Denver heads to the polls on April 4th to vote for a new mayor and decide who will represent a majority of City Council districts. If you're voting in District 7, you've come to the right place.
Important to note: During redistricting, District 7 lost Valverde, which went to District 3, took Rosedale from District 6 and nabbed a little bit of Capitol Hill and Speer from District 10.
Jolon Clark held this seat for two terms before deciding not to seek reelection. There are five people running for the open seat.
Who's running?
Here's who's running, in the order you'll see them on the ballot:
Nick Campion
Campion told us homelessness and sustainability are his top issues. He said encampment sweeps are "inhumane" and don't actually fix the core problems associated with homelessness and addiction; he'd like the city needs more density and more temporary solutions, like Safe Outdoor Spaces, to get at these root issues. As far as Denver's climate impacts, Campion said he'd focus on food waste. Also, if he wins, he said he'll get a District 7 tattoo "because I got skin in the game."
Flor Alvidrez
Alvidrez grew up in Athmar Park and said she wants to be the one of the first representatives of District 7 to hail from the west side of I-25. She told us she's motivated to help locally owned businesses and keep community favorites like Breakfast King from closing. She's also concerned about affordability in Denver's housing market, and said she's interested in streamlining the city's zoning code and permitting processes to make it easier for people to build accessory dwelling units or add onto their homes, which she thinks could help people grow with their families without needing to move out of town.
Adam Estroff
Estroff is the former president of YIMBY Denver and said he's focused on housing. He told us he's interested in eliminating exclusionary zoning, which only permits single-family homes in certain areas, to grow a diverse housing stock that densifies the city and allows people from more income brackets access more neighborhoods. He's also interested in boosting bike and transit infrastructure and supporting small, locally owned businesses.
Arthur May
May told us he's interested in bringing a "Christian worldview" to governing. He said he'd like to see the city continue to enforce the camping ban, while also calling on faith communities to help support people with nowhere else to go. He's also interested in auditing Denver's e-bike rebate program to make sure it's actually moving people out of cars and into bike lanes, and added he's concerned that culture war issues - like conversations about gender fluidity - have entered schools.
Guy Padgett
Padgett was once a city council member and mayor in Casper, Wyoming, where he became the first openly gay elected official in state history. He told us safety is his top priority in this race, which he said is underpinned by crime, housing and homelessness. He said the city's police department needs bolstering while the city moves away from traditional homeless shelters and focuses instead on motels and permanent housing. He's also interested in multimodal transportation - from bikes to buses - which he beefed up in Casper while he was in office there.
What's happening in the district?
During the pandemic's darkest days, businesses along South Broadway's busy commercial district told us they worried already-high rents and an evaporated customer base could spell disaster. Fast forward a few years, and that's come to fruition, at least a little. Some longtime businesses there, like the Hope Tank gift shop, did end up closing doors. Those who've held on have seen their finances bounce back.
Meanwhile, the city says it's finally expanding the Broadway bike lane in that area past its pilot phase. Officials are also reconsidering big changes at Broadway and I-25.
One last thing about the Broadway area: there's a huge redevelopment of a former Kmart at Alameda Avenue going on right now. It's nearly finished.
Moving south and west: Officials have been dealing with some Superfund issues at Ruby Hill, where cars have been turning up toxic dirt as people go to park at Levitt Pavilion. At least there's free skiing and snowboarding there while it's cold.
In Athmar Park, a mobile home will stay put as officials attempt to preserve the most affordable housing stock in town. The Women's Bean Project also relocated to this neighborhood.
And the South Platte Trail, a pretty major piece of non-car infrastructure that runs through the district, is being injected with millions of dollars for a revamp.
Need more help voting? Check out the rest of our voter guide here.
Editor's note: The ballot order of candidates in this article has been corrected.
