, employment, and many others—to identify actions that can prevent homelessness and help catch people before they fall.
Public transit and infrastructure can best serve by being funded at appropriate levels so that service is increased, including more routes, increased frequency of stops, and longer operating hours. I’ll work to improve coordination between transportation modes: transit, pedestrian and cycling can all have improved access around transit stops. I’ll also get us thinking about how we need to prepare now for a dramatically different mobility future.
We owe it to the citizens who have made this such a great community to protect their interests. On Council I’ll work to increase affordable housing by doing everything we can to lower initial construction costs, streamline regulations and work with our homebuilders on innovative ways of building and offering lower cost homes.
Diversity make us all stronger. I’ll work to ensure the City's Human Relations Commission (HRC) remains responsive to the community. The HRC helps people who are underserved and gives them a forum to have their grievances heard and mediated. The HRC reflects the City’s commitment to meeting the needs of all populations in our community and I will be its strong supporter.
I’ll work to guarantee religious diversity in our community is respected without exception by Council. Religion or personal faith should not, however, be the basis of policy decisions by City Council.
Not only do the arts help make this a great city their economic impact is largely unappreciated. The Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region, along with El Paso County, did a recent study showing that arts and culture generate $153.3 million in annual economic activity. This is money that serves and benefits everyone in our city while making us a more desirable and exciting place to live.
valCOS2019@gmail.com valsnider.com 719-338-7819 MBA University of South Dakota Retired valCOS2019@gmail.com
1. Protecting our city’s economic vitality, which includes both jobs and housing as well as ensuring parks, police, fire protection, and utility services for a growing community by prioritizing these needs. 2. Addressing the city’s infrastructure needs, particularly in transportation and utilities. As a commissioner and PPACG officer, I successfully worked to obtain environmental clearance (to 4 lanes) and funding for widening I-25 to 3 lanes. I will work to gain the funding for a 4th lane which will reduce congestion and improve air quality. We should build the necessary generation and transmission infrastructure to replace Drake.
By making information easily accessible online and at libraries so that there is no need to visit a city office. As a commissioner, I put the county’s budget online and expanded online services both as clerk and as secretary of state. I also try to be personally accessible to everyone by publishing my personal cell phone (439-1870) and to attend and participate in events across the city.
We should encourage job growth and training for new jobs, which I did working with the Pikes Peak Workforce Center and serving on the Reach Pikes Peak Board. I worked on the Colorado Springs Housing Authority Board with Dick Sullivan (who added 5,400 homes) for a decade to add affordable housing, using both public-private and public-public partnerships. I want to revitalize the Housing Authority’s efforts and also seek to reduce regulations that limit private construction of affordable housing. I support addition of sufficient low barrier shelter beds, removing other barriers to housing, and implementing the City’s 2019 Homelessness Initiative.
I worked with many partners to establish the Pikes Peak RTA which provides more than $10 million a year to support Mountain Metro Transit. When we placed the RTA in front of voters, the City assured voters it would maintain its $5.7 million annual funding. The City should fulfil that promise each year. We should encourage higher density development along bus lines that support both necessity and choice riders. We also need to support regional transit as well—as Secretary of State I opened up Bustang passes to our El Paso County employees and I commuted by bus frequently.
We need to keep taxes low and provide a safe community while ensuring our infrastructure and services keep pace with growth. During the decade I served on the Colorado Springs Housing Authority we developed innovative private and public partnerships to increase the inventory of affordable housing, including building Creekside at Norwood with Peterson Air Force Base. We need to work to revitalize the Housing Authority’s efforts, increase these partnerships, and support others in the community seeking to create affordable housing. We also should seek to reduce regulations that limit private construction of affordable housing.
First by being accessible to everyone. Every citizen and every taxpayer should have a say in city government. I try to be accessible to everyone by publishing my personal cell phone (439-1870). I was the only state official to do that and I will continue that as a member of city council. Second by working to fulfill Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream that city employment and other decisions are based on “the content of their character.” Council also should seek opportunities to attend diverse events across our community.
Our city is home to many wonderful nonprofits, congregations, and individuals of many different faiths and traditions. We should welcome this diversity--as one religious leader said, “let them worship how, where, or what they may.” Government should be welcoming and open to working with everyone. Many of our religious nonprofits (like Catholic Charities and the Salvation Army) play key roles in tackling our community’s important issues, like homelessness, and providing critical services. We also should welcome the input of people of diverse faiths at Council meetings and on city boards.
Colorado Springs is a great place to live and visit because of our unique combination of natural beauty and the arts and culture opportunities we provide. As a commissioner I worked with nonprofits to improve the Pikes Peak Center and the Norris Penrose Equestrian Center, worked within the county to support our nature centers and the county fair, and worked with the community to expand recreation and cultural opportunities. We should work to support our new Olympic Museum and other events and venues in the arts and culture sector.
waynewilliamslaw@comcast.net winwithwayne.org and www.facebook.com/WayneWilliamsforColorado/ 439-1870 B.A., Political Science, BYU; J.D., University of Virginia; Harry S Truman Scholar Attorney and Elections Consultant
The two most pressing issues facing our community are a lack of affordable housing and homelessness. I believe that the city council and Utilities Board can and must work with developers in our city to incentivize the building of more small and affordable homes, as well as multiple unit development, through a relaxation of fees that are required with all new housing units. Similar methods can also be used to create housing for the most vulnerable among us who might otherwise end up on the streets.
I was one of the founders of Colorado Springs Fresh Perspective with the purpose of addressing this very issue. As one visits the various boards and commissions around the city, one tends to see a lot of the same faces. Through community meetings and through engagement of the many civic groups around our community, I will actively seek out new members for city boards and commissions so that we have diversity of input. Only with the voices of those with diverse backgrounds will we truly be able to make decisions that benefit all.
I believe that we have a moral obligation and fiscal responsibility to help those who are willing to accept help with drug and alcohol addictions, mental health treatment, and job training so that they can become self-sustainable. The city can and should invest in low barrier housing so that those who are in such programs have a stable place to sleep at night, meanwhile lowering the costs associated with emergency room care and potential jail time that plagues this population.
We are growing, and the way to make sure that we grow appropriately and can increase mass transit is through increased density in the city center and various neighborhoods around the city. This leads us back to the incentivization of affordable housing and multiple unit housing development. Smaller, denser neighborhoods lead to more multimodal transportation opportunities, thereby taking cars off the road and reducing congestion. This increased density will also reduce per capita costs on infrastructure buildout and maintenance.
The current projects that are part of City for Champions are examples of how urban renewal can bring a lot of investment into the community. Such renewal projects give us the opportunity to work with developers and builders to incentivize the building of more affordable housing units in the vicinity through reduced fees and potential tax breaks. Tools like these must be used throughout the city, especially in historically overlooked areas such as the Southeast. Additionally, as Banning Lewis Ranch is developed, the city can incentivize builders to build mixed communities that have affordable as well as market-priced housing.
The best way to ensure that we are serving the interests of all segments of our community is by giving them a seat at the table and making them a part of the decision-making processes. For this reason, we must seek out more diverse voices for our public boards and commissions, and we must be open to feedback when we overlook the needs of members of our population. Everyone has a right to be heard. This city belongs to all of its residents.
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees that there will be no religious test for those who take part in government affairs, and it protects the freedom of expression of all forms of religion. That is a fundamental right of all people, and anyone who would seek to restrict it has no business being in public office.
As a COPPeR Arts Advocate, I have seen first hand the incredible benefit that public art and culture brings to the city in terms of economic activity as well as quality of life for our residents. I believe that the arts should be supported by the city, and I will continue to be advocate for funding should I be elected.
Tony Gioia tony@tony4cos.com tony4cos.com 732-586-1933 Bachelor of Arts in Theology from Nazarene Bible College Realtor
Affordable housing/homelessness and closing Martin Drake. For affordable housing/homelessness, I would prioritize incentives that lead to the construction of economical housing. We must also tackle other causes of homelessness, including addiction, mental health, and chronic unemployment. When making these decisions, we must be compassionate toward people without homes and look for creative solutions. For Martin Drake, it must be closed as soon as economically feasible. This will improve reduce toxic pollution and greenhouse gases and will allow us to invest in forms of energy that will provide price stability and long-term savings for Colorado Springs Utilities customers.
Having worked as both an elementary school principal and development director for Concrete Couch, I have experience in engaging underrepresented and disengaged community members. Council members must go to the community - that includes personally participating in the community groups that are already active in the area, regularly contacting community leaders for feedback, and hosting virtual and in person town-halls at times community members can attend. The key is to build trust. That can only happen when you get involved in those communities.
First and foremost, city leaders must act to increase the availability of housing options as soon as possible, especially for families. We must identify funding and leverage available funds by partnering with local nonprofits and businesses to the maximum extent possible. At the same time, we must aggressively address the root causes of homelessness, including addiction, availability of mental health services, and chronic unemployment.
For future development, transit and other alternative transportation options must be included in the original designs - public transit options, bike lanes, and walking options should be incorporated in any new development. That way, we will never play catch-up again. For existing developments, we must accommodate pedestrians, bikes, and buses as we repave and maintain existing streets. We must continue to make every street a complete street. Existing funds for public transportation must also be used to specifically to expand service in the city.
City Council must firmly commit to expanding affordable housing. That means prioritizing incentives that lead to the construction of affordable housing. While we certainly want to attract and retain businesses that provide good-paying jobs, our tax incentives should be directed first at helping the people who work at those businesses.
Serving the interests of an increasingly diverse population requires a commitment to respectful and ongoing dialogue. In my view, Council must be proactive in soliciting feedback, ideas, and concerns from all of our residents - that means reaching out to those communities on a regular basis, and forging relationships and trust. Council might also benefit by participating in diversity, inclusion, and equity training.
Freedom of religious expression is a core value for me. This freedom has allowed me to express my own faith in serving the Colorado Springs community, and I am firmly committed to ensuring that others feel free to express and follow their own faith traditions. To ensure that we respect that diversity of faith in government affairs, we must constantly evaluate whether our processes, our venues, or our approaches could be perceived as disrespectful of faith traditions that are not our own.
As a school principal, I fought for art and music programs so that students and families could experience them regardless of their zip code. I will bring that same commitment to City Council - all city residents should have access to arts and cultural programs regardless of zip code. Study after study confirms that a vibrant arts and cultural sector is critical to a community’s long-term economic vitality. On a personal level, I believe that we build community through art. That’s why I invest my time with Concrete Couch, an organization dedicated to building community through art.
martinez4cos@gmail.com www.martinez4cos.org 719-268-1885 BS - Chemistry UNCo and MA Ed Leadership UCCS Retired Teacher/Principal - CS School District 11
The Homelessness issue and Energy demand solution. The way that I would address the homelessness issue would be to work with Andrew Phelps on the cities HelpCOS plan to continue to keep the ball rolling and fully support the efforts of everyone that is playing an instrumental role in finding long term solutions. In terms of the energy issue, I would work with CSU and support them with the solution that will be best for the people of the city.
I would have a strong community presence and put the needs of the people first by making sure that I am listening to the voice of the people so that I can advocate for the changes that they would like to see and I would also work to change the meeting time of the council so that more concerned citizens can attend to utilize their voice for concerns and possible solutions.
The measure that I will take when I am elected would be to find funding to add more beds to our shelters, build more shelters if possible and work with developers and the city to build affordable housing for everyone and not just a certain class of people because all citizens matter regardless of your yearly salary. Long term solutions will be key to reduce this issue that has plagued our city and state. I would also see what other cities and states are doing to combat this issue and if it is working, model after that to some degree.
In my view, Colorado just does not have the capacity right now to keep up with the growth nor can our roads really sustain the traffic that we do have, adding additions will cost money either way we turn so we must continue to work together to come up with realistic solutions and come up with ways to secure funding in order to accommodate the city without adding to the problem. Water, transportation, housing and air quality are a few of many issues.
The city must plan from where we are today and where we would like to move forward to and feel in the gaps by identifying trend analysis and what are they telling us. Citizen input is important within this process.
Inclusion, diversity and equity will be key to serve all people of the city as well as being open to communicate effectively as well as be an effective listener in order to meet the needs of the people of the city.
I would just say to not use it in an abusive or divisive way and respect it for what it is with reference of Church and state.
It keeps tourism more solid to the city of Colorado Springs so that the city benefits as well as keeping our community thriving and beautiful.
csprings4reginaenglish@gmail.com Regina English for City Council At Large 719-388-3695 Master’s Public Administration Business owner/ Nonprofit founder
Improving public safety and 2) Addressing an increasing need to provide resources for the homeless population. The increase in fatal traffic accidents and violent homicides demand immediate action by adding 120 police officers in the next 2 years. We do this by ramping recruiting and police academy training and ensuring compensation and benefits match other large cities. We need a full Hazmat fire group rather than a multi-station pick up team. The new six-point Homeless Plan that I helped to create is action n oriented and focuses on assisting families first, job training, mental health and substance abuse counseling.
As the Utilities Board Chair, we seek citizen/rate payer input from our underrepresented and disengaged people by getting into those neighborhood s and informing the citizens about Project COPE (utility subsidy payment) and teaching them about utility conservation and smart use programs. As such, using Town Halls throughout the six city districts and with word of mouth and social media as well as print and tv/radio to invite these communities to participate in the 55 local government boards and commissions and committees and to become personally involved in resolution and ordinance decision making.
This question directly refers to one of my top issues in question #1. The 2019 Point in Time Survey found even more than 1500 individuals facing the harshness and heartbreak of homelessness. Elected leaders at the State, County and City levels must work together with greater focus partnering with non-profits, faith-based and the private business sector to address and provide resources for poverty, workforce training, substance abuse counseling and mental health care. We do this one family and homeless person at a time, harnessing the El Paso County Work Force Center, the Public Health Department, our medical institutions and entrepreneurial leaders.
During my four years on City Council and the CSU Board, we have made great progress in improving public transit (buses) and infrastructure to increase quality and reliability of transportation and roads, bridges, wastewater, water and utility access and transmission. We passed ordinances like 2C (road repair) and 2A (stormwater mitigation) to provide fiscal ability to fix roads, repair potholes and comply with ADA requirements. By building the Southern Delivery System from the Pueblo Reservoir, we assured water supply as our city grows beyond 500,000 people for at least three decades. These actions received National awards.
Increasing economic development for local and new businesses while incentivizing and encouraging affordable housing and reasonable cost of living and utility rates must be our primary goal and demand total city government attention and delivery. We accomplish this balance by relying on our City Economic Development Office and Chamber of Commerce to attract, market and recruit current companies and industry to expand and grow and find new businesses to relocate or begin new entrepreneurial opportunities. W e ensure utilities rates are low and provide economic incentives and opportunities with our Regional Building Department and City Planning Department for home builders and developers.
Our City Council, with my participation, passed the first City Master Plan – Plan COS, in the last 10 years. This Master Plan Ordinance insures that all City Planning and City Government activities focus on our diverse peoples, including those identified above. I voted for our newest Commission on Aging, (it is interesting to note that the average age in our city is 36 years). City Council guarantees that our total population interests are preserved, protected and considered in every Ordinance and Resolution passed by the legislative branch of City Government.
Freedom of religious belief and expression is not only guaranteed in our U.S. Constitution, but stressed in our City Charter and Code. Before every regular City Council meeting, we begin with an invocation and prayer. These moments of reflection have been presented by Christian ministers, Jewish rabbis, Muslim clerics, non-denominational religious pastors, and agnostic believers and atheists. In 2019, as the Chairman of the Colorado Springs Utilities Board of Directors, I initiated meeting invocations and prayers at the start of each monthly Board meeting. During both City Council and Utilities Board meetings, we respect and honor all religious expression.
As the City Council liaison to the Pikes Peak Arts Commission, and working directly with our Pioneer’s museum, I am committed to supporting and finding the funding and people energy to ensure that Colorado Springs sustains and supports a vibrant and appropriately funded arts and cultural industry. I also serve as the City Council liaison to the LART (Lodging and Rental Car Tax) Committee where the board members have approved funding for the Copper Arts non-profit organization as well as financial support for the Summit House on top of America’s Mountain, and the Olympic Museum and Hall of Fame.
tomstrand19@yahoo.com standwithstrandcos.com 719-210-1607 Juris Doctorate (Law), B.A. Business Administration Retired USAF, City Councilmember, CSU Board Member (Chair)
1.) Safety is a concern. We need to bring in more revenues, grants and resources to help our fire and police, they are our first responders. We need to support quicker response times, replace aging out dated equipment. 2.) The homeless issue needs an urgent response to the current challenges. We must bring forth ideas to find a way to reduce the numbers of the homeless while getting them the help they need, such as mental health, and bring the workforce resources closer to them. While considering the options this issue should be addressed from a strategic, compassionate and economically sound direction.
Increase public access to the internet. There are a surprising number of people without access to the internet. Government information and decision-making needs to be transparent. The underrepresented must have the open opportunity to heard, one example is by being appointed to committee’s and commissions. We need to look, listen and act with engage all our community.
Daily we must work on the issues of the homeless. While money does no solve the issue, resources can help. We need more revenue for mental health and bring the workforce services closer to the locations where more people can have access. We can bring in more revenues by allowing the sale or recreational cannabis in the city.
Increase the time frame and locations for stopping at areas where transportation demands are busier and heavier. Look at putting in place more shuttle services. We need to have a well thought out plan that can be implemented as soon as possible.
The city is going to have to be reasonable in their thinking toward the development areas and time frames in which they are expecting to go forward with projects. We are going to have to make sure the funds are in place to complete the proposed projects. However, the city council must keep in mind while making decisions that have a direct impact on areas like affordable housing and other services that they don’t let the newly developed areas take away from those programs or change the functionality of what is working and in place now.
The interests of all people must be considered without prejudice with regards any of the groups mentioned above from age to gender or lifestyle! They need to be included as members of committee’s and input groups for a diverse representation.
I believe in the separation of church and state.
A vibrant arts and cultural sector plays a key role in Colorado Springs, bring in a diverse and high volume visitor population on a regular basis. We must make certain that through arts and culture those who visit are able to see why we are one of the top cities in the US that brings in new citizen population and continually increases its numbers.
Randy Tuck randy.tuck@electrandytuck.com ElectRandyTuck.com 719-499-1106 Education: high school eq??SPELL OUT, 4 yrs college AT PIKES PEAK COMMUNITY COLLEGE and UCCS Occupation: retired