Aurora Councilwoman Molly Markert at a Sister Cities function. Markert has announced she'll run for Aurora mayor in the 2015 election

AURORA | Longtime Ward IV Aurora Councilwoman Molly Markert, who is term limited for her city council seat,  said she no longer  plans to run for mayor against incumbent Steve Hogan.

“When I run, I want to do it on my own terms,” she said. Markert said she worried her campaign would be too closely tied to criticism surrounding City Manager Skip Noe. “I don’t want to run against Skip. I need more time to structure what I’m for. I need to spend time outside of Ward IV. I’ve been so focused on my ward, there’s stuff I would want to get up to speed for.”

When Markert initially filed for candidacy in April, she linked the move to the controversy over unhappiness with the city manager, where five city councilwoman failed to push forward a vote of no confidence against Noe.

She told the Aurora Sentinel in May she planned to make how the city is run a large part of her campaign.

She said though she is not running for a political office right now, she is interested in exploring the possibilities.

“I might run for county commissioner, I might run for mayor,” she said of future plans.

For now, she said she looks forward to focusing more attention on her full-time job as a contract manager with the healthcare nonprofit Colorado Access.

“I have a family I love to spend time with. A garden, a house, a life,” she added. “I bought the biography of  the woman who wrote all of the Nancy Drew books. My goal is to get that read by Christmas.”

Last week, Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan announced his bid for re-election at the site of a future RTD Aurora light rail station. He said his campaign would be similar to the one he launched four years ago, and he would continue to focus on encouraging economic development in Aurora.

Aurora resident Jerry Furman has also filed for candidacy for Mayor.

Five of 10 council seats are open, with two incumbents leaving after serving the maximum three terms. Three are for ward seats, and two are for at-large seats.

Several Aurora residents have already filed for candidacy in the November 2015 municipal election.

Arnie Schultz, who serves on the city’s Parks and Recreation Board and is seeking Markert’s Ward IV seat against former City Attorney Charlie Richardson.

Three residents in Ward VI — Francoise Bergen, PK Kaiser and Brian Arnold — have filed to run for the seat being vacated by term-limited Bob Broom.

Current at-large council members Debi Hunter Holen and Bob LeGare are seeking re-election, while Angela Lawson is also vying for one of the two at-large seats.

To make the ballot, mayoral and at-large candidates must file petitions signed by at least 100 voters. Ward candidates are required to file petitions signed by a minimum of 50 voters. The last day to file petitions is Aug. 25.

15 replies on “Longtime Aurora councilwoman Markert pulls out of Aurora mayoral race”

    1. Sorry to hear that Molly won’t be running. She’s worked long and hard for
      all of her constituents, as well as those not in her Ward.
      Happy to hear that she’s going to kick back and enjoy life. She deserves
      it.

  2. I think Markert’s private, informal polling suggested she didn’t have a chance to unseat Hogan.

    1. Say what? My informal polling shows she is a WINNER. Besides having the backing of Ward IV, just as she has had our backs, voters in other areas have heard her responsible, reasonable questions and comments at Council Meetings, in study sessions, and in policy committee meetings. Have you ever seen Molly Markert admonish a child for speaking up in Council meeting? No! Oh that’s Mayor Hogan. Has she ever voted on an issue in which she has a vested interest? No! Oh that’s Mayor Hogan. … In my polling, Molly Markert is a WINNER.

    1. Molly Market is quite the opposite of a fascist. Fascists are closed-minded, dictatorial, irrational and anti-critical thinking. But Molly Markert, on the other hand, has always made opportunities for everyone, including those with differing opinions, to speak out at her Ward IV meetings. Via Ward meetings, email, phone, and in-person, Molly Markert is not a dictator whatsoever; she has always made opportunities to hear what her constituents have to say and what their needs are; and then she responds, as seen in her newsletters, etc. Molly Market is a critical thinker; and what’s more, she encourages critical thinking by her constituents as she so often has speakers at Ward meetings on the topics that constituents ask for and that news in Aurora. But yes, she makes her meetings fun and flavorful too. —————— So Aldo, it seems you do not know the definition of fascist and yet chose to use it; kinda describes you as irrational, perhaps a fascist yourself?

        1. Yes, people can watch Council meetings and study sessions on youtube, as well as TV channel 8. You can also attend those in person! Just as you can go in person to policy committee meetings and Ward meetings.

          1. Adjust your meds. You seem unable to comprehend a comment. Go to youtube and watch the council meetings referenced in the news article I linked. There was no incident. Rights were taken away based on irrational feelings.

        2. The Denver Post article states that there were no incidents during Aurora Council meetings of Feb 2 and March 16, 2015, with regard to people openly carrying guns. So that would cover any off-screen happenings too.
          Even in a current atmosphere of regular threats to politicians, in a room with lots of people and where votes are decided on issues that affect our lives, I gather that you, Aldo, are comfortable with people openly carrying guns. You are entitled to your opinion.

  6. Perhaps this is a good time for a pause in political life for Molly personally, but I for one will miss Molly Markert being on Aurora City Council. I would like to see Molly Markert as Mayor of Aurora.

    Will anyone else step up? It’s time for Steve Hogan to go! He votes on issues in which he has a vested interest, can be dismissive of children, rude to adults, and also travels for no real purpose for citizens, etc.

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