Aurora voters will choose this November between candidates for mayor and Councilmembers in the two at-large seats and for wards IV, V and VI.
Although Aurora City Council races are non-partisan, party politics can play a role such as Democrats running for City Council announced earlier this year that they would be running as a bloc.
Conservatives on the Council will hope to retain their six to four majority. Mayor Mike Coffman, who sits and votes on the Council, faces challenges from second-term progressive Councilmember Juan Marcano and veteran and former defense industry professional Jeffrey Sanford.
Aurora residents will get a chance to decide who they want making the decisions for the next four years in a city that's rapidly changing.
? First, a few things to know about voting:
Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 7 and the city of Aurora coordinates the election with Arapahoe, Adams and Douglas counties. Ballots were mailed out to registered voters on Oct. 16.
Check your voter registration status or register to vote at the Colorado Secretary of State's website. You can register to vote through and on Election Day.
You can also track your ballot and sign up for text or email notifications using BallotTrax.
? Where can I vote?
Voting service polling centers (VSPC) in Arapahoe, Adams and Douglas counties will open Monday, Oct. 30 until election day on Tuesday, Nov. 7. You can drop off a mail-in ballot, vote in-person, register to vote in-person, update voter registration or request a replacement ballot at these locations.
Ballots can also be dropped off at secure, 24-hour receptacles in Arapahoe, Adams and Douglas counties.
? The three candidates running for Aurora Mayor:
Mike Coffman, who was elected in 2019, faces challenges from progressive, Juan Marcano and Jeffrey Sanford.
Read our breakdown of the mayor's race here.
? The three City Council ward seats on the ballot:
Wards IV, V and VI will include two candidates in each race. Each winner will represent one of the six wards in the city. Click here for a map of Aurora City Council Wards.
Ward IV
Jonathan "Jon" Gray was born in Denver, attended Englewood High School and works for the finance division of Arapahoe County's Department of Human Services. An early career in the non-profit sector and the classroom led Gray to pursue a career in public administration with a platform that focuses on issues such as public safety, public health and economic vitality.
Stephanie Hancock is President of the Aurora Cultural Arts District and has lived in Aurora's Eastridge neighborhood for over 25 years. Her campaign is focused on making Aurora safe and economically vibrant with a focus on issues such as safe communities, affordable living and economic growth.
The following neighborhoods are part of Ward IV: Dayton Triangle, Village East, Eastridge-Ptarmigan Park, Dam East Dam West, Utah Park, Heather Ridge, Sable Ridge, Willow Park, Southeast Crossing, Iliff Station, Chaddsford, Rocky Ridge, Horseshoe Park and part of Aurora Highlands.
Ward V
Angela Lawson served on the Aurora City Council for the past eight years as an At-Large Council Member and has lived in Ward V for 22 years. Her focus now shifts to Ward V's future with a focus on quality of life, public safety, economic development and small business, housing, transportation and aging population.
Chris Rhodes is a community organizer focused on economic justice issues at the Colorado People's Alliance. With a history in union advocacy, his attention now turns to Ward V with focuses on affordable housing, public safety, development and homelessness.
The following neighborhoods are part of Ward V: Heather Gardens, Meadowood, Meadow Hills, Cherry Creek Raquet Club, Pheasant Run, Park Villas, Woodgate, Pioneer Hills, Kingsborough, Mission Viejo, Shenandoah, Lakeshore, Aurora Knolls-Hutchison Heights, parts of Seven Hills, Highpoint and Summer Valley.
Ward VI
Françoise Bergan is the only incumbent running for a Ward seat. She has represented Ward VI since 2015 and is running for a third term in 2023. Bergan currently serves as chair of the Planning & Economic Development Committee and is running her campaign with a focus on issues pertaining to quality of life, economic development, public safety, retail, public works, education, homelessness, housing and water.
Brian Matise has lived in Ward VI's Tollgate Crossing neighborhood since 2005. He has served as a Director of the Tollgate Crossing Metropolitan District No. 2 since 2006 and was the first homeowner elected to the Board. Matise is retiring from a career in law this year to focus on his campaign for City Council which will focus on public safety, budgeting, development and supporting city workers.
The following neighborhoods are part of Ward VI: Butterfield Trails, Blackstone Country Club, Southshore, Beacon Point, Wheatlands, Tollgate Crossing, Sorrel Ranch, Pomeroy, Southlands, Forest Trace, Tallyns Reach North, Tallyns Reach, Whispering Pines, Heritage Eagle Bend, Inspiration, Kings Point North, Kings Point South, Saddle Rock Golf Club North, Saddle Rock Golf Club South, East Quincy Highlands, Prides Crossing, Summer Lake, parts of Highpoint and Summer Valley.
? Aurora will also cast ballots for two of its four at-large City Council seats.
Four candidates are running for the two open seats this election:
Alison Coombs has served as the representative for Ward V since 2019. She is a Democrat and the first out LGBTQ person elected to Aurora's City Council. She works as a case manager for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities and a member of Colorado's union for care workers. She has sponsored local legislation on minimum wage, affordable housing and immigrant protections, and wants to focus on economic and social justice if elected to another term.
Curtis Gardner is an incumbent at-large Councilmember. He attended Aurora public schools growing up, and has worked at a local Credit Union and in the solid waste industry. He wants to promote economic development, develop facilities to improve quality of life and support the police and fire departments. He is a registered Republican.
Thomas Mayes is a pastor and Vietnam War veteran who grew up in the area. He has served on the Aurora Police Department Victims Witness Advisory Board and the Independent Review Board. His priorities include youth violence protection, workforce development, affordable housing and homelessness. He is running along with a group of Democrats and ran unsuccessfully for an at-large seat in 2019.
Jono Scott is a pastor who grew up in Aurora. He has served on the Citizens' Advisory Budget Committee and directs the Woodside Baptist/Kingdom Building Foodbank ministry. He wants to promote safety by enforcing laws and expanding punishments for crimes, promote economic health by supporting small businesses and improve affordability by growing housing. He also opposes raising taxes and fees. He is registered as a Republican and ran unsuccessfully in 2021 for the Ward III seat.
? Explainer on Prop HH:
Colorado voters will also see Proposition HH on their ballot this year. The Democrat-backed measure would slow property tax increases while reducing TABOR tax refunds that would instead be used to grow funding for public schools.
Read an explainer and a breakdown of Prop HH here.
? Explainer on Prop II:
Proposition II is a statewide ballot measure that voters will also consider this year. The measure would allow the state to keep $23.7 million raised through a nicotine tax and dedicate it towards the state's new universal preschool program that serves 38,000 four-year-olds and 9,000 three-year-olds.
The tax was approved in 2020 by voters and a "yes" on Prop II would allow for the state to keep any excess revenue in future years as well.
Read a breakdown of Prop II here.
? Referred Measures:
There will be four referred measures from the Aurora City Council on the ballot to amend the City Charter.
Question 3A
A "Yes" vote on 3A would amend the City Charter to replace gender-specific terms with gender neutral nouns.
Question 3B
A "Yes" vote on 3B would amend the City Charter to make changes to extend the probationary period for police officers and firefighters to account for recognized leave time. It would also make changes to the police promotion consideration process by allowing the Police Chief to bypass a candidate for promotion subject to Civil Service appeal.
Question 3C
A "Yes" vote on 3C would amend the City Charter to remove limits on the number of lateral police and fire department hirings, allow for earlier promoting eligibility for police laterals and clarify that holding a lateral-only fire academy is permitted.
Question 3D
A "Yes" vote on 3D would amend the City Charter to allow for an increase to the number of authorized Police Division and Deputy Chiefs in relation to the number of authorized sworn officers.
Is there anything else we can clear up about Aurora's election? Email us at [email protected].
