Aurora lawmakers narrow list of 34 city council vacancy applicants to 3

AURORA | Aurora City Council chose three finalists from among 34 applicants to fill a vacant at-large council seat following the resignation of Councilmember Dustin Zvonek on Oct. 31.

Zvonek stepped down citing family concerns and his new role at a political lobbying firm. The council is expected to name his replacement in December, with the appointee serving the remainder of Zvonek’s term, which ends next fall.

The finalists, who will be interviewed Dec. 2, bring diverse professional backgrounds and civic engagement experience to the table. Here’s a closer look at the contenders:

Danielle Lammon:  Republican from 80016. She is the CEO of Buddy Publishing and the agency owner of Danielle Shannon Insurance Agency. She has a BA in Biology and Psychology at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Lammon serves on the BPF Imagination Library Aurora, Imagination Library Colorado, Spina Bifida Association of Colorado and CIPA Education and Literacy Foundation. In her application, she said she is committed to enhancing public safety through supporting police and fire departments. She also said she comprehensively understands the city’s budget from serving five years on the Citizens’ Advisory Budget Committee. Two notable references are Mordecai Brownlee, the president of Community College Aurora and Naomi Colwell, the president and CEO of Aurora Chamber of Commerce.

Amsalu Kassaw:  Republican from 80016, is a lieutenant at Geo Group INC. for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He is also the public relations director for the Ethiopian American Civic Council and was selected as Aurora’s 2024 Community Spirit Service Award recipient. Kassaw said he is a community organizer, human rights advocate and public servant. He said he volunteers for community grassroots services and believes public service is essential for the city to serve the people he cares about. Two notable references are Priscilla Rahn, a teacher for Denver Public Schools who ran for Douglas County Commissioner, and Hanna Bogale, an Ethiopian-American entrepreneur who ran for Aurora City Council.

Jonathan McMillan: Unaffiliated from 80011, is the director of firearm-related harm and violence prevention at Trailhead Institute. He previously worked as the director of Gun Violence Prevention for the State of Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment. Before that, he was the director of youth violence prevention for the City and County of Denver, Office Of Children’s Affairs. He serves on the State of Colorado Justice Assistance Grant Board, the Denver Crime Prevention and Control Commission and the Denver District Attorney’s Community Advisory Board. Two references were previous Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and current Denver Mayor Mike Johnston.

Applicants not chosen to be interviewed were:

Abigail Tandoh: Democrat, Tandoh is the hiring manager for Underground Utility Location and Damage Prevention. She has a BA in Human Resources and more than nine years of experience in sales, banking and recruiting. She has also run her own non-profit and event center businesses and is a motivational speaker and a lead pastor at Total Gospel Outreach Ministry.

Barbara Trudgian: Unaffiliated, 80013, Is retired but has more than 20 years of experience in customer service, client relations, loan processing and government document verification. Her training in sales, fingerprinting and financial software adds to her background in claims, loan underwriting, travel coordination and office management.

Carol Johnson:  political affiliation unclear , 80014, Was appointed to the Civic Engagement Commission for Aurora. She also serves on the Auorra Library Board of Trustees. Currently, she is retired and self-employed, handling fiduciary services, major and gift planning and legal contracts. Licenced to practice law in Colorado and Ohio. She received a Juris Doctor from Denver University Law School.

Debi Hunter Holen: Democrat, 80011—is a former at-large member of the Aurora City Council in Colorado from 2011 to 2015. She is also the executive director of the Colorado School and Public Employees Retirement Association. She serves on the High Line Canal Conservancy and Aurora Sister Cities International. 

Edwin Gaffney:  Republican, 80014, is a community and government leadership consultant, previous airline flight attendant, and teacher. 

Eliseo Gonzalez:  Libertarian, 80017-ran for County Commissioner Arapahoe County District 5 Aurora. He attended the Community College of Aurora and earned a bachelor’s degree from Fort Hays State University. His career experience includes working as a public relations professional. 

Eric Mulder:  Colorado Forward Party, 80017 –  Ran for House of Representatives for District 6. He is a security officer for Triple Canopy. He served in the United States Army from 2010 to 2016 and earned a bachelor’s degree from Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design. 

Gregory Brewer: Unaffiliated, 80012, has been a firefighter for 20 years for the Denver Fire Department and a communications specialist for Colorado Urban Search and Rescue Task Force One since 2015. He has an MS in electrical engineering from UCLA.

Idris Keith: Democrat, 80013. Keith ran for Senate in District 28 this year. He previously served on the Aurora Citizens’ Advisory Budget Committee, ran for Arapahoe County commissioner in 2020 and Aurora City Council in 202. Keith is also a senior staff lawyer for Pinnacol Assurance.

Javier Chavez:  Democrat, 80010, Currently working as a committee member for the City of Aurora Advisory Committee on Housing and Community Development and vice chair of the Board of Adjustments and Appeals. Chavez is also a Senior Planner for the State of Colorado’s Department of Personnel Administration.

Jeanette Troncoso: Democrat, 80016, is a marriage and family therapist. She has a bachelor’s and master’s in Psychology with an emphasis on Child, Marriage and Family from the California State University of Northridge. She is also a child and family investigator and contractor investigating custody cases. She is a Metropolitan Denver Interdisciplinary Committee Board member.

Jeff Brown: Unable to determine affiliation, 80016, is a project controller for Lawrence Construction and previously worked as the assistant vice president, project manager and consultant for WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff, now WSP USA. Brown overcame a stroke and used civic engagement in Aurora to help with his recovery.

Jessica Giammalvo: Unaffiliated, 80013, ran for Aurora City Council in Ward II in 2021. She is a veteran of the Army with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics and a Master of Science degree in Computer Science. She is also a software systems engineer and the owner of a software product for a defense contracting company. 

Johnny Watson:  Republican, 80016, is an appointed member of the Aurora Urban Renewal Authority and the Northwest Aurora Community Planning and Development working group. He was a former Aurora City Council At-Large Member and an Aurora Planning Commissioner.

Jon Yacovetta:  Democrat, 80014, is the co-owner, management broker and mentorship director for Guide Real Estate. He previously worked as a college and career counselor and an English and Spanish teacher for Venture Prep High School in Denver.

Joseph DiBiasio:  Libertarian, 80016, is the president of D&M Property Investments, a small property development and investment firm. He was also the executive vice president of Cobalt Services Group. He is also the vice president of the Whispering Pines Metropolitan District 1.  

Khalid Mhareb:  Unaffiliated, 80012, is an audit and assurance staff member for Deloitte & Touche. He previously worked as a staff accountant at Optimal Home Care. He is a Muslim-American and wanted to be the first on Aurora City Council. He went to Overland High School and is a guest columnist for the Sentinel. 

Kristof Knuppel:  Unaffiliated, 80012, has no previous employment “due to being independent through inheritance.”

Lisa Tran: Unaffiliated, 80013, is the brand ambassador for Trusted Herd, a self-owned company. She has a bachelor’s in International Studies from the University of Colorado Denver. Her application said she was a council member in primary school and lobbied in Washington, D.C.

Matthew Snider: Colorado Center Party, 10016, serves on the Aurora Civil Service Commission, the Cherry Creek School District and the Lone Range Planning Committee. He works as an IT director for Mintz Law Firm LLC.

Michel Essien:  Unaffiliated, 80011, is a New York Life Insurance Company financial professional. He has an MBA in finance from the University of Colorado Denver and a BS in Biomedical Diagnostics from ASU College of Health Solutions.

Mike Senich:  Party affiliation unclear, 80016, is a National Strategist for Majority Strategies. He received a BA in Political Science from Ohio State University and an MBA from Miami University. He serves on the Citizens Advisory Budget Committee for Aurora City Council. 

Perry Jowsey:  Unaffiliated, 80013, is an executive director for the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation. He got a Masters of Communication from the University at Buffalo. He has more than two decades of management experience, and he served on the Golf Advisory Committee. 

Reno Carollo:  Democrat, 80014, is a principal artist and owner of his gallery. He’s served 11 years on the Citizens Budget Advisory Commission and seven years on the Art in Public Places Commission. 

Rob McGregor:  Republican, 80016, is the investigations and professional standards police commander for the CU Anschutz Police Department and used to be a division chief for the city of Aurora. He has a BS in criminology from the University of North Texas and an MA in political science from the University of Colorado. He is also a member of the Aurora Rotary.  

Shahadah Iman:  Democrat, 80015, Cosmetology Specialist at Amallah Beauty and Beyond LLC. She has a bachelors in criminal justice and social sciences. 

Shannon Donnelly:  Democrat, 80010, is the executive director for The Center for Social Equity Support a 501(c)3 and a part-time professor of Cannabis Hospitality at Metropolitan State University of Denver. She serves on Expunge Colorado, MSU Denver’s Advisory Board and The Center for Social Equity Support’s Board of Directors

Shauna Medeiros Tuilaepa: Democrat 80013, is the owner of No Ke Aloha Inc., a restaurant and caterer specializing in Polynesian Cuisine, established in 2015. She received her Bachelor’s in Fine Arts and a minor in marketing from Denver University. 

Shawn Sikkema:  Unaffiliated, 80010, is the founder and former executive director for Jesus on Colfax Ministries. He has 40 years of leadership and ministry experience. 

Sonda “Sonny” Banka: Unaffiliated, 80013, Broker/Owner/Realtor at Sunny Homes & Associates, Inc. and Studied at Arapahoe Community College. She serves on the Citizens’ Budget Advisory Committee and is an Aurora Planning Commissioner. 

Suzanne Koehler:  Unaffiliated, 80014, is a Right at Home In-Home Care caregiver. She graduated from Smoky Hill High School. She was a long-term substitute teacher for Strive Prep Schools and a special education lead teacher for DSST Montview Middle School.