Districts 3, 7, 8 Candidates in June 5 Run-Off
By Karon Majeel
District 8 runners Carla Madison, left, and Sharon Bailey.
After not winning a majority of the votes in the May 1 Denver election, the top two contenders in three city council districts are still campaigning and hoping voters will increase their support in the June 5 run-off election. All three districts are “open” seats, where there are no incumbent candidates. In all other races, the incumbents were reelected – many uncontested, and by large majorities in those where there were opponents.
Less than 44 percent of Denver’s 189,527 active registered voters returned their ballots in the May 1 all mail-ballot election, which had optional drop-off locations but no polling places. Mayor John Hickenlooper, Auditor Dennis Gallagher, At-Large Councilpersons Carol Boigon and Doug Linkhart, and Council President Michael Hancock easily won reelection, as did incumbents in Districts 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6.
Voters overwhelmingly elected mayoral appointee Stephanie O’Malley to serve as Clerk and Recorder, a position created by voters in January in response to the long lines and fleeing voters in Denver’s November 2006 General Election. District Attorney Mitch Morrissey also received an implied vote of confidence, as about 76 percent of the 65,453 votes on Referred Question 1A approved extending the term limit for that office. This change brings the district attorney’s term limit in line with the current city council limit of three terms.
On June 5, District 3 voters will choose between Paul Lopez, who earned 45 percent of the vote on May 1, and JoAnn Phillips, who earned 15 percent. In District 7, Chris Nevitt who won 46 percent of the May 1 votes will face off with Shelly Watters who won 27 percent of the votes.
In District 8, Sharon Bailey will run against Carla Madison. On May 1, Bailey won the top ballot slot with about 36 percent or 2,295 votes, while Carla Madison earned 28 percent or 1,803 votes. Darrell Watson, though not far behind with 27 percent and only 73 votes less than Madison, did not make the run-off. Greg Rasheed came in fourth with about 8 percent of the votes.
District 8 historically had Denver’s highest concentration of Blacks, but the population has declined by about 20 percent between 1990 and 2000, according to the U.S. Census. Figures from The Piton Foundation show the district population is split in fairly even thirds between Blacks, whites, and Latinos and others. If elected, Madison will be the first non-African American to represent the district since its creation in 1971.
Candidates and community leaders interviewed for an April story in the Denver Urban Spectrum agreed issues and qualifications, rather than race, should be the significant factor in electing council members. But, campaign endorsements for Madison and Bailey demonstrate their different areas of support. Bailey’s endorsements are a “Who’s Who” of Denver’s Black political elite, including Gloria Tanner and Regis Groff, both former Colorado state senators in northeast Denver. Madison’s endorsements reflect her popularity in the district’s City Park neighborhood, where the African-American population dropped 35 percent between 1990 and 2000.
Asked about the important issues in District 8, Madison said residents told her there were zoning issues and inappropriate development in the south, crime and gang activity in the north, and problems from the saturation of social services and shelters in the western portion.
“All areas are craving increased economic development, more quality jobs, affordable housing, improved retail and to be rid of problem vacant commercial properties,” she said. “Complaints about inadequate public schools, problems with school closures and the lack of after-school and summer activities for youth seem pervasive and cause great concern across the board.”
Bailey said, in speaking to residents, “The issues ranged from jobs, economic development, transportation, affordable housing, neighborhood safety, and programs for youth, seniors, and families.
“One of the most significant challenges facing our district and city will be to work with (Denver Public Schools) to improve the quality of our educational system and increase its capacity to meet the needs of all students. Our future workforce, economic vitality, social welfare, and safety of communities is tied to the degree that we can educate Denver youth to be productive contributors to our city,” she said.
June 5 Run-Off Election Details
The Denver Run-off Election on Tuesday, June 5, is being conducted by mail ballot only. All ballots must be received, not postmarked, at the Denver Election Commission no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Ballot drop-off locations are:
--District 3 - Barnum Recreation Center, at 360 Hooker St., and Schenck School at 1300 S. Lowell Blvd.f
--District 7 - College View Recreation Center, at 2525 S. Decatur St., and Porter Place, at 1001 E. Yale Ave.
--District 8 - Glenarm Recreation Center at 2800 Glenarm Place and New Hope Baptist Church at 3701 Colorado Blvd.
Drop-off locations are open Friday, June 1 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Monday, June 4 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Ballot drop-off for all three districts are at Denver Election Commission headquarters, 303 W. Colfax Ave., on Friday, June 1 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Monday, June 4 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Curbside drop-off is also available on the west side of Court Place between Colfax Avenue and 14th Street on Election Day, Tuesday, June 5 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
All sites will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day.
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