CANDIDATE PROFILES: The race for Ward IV
Two candidates are seeking the Ward IV seat on City Council on this fall’s ballot — the seat’s incumbent and a challenger, who drew the top ballot line in the race. Let’s look at the Ward IV contenders in the order in which they appear on the ballot.
DAVID DIOP
Diop is a professional chef and business owner who is new to local politics and says he wants to bring the council a “fresh new perspective.” He describes himself on his campaign website as a devoted husband and dad who offers, “common sense and sensible ideas that will ensure Commerce City meets the demands of its residents and continues to be one of the fastest growing cites in Colorado.” He also states he will “bring solutions to the real issues facing our community,” and that, “others have promised and have not delivered.”
“I have no hidden personal agenda, and I do not support the interest of any particular industry,” he says. “I will offer solutions that bring growth and opportunity for our community. I have made a long-term investment as a Reunion homeowner in Ward IV, and my goal is to prioritize important decisions that improve our amazing city for everyone.”
His campaign platform includes three planks:
Community: Diop will, “make sure the Metro District works to the advantage of Ward IV by considering sensible future expansion decisions that protect the investment of homeowners and develop our community in the most reasonable way.”
Business: Diop says he will prioritize bringing businesses to Commerce City. “North Commerce City, especially Ward IV, lacks chain and family-owned restaurants, retail stores, and other types of small businesses,” he says on his website. “The lack of businesses in the area is one of Ward IV’s biggest issues and this forces residents to drive to other areas for goods and services.”
Education: Diop serves on the Emily Griffith Technical College Culinary Arts Advisory Board and regards himself as a big booster of education. “I support adequate funding for schools, to include competitive salaries for teachers and funding for sports, music, and physical education programs,” he says. He also wants, “sensible decisions that attract and keep educators in Commerce City schools.”
SUSAN NOBLE
Retiree and incumbent Noble is seeking her second term on the council in the Ward IV seat. She has established herself in her first term as an advocate for the environment, including clean water and air, and as a critic of Colorado’s oil and gas industry.
Her campaign website posted in her profile on City Hall’s elections webpage doesn’t appear to be active yet, but her profile on the city’s site offers some insights into her reelection platform.
As an environmental advocate she touts, “a sustainability plan” and says the council is “headed toward implementation of xeriscaping throughout Commerce City.” She is a foe of self-taxing metro districts and states in her profile, “After years of discussion, the City Council unanimously approved my motion to hold a metro district workshop to enlist ideas that rein in abusive practices and to hear alternatives to the metro district concept. Now that the workshop has been held, a city council will determine the future of metro districts in Commerce City.”
Noble, who is 72, supports a second senior center, more retail development, and a “walkable central hub” for Commerce City.
She contends the city’s greatest challenges are “diversification of city revenues and the economy,” growth, and “community members’ health and well-being.”
“With the recent high property valuations, the city needs to help find ways to keep residents on the edge in their homes,” she says on the city’s webpage. “We also need to use our position to demand responsible agencies ensure that toxic industries not endanger the health, safety and welfare of our residents.”