The race for the School Board At-Large seat in Denver for all intents and purposes has not been highly publicized. As a matter of fact, I had not heard a lot about it until I received a telephone call from an acquaintance that was making telephone calls on behalf of Mr. Robert Speth who is running against Allegra “Happy” Haynes.

Happy Haynes has been involved in Denver politics for many years and at one time held a seat on the Denver City Council for 13 years. She is currently the president of the Denver Public Schools Board and is also the Director of Denver Parks and Recreation.  Because Ms. Haynes has been a part of the political landscape in Denver for so long she likely has the support of many other establishment political figures both inside and outside of Denver.

In light of how voters feel about incumbent establishment politicians right now, this could actually be a negative for Ms. Haynes. Since this speculation is based on what is happening in politics at the federal level right now and the race for the school board seat is at the local level, many might say that it is a real stretch for me to make such a comparison; and that is a reasonable, and debatable, observation.

But allow me to give this, what might seem like a farfetched speculation at least some degree of credibility. Case in point; it is well known by those who follow politics closely that the Republicans’ REDMAP program was highly successful and that it played a major role in the overwhelming balance of control of statehouses that Republicans currently hold over Democrats.  The point is that although this program was focused on the states it was a national level effort to get Republican candidates elected.  And the purpose of this national effort was to gain control of power from the lowest level of government to the highest level of government.

Without getting into too much detail about how this is relevant to the race for the Denver At-Large school board seat, which would probably do nothing but bore those who do not closely follow politics, I will just say that the REDMAP program was also interested in influencing who would head school districts and who would be elected to those Districts’ school boards.

There have been many community members who have complained for many years about how Denver schools are run, about testing and test scores, teachers’ rights, charter schools and more. The Denver School Board members have long been split along the lines of what has become labeled by many as those that are against reform and those that are pro-reform.  I would place Happy Haynes among the ranks of the latter.

There is nothing inherently wrong with being a pro-reform board member. The problem comes in ones definition of the meaning of reform and the extent to which such reform is carried out.  As things currently stand, there are many Denver community members who still feel that they were betrayed by school board members who supported the dismantling of their neighborhood schools and having those spaces given to charter schools or if they were not dismantled, being forced to share their space with charter schools.  This could present a problem for Happy Haynes because her opponent, Robert Speth, is neither a pro-reform candidate – if its definition entails the kinds of things that these community members are complaining about, nor is he a politician, let alone an establishment politician.

Instead, according to Mr. Speth, he is a man “with a BS degree in Civil Engineering and a MS in The Materials Science Program… who is generally known to all as ‘the science guy’.” I have read articles on Mr. Speth that state his position on various issues but I have found it harder to find any articles or campaign literature from Ms. Haynes that state her position on these issues.

I think that, in light of the mood of voters, it will be extremely important for these candidates to inform voters of precisely where they stand on the issues. As mentioned at the start of this article as regards how voters feel about incumbent establishment politicians at the federal level, they appear to be fed up with politics as usual.  And since all indications are that they blame the politics as usual on establishment incumbents, it is especially important for Ms. Haynes to get her message in front of voters and convince them that the best way forward for the Denver Public Schools is by way of the path that she supports.

The example that I provided of the Republicans’ REDMAP program was meant to show how, under the current circumstances, local level politics can be tied to the mood of voters at the national level. Allegra “Happy” Haynes is a Democrat and my example was not meant to imply that she is a Republican or that she is in any way associated with the Republican Party.

And finally – whether you are a Democrat, Republican or Independent – do not discount the value of your vote and decide that it is not worth the time that it takes you to cast it. It is long past time for voters to get more seriously involved in politics.  We need to realize how important these – what may seem to some of us to be low-level, meaningless positions with little or no power, really are.   Then, we must get informed on the issues and ascertain the positions that the candidates who are seeking to be elected hold on them.

It is just as important to always remember that your vote is the most important one of all…unless you don’t use it! So be sure to vote by Tuesday, November 3rd.  According to the ‘HOW TO RETURN YOUR BALLOT’ instructions enclosed with the ballot that you received by mail, “Ballots must be received at a Voter Service and Polling Center (VSPC), at a 24-hour ballot drop-off box, or by mail by 7 pm on Election Day, November 3, 2015.  A ballot postmarked by 7 pm on Election Day, but not received, will be rejected.”

Eulus Dennis

DENVER DISTRICT 11 VOTERS, THERE IS ONLY ONE DAY LEFT TO VOTE IN THE JUNE 2 RUNOFF ELECTION. POLLS CLOSE AT 7:00 P.M. TONIGHT!

THIS IS THE TIME WHEN WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DECIDE WHO WILL BEST REPRESENT US AS OUR CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE.  WILL IT BE STACIE GILMORE OR SEAN BRADLEY?

I BELIEVE THAT STACIE GILMORE CAN, AND IF ELECTED, WILL BE THE BEST PERSON TO REPRESENT DISTRICT 11.

THE BEST WAY FOR YOU TO EXPRESS WHO YOU BELIEVE IT IS THAT CAN BEST REPRESENT US IS BY MAKING SURE THAT YOU VOTE BEFORE THE POLLS CLOSE TODAY.

ALWAYS REMEMBER, YOUR VOTE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE OF ALL…UNLESS YOU DON’T USE IT!

VOTE NOW!

Eulus Dennis

DENVER DISTRICT 11 VOTERS, THERE ARE ONLY TWO DAYS LEFT TO VOTE IN THE JUNE 2 RUNOFF ELECTION!

THIS IS THE TIME WHEN WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DECIDE WHO WILL BEST REPRESENT US AS OUR CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE.  WILL IT BE STACIE GILMORE OR SEAN BRADLEY?

I BELIEVE THAT STACIE GILMORE CAN, AND IF ELECTED, WILL BE THE BEST PERSON TO REPRESENT DISTRICT 11.

THE BEST WAY FOR YOU TO EXPRESS WHO YOU BELIEVE IT IS THAT CAN BEST REPRESENT US IS BY MAKING SURE THAT YOU VOTE BEFORE THE POLLS CLOSE ON JUNE 2.

ALWAYS REMEMBER, YOUR VOTE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE OF ALL…UNLESS YOU DON’T USE IT!

VOTE NOW!

Eulus Dennis

All Denver voters who have a team still in the game are tense as the final seconds of the game tick down.  The May 5, 2015 winners are still ahead and although some of the fans of both teams have already left the arena – some because the game appeared so out of reach for the opponent to possibly make a comeback before the final minutes ticked from the clock and others who had conceded the win to the apposing team because they felt that it was too late for their team to come back and win, the diehard fans have remained to the bitter…or sweet end.

Those fans who left hear a sudden roar from the crowd so make a u-turn and try to reenter the arena but it is too late; the gate attendants refuse to let them back in: they have squandered their chance to be a part of this great moment.  The goal line teams for the defense and offense are in.  Sean Bradley is under center for the offense and Stacy Gilmore has called out the defensive signal for the defense.

It is forth down and the stage is set as the final seconds continue to tick off of the clock.  This is it; this is the ballgame.  One team will win and one will go home empty-handed to lick their wounds until they earn the next opportunity to compete for this coveted prize.  Will it be a running play or will they attempt a quick pass?  Sean Bradley commences to call the count.

Twooooo, sevennnnn, tennnnn, elevennnnn, hut!  It’s a run!  Bodies come together in one massive heap as the runner tries to carry the ball off tackle.  The officials rush in and begin to pull bodies from the pile to determine if the ball crossed the goal line.  They finally reach the running back and discover the position of the ball.  An official steps back to give the official call.  As the crow holds its collective breath the official signals…

I call upon voters in Denver districts two, seven, ten and eleven to realize that the election is still ongoing so we need to make sure that our follow-through is adequate.  In order for that to be the case, we can only complete our civic duty by voting in the runoff election on June 2nd.  Once we have voted we can relax until the next election.

Although there are only seven (7) voting days left before the polls close for good on this election there is still plenty of time for you to cast your ballot.  Keep this in mind as you contemplate what you want for your community, what you want it to look like in the foreseeable future and who you believe can best lead it in the effort to reach that goal.

Since I live in District 11 I especially want to leave those in our community with the message to keep working because we are not there yet!  To all of those who still have candidates in the race that they are supporting I say always remember, your vote is the most important one of all…unless you don’t use it!

Assure ahead of time that you know where you can either vote or drop off your ballot and then be sure to vote on or before June 2nd.

Eulus Dennis

I met Stacie Gilmore for the first time last night.  I think that it was sometime between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.  More often than not I am sitting in our computer room either writing an article for my blog or checking out the latest political news; but this time, my wife had arrived there just ahead of me.

As a result, I was headed downstairs to watch the hockey game when my doorbell rang.  When I answered the door there was a woman standing there with a big smile on her face that extended her hand and said “hi, I’m Stacie Gilmore.”  From there she began to spout a lot of things about how she loves our community, the things she had done since becoming a part of it and how she wanted to see it thrive and grow in the future.

She was a vibrant woman with much to say and who I found to be easy to listen to and she sounded so sincere about what she wanted to do if elected to be District 11’s City Councilperson.  Even if I did not hold a special interest in politics and was not an avid follower of it I would not have found her conversation boring.  She seemed so frank and enthusiastic about what she was saying that I quickly became engrossed in what she had to say.

As I listened and sized her up, I tried to figure out who this woman really was.  I’m well aware, as I am sure that you are, that most politicians will say whatever it takes when they are in essence in an interview seeking to be hired or stumping to retain their popularity in order to place them in the best position possible for reelection so that they can retain their job.  However, Stacie Gilmore is not yet a politician; at least, not officially.  And even if she is successful in her maiden venture to become one by winning the June 2nd runoff election to become the District 11 councilperson my gut feeling is that she will remain dedicated to those whom she will represent and to the betterment of the District.

I held her captive at my door for so long that her husband, Scott, finally showed up at my door to subtly and politely encourage her to move on.  After politely speaking to me he turned to Ms. Gilmore: “We’ve got an election to win” he said.  I held both of them captive for a little longer – probably much longer than I should have under the circumstances, before releasing them to complete their campaign efforts before it was dark.

Stacie Gilmore’s decision to run for City Council in Denver’s District 11 and her vision for the District is a microcosm of the phenomenon that is currently taking place all around America.  Women have long been underrepresented in American government.  Now it seem that not only are more of them stepping forward and presenting themselves as viable political candidates seeking to play a more active role in politics from the very top level to the lowest level of government in this country, but they are also demonstrating that they are ready and very capable of handling leadership roles at every level.

My point is that since the inception of this website I have always encouraged everyone to vote.  Further, I have encouraged them to always exercise their right to vote and not in just Presidential elections.  So it would be hypocritical and I would be remiss if I failed to mention the importance of this local election in District 11; the District in which I live.

Elections like the runoff election that will take place on June 2nd are extremely important.  We get to decide at what basically amounts to the entry-level of politics, who we feel is best qualified to represent us, do the most to make our neighborhoods the best that they can be, encourage improvement in our neighborhood schools and help to foster  business growth, foster the growth of well-paying jobs and affordable housing.  Not only are elections like these the springboard for many of those who land at the state and federal levels of our government as Representatives, Senators and Presidents but what they do at these various levels many times ultimately trickle back down to have an impact on us.

As a resident of Montbello for almost 35 years, I am aware of many of Ms. Gilmore’s accomplishments and contributions to the District 11 community.  With her knowledge of our community, past contributions to it and the time that she has lived in Montbello she is well aware of all of its nuances.  Anyone who lives or has lived in the Montbello Green Valley Ranch Community for a substantial period of time knows that the ‘time’ connection is an intricate part of one’s ability to sort through the fodder and reach the real issues in order to form workable coalitions that will be beneficial in the nurture and growth of our District.

Ms. Gilmore has proven that she can cause those in District 11 with diverse agendas and interests to coalesce around issues that will be mutually beneficial to them.  She is without doubt qualified to serve as our City Councilperson and based on her longstanding presence as a resident in District 11 and her contributions to it she is the person who can and will best serve those of us who live here.

Just in case that you missed the last debate between the two June 2nd runoff election candidates, in the event that you might be interested in watching it you can click here to check it out.  And finally I want to leave you with the following very important message which is: always remember, your vote is the most important one of all…unless you don’t use it!

Eulus Dennis

Our community has a very important decision to make on June 2nd.  Who will be the next District 11 City Councilperson?  Who will truly serve all of our residents, businesses, and interests in our district? Who is running to represent the people first and foremost?

I love our community!  I have lived and worked in our community for almost 20 years. As a working Mom, with deep roots in serving our youth and families, I will be 100% committed to serving full time on city council. It will be my first and only priority professionally.  I fully embrace and champion each of our community’s nuances, from the history and pride of Montbello, including Parkfield to the future growth and opportunity of Green Valley Ranch and High Point, along with Denver International Airport. I am proud that my family lives in Montbello and my husband, Scott and I are raising our children in such a diverse and vibrant community.

My optimism is endless for our families, children, seniors, and business. For almost 20 years, I have been a proactive force in my community and through founding and leading the nonprofit, Environmental Learning for Kids (ELK). Through ELK we have invested more than $5.25 million into our community through youth and family based education, and career development programming.  Most recently we secured $250,000 to start the restoration work on the 5.5 acres of land off Albrook Drive by Denver Health Medical to create a 4.5 acre open space and build a 6,000 sq. ft education center to serve our youth, families, and seniors through ongoing programming.  We deserve the best in District 11 and we must have a city councilperson who has a strong history of work in the community.  There is much work to be done, from addressing community safety, improving our quality of life, infrastructure, and economic growth and development.

The next city councilperson must value all people in our district and not marginalize anyone. I have spent my life addressing and leading conversations around institutional racism and oppression, power and privilege, and facilitating our youth learning how to communicate about race, stereotypes and bias. I want to be a unifying influence for our community and I am prepared for this commitment to serve as our next city councilperson.  I will honor your trust in me, by being accountable, responsive, and protecting our citizens and business interests, our community pride, but also pushing us to explore, discuss, and grow so that we may become the best District 11 ever!

Through my commitment, transparency, and passion to truly serve and protect our community, I will put quality of life and improvement of opportunities back at the top of the list for District 11. I urge you to thoroughly research and think about what qualities you want in our next District 11 City Council person. Voting is one of our great powers in our democracy and I want to make sure your voice is heard on June 2nd for District 11.

Please cast your vote in support of my candidacy for District 11 City Council. I am number one on the ballot, and first when it comes to experience, commitment and the resolute belief that we can get what we deserve in District 11. If you would like any more information please visit my website at www.votestaciegilmore.com or check out my Facebook page at Vote for Stacie Gilmore.

Although the May 5, 2015 election in Denver is over, not all candidates have finished the race.  Since I am a strong advocate of everyone’s need to value and respect the franchise and exercise their right to vote, I want to remind voters that our responsibility during this election cycle has not yet been completely fulfilled.

On June 2nd there will be a runoff election to elect those candidates who did not receive over 50% of the vote during the May 5th election.  For those who are not already aware that voter turnout is usually higher for a regular election than it is for a runoff election, especially when a major political candidate is not on the ballot for the runoff election, you may now consider yourselves officially informed that turnout is higher for a regular election.

Even if the turnout during a regular election is low it will likely be substantially lower during a runoff election.  It is unfortunate that many of us shun our civic duty because we fail to realize the value that we receive through our vote and its potential to help many others who we might not even know or because we feel that the value we receive from casting it is outweighed by the time and effort that we expend in order to cast it.

At any other time outside of them opting not to vote, if one were to ask these same people to help someone in need they would be more than happy to do so.  That is because altruism is a basic part of most peoples’ social construct and the personal reward for philanthropy is more obvious and usually more quickly attained than it is for a ballot that we cast.

It is very likely that an outsized segment of those who vote in special elections and runoff elections are avid members of a political party’s partisan base.  It does not matter whether it is because these avid voters believe more strongly that their vote will actually have an impact on the outcome of the election or if it is simply because they have a deeper interest in politics than other voters who may find voting to be just a necessary imposition.  The bottom line is that they will likely have a major impact on the election and might even be the ones that ultimately decide who the winners will be.

I want to specifically address the runoff in District 11 between Stacie Gilmore and Sean Bradley because this is the District in which I live.  Ms. Gilmore mentioned in the article that she wrote and I posted to this website that she has lived in the Montbello Green Valley Ranch community for almost 20 years.  Anyone who has lived in this District for a substantial period of time knows that nuances that can at times become not so subtle and be divisive exist between the Montbello and Green Valley Ranch populace.

In order to properly represent constituents in District 11, the successful city council candidate must be able to effectively work in the best interest of both Montbello and Green Valley Ranch residents.  In order to do this that council member must be able to find common ground for constituents during times of controversy.  In order to find true common ground it will be important for that council member to be intimately familiar with those previously mentioned Montbello Green Valley Ranch nuances.  This will be beneficial to them in articulating a solution that will be more likely to be accepted by both sides.

Because Stacie Gilmore has lived in this District for a long period of time and is familiar with these nuances, it gives her an advantage over relatively new-comer Sean Bradley.  Since there is little doubt that the June 2nd turnout will be lower than that of the May 5th election turnout and it will be largely composed of partisan base voters, if both camps are still canvassing neighborhoods, they will most likely focus their main efforts on the avid base constituents so don’t be surprised if they knock on your door.

Regardless of which candidate you support and whether you are a Democrat, Republican or Independent; be sure to vote.  It is an intricate part of our civic duty, there are plenty of available polling places, the time and effort that it will take to reach them will be minimal, it will be well worth our time and ultimately will provide an added value to our respective community.

Finally, always remember, your vote is the most important one of all, unless you don’t use it!

Eulus Dennis

Stacie Gilmore is running for Denver City Council in District 11.  Following is her vision for the District should she be elected:

I love our community! I want us to get what we deserve in District 11, opportunity, education, infrastructure, and the economic development that will ensure we have a high quality of life. I have lived and worked in our community for almost 20 years. We have always been known as the Far Northeast, and while I honor our history, I have come to see District 11 as the Front Door to our City and the Region. Think about how you treat the front door or entry way to your home, you keep it beautiful, inviting, and modern. We deserve to be at the forefront of smart, sustainable economic growth, job creation, infrastructure solutions and educational achievement that serves our children and families. I have lead an educational nonprofit for the past 19 years, and after that time in education it is clear to me that we must do better for our working families. Families are struggling, with employment and the education system. As the next city councilwoman, I will continue my life’s work in being a champion for our working families to ensure they have the training necessary to compete for livable wage jobs, to support their children’s education, and to have the time and space to give back to our community through civic engagement.

We are at a crossroads for our community, for too long it has felt like things are being done to us, instead of with us.  We must have our voice heard, because it truly is “Your Voice, Our Community”!  I have outlined my priorities for the first 100 days in office and then a few long-term priorities as well.  I am accountable to the people who vote me in office, first and foremost, and I want to build community, partnerships and strong working collectives to ensure we are moving together in a strategic and measurable direction to gauge our progress.

Priorities for First 100 Days for District 11

1. Hold monthly town hall meetings;

2. Push District 11 budget priorities for infrastructure improvement;

3. Create an Interactive Development Map on my council website for existing and new development in District 11 so residents know what is happening and can comment;

4. Push small area plans with Community Planning and Development for locations of redevelopment and growth;

5. Create a Community Newsletter to improve communication and engagement in District 11.

Long-term Priorities for District 11

1. Work with Public Works, Community Planning and Development, and area developers to create a strategic workplan to address our transportation issues;

2. Champion the widening of 56th Avenue, the estimated budget for this project is $55M and we must remain diligent that it gets completed in a timely manner, including the undergrounding of the Xcel Energy power lines;

3. Work closely to build partnerships with stakeholders of the 61st and Pena development, including a full list of employment opportunities with Panasonic and other businesses so we can start the skill and education training necessary for our residents to compete for and secure these jobs;

4. Establish a workforce development center in District 11, with an emphasis on jobs leading to livable wage careers to expand our residents (youth and adult) educational and employment readiness baseline.

I am honored to have a wonderful list of endorsements including the strong support of many community members in District 11. They believe in me and my commitment to our neighborhood and I take that support very seriously. I am also honored to have been endorsed by The Denver Post recently.

Please cast your vote this week in support of my candidacy for District 11 City Council. I am number two on the ballot, but first when it comes to experience, commitment and the resolute belief that we can get what we deserve in District 11. If you would like any more information please visit my website at www.votestaciegilmore.com  or check out my Facebook page at Vote for Stacie Gilmore.