Aurora, CO— The race for Aurora’s Ward I City Council seat is proving to be very popular, as even rival candidates are trying to make their voices heard regarding the oldest and most ethnically diverse district of the city. Although there has been some progress in filling up the other council seats, Ward I appears to have registered the most activity and promises to be a fierce contest in the run-up to the election on November 4, which is conducted through postal ballots in Colorado.
Like the rest of the city, elections for the city council have no official party affiliation. However, these have been strife marked by intense partisanship over the last few years. The council is Republican-controlled, albeit most of the county’s, state’s, and parliamentary representatives for Aurora are Democrats.
Ward I: A Competitive Field
On the eastern edge, there should be Yosemite Street, whereas the western edge of the Ward I district should be Chambers Road. The northern limit will be marked by East Sixth Avenue, while Interstate 70 is to the south. The Democratic council member, Crystal Murillo, has not taken any stand regarding running for re-election. In the meantime, there is a qualified field of five candidates that have announced their candidacy.
Reid Hettich (Unaffiliated)
Having worked as a pastor and civic leader, Hettich has dedicated over 20 years to community-based work, including public safety and urban renewal in Aurora. In addition to serving as the Executive Director of Mosaic Unlimited, he is also the co-founder of the Dayton Street Opportunity Center. His previous attempts to foster mentor relationships for at-risk students resulted in an 80% on-time graduation rate for those that participated. Hettich remarks that he aims to achieve “community-driven leadership and real outcomes.”
Stephen Elkins (Unaffiliated)
Elkins, who worked as a city planner for Denver, considers himself a moderate centrist who is problem-oriented. Currently, he is with a data center company that works with local governments for permitting and project management. His objectives include the improvement of public safety, economic development, and government responsiveness and the enhancement of dialogue between the city and its citizens.
Christopher Belila (Unaffiliated)
Belila founded Beer Bodega, a company dedicated to helping craft breweries market their products. He regards Ward I as an area that has a rich cultural heritage but is neglected and needs breathing life into. To meet these goals, his campaign is centered around improving community infrastructure and public safety to boost civic engagement.
Leandra Steed (Democrat)
Steed is currently the Director of Equity Matters at Great Education Colorado. Originally hailing from Aurora, a local girl, she went to public schools with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education at the University of Northern Colorado. She has worked in an educational and equity advocate capacity, including the chair of the NAACP Aurora Education Committee.
Gianina Horton (Democrat)
Horton’s role is the State Coordinator for Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities, and she worked previously with the Denver Justice Project and Denver Office of the Independent Monitor. She highlights the necessity of having representatives from the communities and supporting local government and residents’ relationship building.
Other Races to Watch
Apart from the competitive Ward I, other council seats are now also seeing correspondence from opposing candidates.
Ward II: Central-East Aurora
Carrier has officially announced her candidacy. Republican Steve Sampford has not confirmed whether he is planning to run for a second term or not. Carrie comes from a government security background and now stays at home to take care of her non-verbal autistic son. She is a special needs resource advocate and aims to tackle the changing dynamics of the city.
Ward III: Central-West Aurora
Marsha Berzins (Republican) is hoping to win back her seat on the Council for Ward III that she lost to Ruben Medina (Democrat), who has yet to declare if he is going to run again. Berzins, who served on the council from 2009 to 2021, said she hopes to be a unifying figure for all residents of Aurora.
At-Large Council Races
Also set in Aurora are two at-large seats that have noted candidates vying for them.
Aurora Jurinsky (Republican, Incumbent)
In her bid for a second term, Jurinsky shaped herself as pro-business and pro-police. She had previously earned some fame for some claims about herding immigrant gangs in Aurora, which opposition party members claim were politically motivated.
Rob Andrews (Democrat)
Andrews is running as a former and the founder of the One Voice Coalition, and his main interests are economic growth, affordable housing, and people’s security. He was a candidate for the 2023 mayoral elections but dropped out to not politically raise the votes of fellow Democrat Juan Marcano. He has been a member of different committees on public security and economic development.
Amsalu Kassaw (Republican, Incumbent)
Kassaw is running to keep his position after he was nominated to replace Dustin Zvonek’s vacant parliamentary seat last year. Being an Ethiopian immigrant, Kassaw has 20 years of experience in the field of security and is currently a lieutenant in an ICE holding facility. He claims to want to represent the diverse immigrant population of the city by encouraging economic development with a focus on public safety and housing and bettering the city’s infrastructure.
Looking Ahead to November
As the various candidates seek election to the council of Aurora City on November 4, there will be much speculation surrounding the elections. Safety from crimes, development in the economy, and representation of communities in debates will form the gist of issues discussed before Election Day. Voters will weigh in on how they perceive this upcoming period in the future trajectory of the city—a continuation of its existing leadership equilibrium or perhaps a shift towards new priorities.
