CANDIDATE PROFILES: The race for Ward III
As in Ward II, two candidates are seeking the Ward III City Council seat, pitting the seat’s incumbent — who was appointed earlier this year to fill a vacancy — against a challenger. Let’s look at the Ward III hopefuls in the order in which they appear on the fall ballot.
RENÉE CHACON
Chacon is a novice on council but a longtime activist in the environmental movement. Appointed in January to fill the remaining months in the term of former council member Rick Davis, who resigned in December, Chacon is an outspoken critic of Commerce City’s Suncor refinery and an advocate of “climate justice.” The five-year resident of Commerce City is executive director of a group called Womxn from the Mountain, which has crusaded against the refinery and describes itself on its website as, an “Inclusive group open to women of all colors and backgrounds, including those that identify as women and the feminine identity.”
Chacon’s campaign website touts a platform that is similarly focused on “environmental justice” and “prioritizing equity.” While her platform doesn’t discuss bread-and-butter topics conventionally addressed by her Ward III rival as well as other council candidates on this fall’s ballot — issues like transportation or public safety — her campaign website does elaborate on her concerns about climate change as well as race:
“We need transformative leaders who are trauma sensitive to insidious forms of systemic violence to be good living ancestors to protect communities and our connection to our biosphere. We all need to have the courage and humility to recognize the reality harming us all now. As an Environmental Justice Action Task Force Member, an urban Indigenous community member, and mother, I am ready to do the work with you to finally represent and bring health-care access and safety that is long overdue for the residents of Commerce City.”
RICH TRUJILLO
Write-in challenger Trujillo says he didn’t resolve on a run for the Ward III seat until after the filing deadline to get on the ballot. But as noted on City Hall’s elections webpage, voters still will have a chance to cast a ballot for Trujillo by writing his name onto their ballots. The Class A, end-dump-truck driver and his wife have raised three children together in Commerce City, where they have lived the past 15 years.
Despite Trujillo’s late entry into the race, his campaign website offers voters an extensive platform on the top issues facing the city.
Public safety: “…I support our law enforcement and first responder community, and I’m committed to making a difference to improve response times and lower crime rates, as well as fostering a positive relationship between the community and law enforcement,” he states on his website.
Roads and infrastructure: “This mayor and council have done a poor job addressing the critical infrastructure work that needs to be done now by rejecting several proposals to complete roadwork, water lines, and other infrastructure improvements leaving it for future taxpayers. It is important to make sure our budget is adequate to meet our infrastructure needs,” the website says.
Economic development: “…the mayor and City Council have rejected numerous proposals to bring more restaurants, retail and entertainment while also making licensing and development harder. I will work closely with the Chamber and other key organizations outside the city to proactively promote Commerce City and dedicated efforts towards more and better amenities.”
Visit his campaign website to read his full platform.