Meet the Candidates of Colorado Springs City Council Election

Dave Donelson, District 1

1. District 1 for four years; El Paso County Board of Health, four years; Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments Board of Directors, three years; Pikes Peak Region Rural Transportation Authority vice chair, one year; Lodgers and Automobile Rental Tax Committee, three years.

2. Member Special Forces Association 4-24, board member Pikes Peak Firearms Coalition, member Korean War Veterans Association.

3. I have gained tremendous experience and want to bring that to my second term.

4. We need to eliminate costly regulations and work with the Housing & Building Association and others to understand their issues.

5. The city helps with funding the Springs Rescue Mission. If homeless people won’t accept help, our policies should result in them leaving the city.

6. The answer is a combination. We must be careful that we aren’t impacting existing neighborhoods. Annexations should be logical extensions of city boundaries.

Lee Lehmkuhl, District 1

1. Leadership positions through my career in the Air Force and defense industry and on the local and state level in suicide prevention.

2. Lethal Means Safety Work Group, chair; Steering Committee of the Suicide Prevention Collaborative of El Paso County. Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Suicide Prevention Commission, commissioner for active U.S. military and veterans.

3. I hope to help reestablish a climate of collaboration, while using data to solve challenges.

4. I want to ensure we build the housing our kids and seniors need.

5. Families deserve to know their neighborhoods and parks are safe; our business owners deserve to operate safely; and people experiencing homelessness deserve dignity.

6. We need to review each project to ensure they don’t jeopardize the safety of existing neighborhoods while monitoring our natural resources.

Tom Bailey, District 2

1. Served in the Air Force for 26 years, retiring as a colonel. As a member of the El Paso County Planning Commission (chairman for the past two years), helped develop the El Paso County Master Plan.

2. Volunteered with Parents Challenge and the Career Building Academy.

3. City Council must be able to put aside personal agendas to work together for constituents.

4. Should guide development to locations that are most appropriate for expansion and construct various housing types.

5. This requires a range of actions at all levels of government partnering with non-governmental organizations. City government’s fundamental purpose is to ensure public safety through robust law enforcement.

6. Well-planned growth through annexation is preferable to allowing others to limit our options for expansion. Many of the problems are exacerbated by unreasonable obstructions to development.

Brandy Williams, District 3

1. Former at-large member, Colorado Springs City Council.

2. Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority Citizen Advisory Committee, January 2023-present; Pikes Peak Community College President’s Advisory Council, chair, 2014-2023; Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments Transportation Advisory Committee, chair, 2016-2022; Fountain Creek Watershed Flood Control and Greenway District Technical Advisory Committee, chair, 2016-2022; and Colorado Springs Leadership Institute Selection Committee, co-chair, 2013-2016.

3. I am analytical, accountable and approachable, and I will use my experience to lead our citizens.

4. This is a supply-and-demand issue, combined with inflation. Lobbying for legislation to increase condo construction is necessary. Public/private partnerships will also help.

5. We all need to work together to reduce homelessness, using all of our resources.

6. Each project should be analyzed individually. Our free-market system is controlled by supply and demand, not government regulations.

Richard Gillit, District 3

1. Chair of the Regional Building Department.

2. Board president of Peak Education; community liaison for Elevate Cheyenne; and D12 District Accountability and Accreditation Committee member.

3. I’m running to ensure our neighborhoods remain safe; our city is affordable for young families and seniors; and that we’re maintaining streets, parks and open spaces.

4. We need to address our affordability crisis so our kids can build equity in starter homes while our parents can retire with a good quality of life. We can protect our water supply and safety while identifying housing opportunities.

5. I want to approach this topic with compassion without compromising safety.

6. We need to evaluate each housing project through its ability to create more housing for families and the impact it will place on city infrastructure, environment and people.

Kimberly Gold, District 4

1. Community Development Advisory Committee member and Military Spouse Community Coalition co-chair.

2. President and CEO of the Colorado Springs Black Chamber of Commerce, board member of the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC and of The Independence Center. Graduate of the Governor’s Fellowship, Leadership Pikes Peak and the Colorado Springs Leadership Institute.

3. As a military spouse, I’ve experienced frequent moves, shaping my passion for ensuring that every resident has a voice.

4. Issues of housing and cost of living have disproportionately impacted District 4. This can be alleviated through smart development.

5. We can compassionately work toward solutions while ensuring that our neighborhoods, parks and businesses are safe places.

6. I prefer densification over annexation, but each project should be evaluated on the facts. It’s imperative to build housing that reduces financial burdens while prioritizing safety and natural resources.

Chauncy Johnson, District 4

1. No experience.

2. Collaborated on Statewide Proposition FF in 2022 in El Paso County to help secure free meals for students. Helped spearhead a coalition to vote against 2A. Legislative aide for State Rep. Marc Snyder, D, HD-18 and as a legislative intern for the chair of the Judiciary Committee at the state level.

3. I want to serve our community while ensuring I bring new perspective about public safety, affordable housing and adequate transportation.

4. Look at innovative ways to create housing. I would also look at having the city create some revenue stream to help assist low-income people.

5. The city should create more shelter, or work with local partners. Start a department that focuses on human services or work with the county in an intergovernmental agreement.

6. I would approach it on a case-by-case basis.

Nancy Henjum, District 5

1. I am seeking a second term.

2. Past board chair of Court-Appointed Special Advocates and facilitator of the Illumination Project, fostering dialogue between police officers and residents. Champion for nonprofits including the Council of Neighborhood Organizations, PikeRide, Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region and Palmer Land Conservancy.

3. I want balanced growth that considers neighborhoods, housing, infrastructure, water resources and safety.

4. City Council’s main power is to approve development plans that increase housing.

5. The city just published its 2025 Homelessness Response Action Plan, with input from community stakeholders. Although the city is not a direct provider of housing, we collaborate with nonprofits that help people experiencing homelessness.

6. I favor “balanced growth.” Many city governments have been too restrictive of growth, which can increase prices even more. Annexations that logically extend the city are worth considering.

Cass R. Melin, District 5

1. Board member, Ridge at Sand Creek Metropolitan District.

2. I am married to a Colorado Springs native and we have five children. We enjoy being involved in our community.

3. It is possible to allow growth without losing what we love. As a former federal contract specialist, I have experience with fiscal responsibility.

4. Give incentives to developers building mixed-use and ensuring housing for low- and middle-income residents. Streamline the permitting process for small-scale infill developments where infrastructure can support growth. 

5. Train police to handle the homeless population, to include mental health and trauma training, creating mandatory connections to services for homeless people and increasing funding for supportive housing.

6. Some areas that are underdeveloped and underutilized would work for infill. There should be mixed-use requirements as well as height restrictions on infill and annexations.

Jim Miller, District 6

1. None.

2. I am a father, radio personality, small-business owner and community leader. I love to support nonprofits, churches and my neighbors.

3. I entered the political scene during the 2023 mayoral race. It became evident that those presently serving did not care about the freedoms, rights and safety of those they served.

4. Sustainable growth is possible, but only when the pace of providing infrastructure outraces the approval of developments. We can reduce property taxes, lower utility costs and reduce spending.

5. The city has provided funding to nonprofits/charities to provide services, yet they are underutilized. We must become tough on crimes these people perpetrate.

6. Longtime residents have witnessed the reduction of infill. Much of the development involves multi-family units, drastically increasing the population in some communities. Any annexation should be brought before those residents.

Aaron D. Schick, District 6

1. I’ve served as the president of various groups and nonprofit fundraisers, but I contend having little experience is an asset. If elected, I will execute my constituents’ will.

2. Toastmasters Club, Jack Quinn’s Running Club, New Life Downtown, Woodmen Valley Chapel, Colorado Springs Young Professionals and The Gazette’s Empty Stocking Fund.

3. Constituents don’t feel heard about land use, crime prevention, water supply, proper growth and education quality.

4. Corrupt housing manufacturers are likely to blame. A few people shouldn’t get richer at the expense of the middle class.

5. Expanding affordable housing options, outreach programs and supportive services, collaborating with businesses to provide employment and implementing initiatives to prevent homelessness.

6. Each project City Council approves chips away at what makes this town great. We must find a way to balance growth with preserving our expansive qualities.

Roland Rainey Jr., District 6

1. Commissioner, 4th Judicial District Nominating Commission.

2. Chair, Pikes Peak Area Council of Government Community Advisory Committee; School Board of Directors, Banning Lewis Academy; former vice president, El Paso County Citizen Outreach Group and of Colorado Springs World Affairs Council.

3. More than 30 years of leading business, military and aerospace organizations. A decorated combat veteran, I’ve managed Department of Defense security assets worth than $6 billion.

4. The free market must supply affordable housing with little government interference. Department of Housing and Urban Development programs help low-income households.

5. We expect our understaffed Police Department to eradicate homelessness, but homeless people just move to another location. I would support a task-force effort from multiple agencies.

6. New buildings in urban areas reduce costs for increased infrastructure and support operations. Constructing buildings to replace empty lots raises land value and reduces blight.

Parth Melpakam, District 6

1. Elected in 2019 and 2023 to School District 11 Board of Education; 2019-2021, D11 School Board treasurer; 2021-present, D11 School Board president. Colorado Springs Urban Renewal Authority commissioner.

2. Leadership roles on D11 Budget Subcommittee, Accreditation Subcommittee and District Accountability Committee.

3. I am an engineer with more than 25 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. I will advocate for a budget focused on providing core essential services and eliminating inefficiencies.

4. Infill development can be cost-effective by utilizing existing infrastructure. I will advocate against costly regulatory hurdles and government overreach.

5. Working with community partners, emphasis should be on job training, housing assistance, life skills development and access to rehabilitation. To ensure safe access to downtown businesses and public buildings, I support the “sit-lie” ordinance.

6. A combination of meticulously reviewed infill and annexations can support market demands.