Lakewood council candidates offer their views

LAKEWOOD – Voters on Nov. 3 will decide which three of six City Council candidates will help the city find its way through tough economic times, facing more than $5 million in projected revenue shortfalls over the next two years.

The election will result in at least two new council members: Ward 2 Councilwoman Debbie Koop cannot run due to term limits, and Ward 4 Councilman Doug Anderson decided against seeking a second term. Incumbents Vicki Stack, Ward 1, and Sue King in Ward 3 are unopposed and will return for their second four-year terms.

The new council, including five sitting members and Mayor Bob Murphy, will work with a new administration at City Hall. Kathy Hodgson took over as city manager in September, the city’s first new top administrator in nearly two decades.

Other issues also provide challenges, including the on-coming West Corridor light rail line and its impacts on Wards 1 and 2, development of the recently annexed Federal Center, the West Colfax urban renewal project, development of the Rooney Valley and mending a lingering rift with a formidable number of citizens.

Lakewood’s ballot also includes the retention of two municipal judges, the Jeffco school board races and two county ballot questions that would eliminate term limits for most elected county officials.

View the unedited responses to questions posed by the Lakewood Edge submitted by each of the six Lakewood City Council in contested races by clicking on their names:

Ward 2: Scott Koop, Frank Teunissen

Ward 4: Amy Attwood, David Wiechman

Ward 5: Diana Allen, Natalie Menten

The ballot offers clear choices and the Edge encourages voters to read what the candidates have to say, the spirited commentary submitted by our city’s electorate and to monitor other media outlets for information about candidates, issues and races on Lakewood’s ballot.

Then vote!