AURORA | A Democratic Party vacancy committee will decide Monday night who next will serve out a four-year term for south Aurora’s Senate District 29 seat.
Aurora activist and business owner Maya Wheeler announced two weeks ago she’s running for the pending state Senate vacancy in the Democratic contest.
She joins House District 36 Rep. Iman Jodeh in a vacancy-committee race for the seat of state Sen. Janet Buckner, who announced just after her Nov. 5 re-election she would step down.
The vacancy committee meeting and election is open to the public and is scheduled to be run virtually via Zoom on a YouTube Channel. A livestream public forum between the two contenders is slated for 6:15 p.m. with an election at 7:15pm. Click here to watch.
“Through my work with the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange and Aurora Health Alliance, I have championed affordable healthcare access for all Coloradans, and I will continue to fight for policies that create a brighter, more equitable future for our communities,” Wheeler said in a statement.
Wheeler was formerly chairperson of the Aurora Human Relations Commission and previously a candidate for Aurora City Council and House District 41.
She is past chairperson of the African American Initiative of the Colorado Democratic Party and Board, the Colorado Black Leadership Coalition, and Good Shepherd Organization.
She has been a healthcare equity activist for several years, most recently with the Aurora Health Alliance.
Wheeler also founded and leads the Wezesha Dada Center, which focuses on providing racial minority women and youth with education and career resources.
Jodeh is a lifelong Auroran and daughter of Palestinian immigrants who has spent her career advocating for the rights of people who, like her parents, came to the U.S. seeking better, safer lives.
If elected, Jodeh’s House District seat vacancy would set off another race among Democrats in the region.
The progressive Democrat leads programs building relationships with and cultural understanding of Middle Easterners. She serves as a community advocate for the Interfaith Alliance of Colorado. And, as co-founder of the Colorado Muslim Leadership Council and spokesperson for the Colorado Muslim Society, she has fought Islamophobia and racism.
The first day of the 2025 Colorado legislative session is Jan. 8.
Buckner’s abrupt resignation has resulted in a flurry of concern among both Democrat and Republican party officials. Both parties have called for changes in election law and requirements for special elections, in an effort for one party to hand over the seat to another party member without voter input.
Denver state Sen. Chris Hansen also won re-election to his Denver state Senate seat and announced, abruptly after victory, that he would resign and move to the Western slope for a job, according to CPR and other reports.
“The growing number of senators and representatives of both parties serving in office as a result of vacancy committee selections and not traditional elections should concern every Coloradan, and it certainly concerns me,” Democratic Party Chairperson Shad Murib said in a statement.
Is Tim Hernadez next? Or Juan Marcano? Or Brian Lindstrom? Or?
Pretty obvious how the Democratic Party is planning the future and leaving the voting citizens voice out with no vote at all. I suppose this will be talked about in the future. Not a good legacy for Mrs. Buckner.
How about a Sentinel Blog editorial on how to get State Legislature’s in without an election?
She’s well into her 70s, Dick. She’s can make her own decisions and seems to be okay with her legacy. She and her husband have done far more for Aurora that your online pouting will ever do.
Also, legislators—individuals—serve in legislatures. Keep up.
It always smells fishy when the voters don’t get a chance to elect their representatives. I feel like if we can’t elect a replacement during a term, then the position should remain vacant until the next eligible election. I would never trust politicians to select their peers, regardless of the party (I don’t trust politicians anyway).
I don’t disagree that there’s a better way to do this—people should have a say in their representation. But these are the procedures until we change the laws. And it’s not politicians choosing their peers—it’s precinct committees through the parties that choose. Anyone can and should get involved if they want to have a say in these matters.
Karen, do you know me? How do you know what I have or have not done for the City of Aurora? Anyway, she was well into her 70’s before she allowed herself to be on the ballot then to give up her position to a Democratic Committee. It’s obvious to most that this was a scam by the Democrats to select their legislator and bypass a vote of the people. That’s the point. A short time in the future will tell about her legacy. I’ll wait and see. So will you.
I’m not sure that “pouting” is the word that describes my commenting. I’d assume, to you and your ilk maybe “outrageously incorrect” would be more proper. I’ve been trying for months to not comment so much but when a commenter attacks me personally rather than what I have to say, then all is fair and I will then feel free to be personal myself.
I’m always interested in names that people use in the Sentinel Blog comments. Is your real first name Karen or could it be that you are using it to describe yourself?
And finally your correction of my choice of words, shows me, that you too, have a college education and how foolish of me to not have caught my own mistake. I’ll do better to keep up in the future and will look forward to every one of your comments. I’ll put “pouting” in each of them.
Squeeze out every last word you can, Dick. Whatever makes you feel better. Let the fragility and rage flow. I know you well enough, ensconced in your little pocket of South Aurora, behind a keyboard just waiting to yell at all us virtual kids to get off your lawn.