Denver City Council District 1 runoff: Amanda Sandoval and Michael Somma

2 min. read
Mike Somma and Amanda Sandoval. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

What's in the district: Neighborhoods include Chaffee Park, Berkeley, Highland, Jefferson Park, Regis, Sloan's Lake, Sunnyside and West Highland, as well as portions of West Colfax.

Who's still in it: Amanda Sandoval and Michael Somma.

  • Sandoval is the legislative liaison and outreach program coordinator for the Denver Fire Department. She wants to ensure new development weaves neatly into the existing neighborhood fabric by using more zoning overlays, expedite the permit and review process for developers who meet the minimum affordable housing requirements set by the city, and speed up the process for developers that go above those requirements.
  • Somma is a lieutenant at the Denver Fire Department. His biggest priorities are transportation and housing, and he's calling for a plan to address transit by introducing an electric streetcar system. To entice more developers to build affordable apartment units and starter homes, Somma would like to offer tax incentives. He's calling for more community input on such projects and wants provide more transitional services for folks trying to get into permanent housing.

These are the area's biggest concerns: Working closely with developers, ensuring neighborhood preservation, improving housing options and supporting small businesses.

These were the results on May 7: Sandoval won the biggest share of voters, earning 31.2 percent of votes, while Somma came in second with 16.97 percent. This race had the largest pool of candidates, with seven vying for a chance to replace Espinoza.

How former opponents feel: Former challengers Sabrina D'Agosta, Scott Alan Durrah and David Sabados have endorsed Somma. Sandoval has been endorsed by Espinoza.

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