Four Candidates For A Single Seat
by Mark Smiley
The Denver municipal election is set for May 7, 2019, and City Council District 5 promises to be a close race with incumbent Mary Beth Susman vulnerable to defeat or perhaps a run-off election which would be slated for June 4, 2019. A run-off would occur if no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote. In that case, the top two vote getters would go head-to-head in the June 4th election.
Leading Contender: Amanda Sawyer, who many feel has the best chance of defeating the incumbent, has gained ground with a campaign that speaks about common sense and a rational approach to development within the city.
Incumbent Susman has a reputation in Denver for being a proponent of high-density development even in quiet residential neighborhoods. As a result of her negative reputation she has garnered three opponents for the District 5 seat. District 5 includes the neighborhoods of Hilltop, Crestmoor, Mayfair, Lowry, Windsor, Washington Virginia Vale, Hale and Montclair.
One candidate who is apparently gaining ground and hoping to defeat Susman on May 7 or at least June 4, is Amanda Sawyer. Sawyer’s message is resonating with voters and experts say she has a legitimate shot to upset the incumbent Susman. Susman has $106,000 in her war chest while Sawyer has approximately $75,000.
Also in the hunt for the District 5 seat are Michele Fry and Steve Replin. Fry, a lifelong Mayfair resident, also has attracted supporters with her experience in government and close ties to the community. She has raised $24,000 to date.
Dark Horse: Steve Replin is running for city council in District 5 and has proposed a moratorium on all building projects for two years. Replin is seen as a dark horse candidate but Denver residents remember that John Hickenlooper was considered a long shot when he ran for Mayor in 2003.
Hopeful Opponent: Michele Fry, a lifelong Mayfair resident, hopes to defeat Mary Beth Susman in the upcoming May 7 election.
Replin, although a dark horse candidate, has proposed a two-year moratorium on building anything within the city. To date, Replin has not yet reported any outside contributions to his campaign.
District 5 is known for activists fighting inappropriate development and, in at least one case, they were victorious. The proposed Green Flats project on Holly Street, which this newspaper covered extensively, was defeated by neighborhood groups even though Councilperson Susman tried to force the development on the neighborhood.
The Green Flats project is what prompted Sawyer’s interest to run for the District 5 seat. She has been vocal about development in her district and is unafraid to ask the tough questions of developers. She recognizes that development will happen in Denver, but she wants a more thoughtful approach and protection of the character of the neighborhoods.
As Denver voters are grappling with this decision in District 5, a candidate forum is scheduled to help them make an informed decision. The Cranmer Park/Hilltop Civic Association and Bellevue-Hale Neighborhood Association will co-host a forum on Tuesday, April 16, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. for the candidates seeking the District 5 Denver City Council seat: Michele Fry, Steve Replin, Amanda Sawyer and Mary Beth Susman.
Additionally, there will be information and presentations on ballot initiatives. Specifically, they have invited the supporting and opposing organizations for Initiative 300, The Right To Survive, to present their positions an take questions.
Unpopular Incumbent: Mary Beth Susman, whose popularity has plummeted, is fighting for her political life and faces three strong candidates in the municipal election set for May 7, 2019.
The forum will be held at Hill Campus of Arts and Sciences located at 451 Clermont Street in Denver. For more information on the candidates, visit their websites at: sawyerfordenvercitycouncil.org, www.fry for5.com, www.replinforcouncil.com, and www.susmanfordistrict5.com.