AURORA | Aurora city council candidates began gathering signatures Aug. 7 ahead of this November’s election.
Candidates for the two at-large Aurora City Council seats need 100 signatures to get on the ballot; candidates for ward council members need 50 signatures. They have until Aug. 27 to get the signatures.
There’s a crowded field of candidates for the two at-large council positions: Brad Pierce, PK Kaiser, Maya Wheeler, Barb Cleland, Angela Lawson and Matt Cook.
Pierce was elected to council in 2003, lost his re-election bid in 2011 to Councilwoman Debi Hunter Holen, and was appointed to council as a replacement in April 2012. Pierce is the owner of Aurora-based Bradley Pierce Legal Services.
Kaiser has lived in Aurora for the past 10 years and emigrated from Pakistan. He is an accounting technician. In 2011, he ran for council’s Ward VI position, which currently belongs to Councilman Bob Broom.
Wheeler works as a community outreach liaison for Denver-based Forest St. Compassionate Care Center, and helps families navigate the health care system.
Councilwoman Barb Cleland served as Ward V council member from 1983 to 2003. She’s the director of community relations and legislative issues for Aurora Mental Health.
Lawson has lived in Aurora for 12 years and oversees the lobbyist registration program for the Colorado Secretary of State’s office.
Cook has lived in Aurora for more than 40 years and is a former Aurora Public Schools board president.
In Ward I, Councilwoman Sally Mounier is vying to keep her seat against Eric Busch. Mounier was appointed to council last year, has lived in Aurora for almost 40 years and works for RE/MAX Southeast, a Denver-based brokerage.
Busch has lived in Aurora for seven years and is married to state Rep. Jenise May, D-Aurora. He’s a child welfare specialist for the Department of Health and Human Services.
In Ward II, Councilwoman Renie Peterson is running for re-election against two opponents: William Given and Bernard Celestin. Peterson was elected to council in 2008, and worked for Aurora Public Schools as a family advocate.
Given did not return calls for comment and the city clerk’s office has no information about him.
Celestin has been a member of Aurora’s Civil Service Commission for four years. He is a U.S. Army veteran and a bus driver for the Regional Transportation District.
In Ward III, Councilwoman Marsha Berzins is running for re-election against Chris Gutierrez. Berzins works part-time for an electrical contracting company and was previously a human resource manager and worked in airline customer service.
Gutierrez moved to Aurora 3 years ago from California and works in finance at the University of the Rockies.
Reach reporter Sara Castellanos at 720-449-9036 or sara@aurorasentinel.com.
AND WHATEVER YOU DO……IF YOU WANT MORE REGULATIONS….MORE TAXES….PEOPLE TELLING THEY KNOW WHAT’S BEST FOR YOU…..LESS FREEDOM……LESS MONEY….BIG BROTHER UP YOUR A$$….JUST KEEP VOTING DEMOCRAT.
Mr. Clark, municipal elections are non-partisan – not only in Aurora but everywhere in Colorado, as required by the state Constitution.
let me make it clear to the uneducated…..i’m stating a opinion that if you elect “individuals” that are democrat voters whether your running for city council or scrubbing toilets in a homeless shelter you have a politcal party….so take your so called non-partisan and put it where the sun don’t shine……your telling me these people running for city council don’t vote for a particuler party? sure they do and that affects their decisions and thoughts….boy i get tired of explaining things to the stupid.
And if you want more people like Richard, vote GOP.
Pushy, big mouth know it alls who love to break everyone apart, criticize and state facts based on opinion,
You can blame the democrats if it makes you feel better about yourself, I think you need to feel better about yourself.
Stop being scared of everything Rich. It will be ok. Your mommy loves you and thinks you are cool.
BTW,,.,how is that Dubya tattoo treating you?
Big talk for a coward hiding behind a computer.
The best I can tell, you are a 7 year old girl who has hacked into your mommy’s account.
Are you not getting enough attention at home? Maybe if you did your chores mommy will love you again.
Every time you post, the world is a little dumber. I love how you call everyone uneducated, yet spout ignorant nonsense, lies, half truths and grammatically painful insults at anyone who does not goose-step to your orders.
Hopefully whatever disability you have is covered, because you need mental help, a dictionary and a thesaurus. Get some new material.
Sorry my long post took some of your coloring time. Better get off the computer and take your nap time.
If you are in fact a grown man, perhaps we can meet for a drink sometime? Or are you scared – coward?
A coward? listen you butt licking welfare pimp….i’m 6′-3 i’m 64 yrs old…i can bench press 335lbs i played with the green bay packers
late 60s and early 70’s and i could kick you A$$ along with your alcoholic father and prostitute mother any day….so shut your wefare toilet turd mouth maggot.
You think so. At 64 I am betting my 9 year old daughter would school you physically and mentally. Here is some help, so you can change up your material – maggot = worm, larva, slug, etc. Try switching it up a bit. Say what you will about my mother, at least she earns a paycheck. Yours was just a scabby wh0re. Just because she did the Packers team, it doesn’t make you a Packer.
Welfare? Is that all you have? Looks to me like you sit on your large (very) butt all day and criticize people based on some pent up hatred of people who actually have friends, Some of us work and don’t have time to spend all day vomiting up what they heard on Fox News for others to laugh at. You are a big fat joke.
Greed, hate and spite are no way to live your life. And yes, cowardice oozes from you.
I am 6’2 180 and will put you in a coma big boy – guaranteed. Fact- number one weapon is battle is the brain – and you are lacking severely.
Talk to you soon, buddy.
lol……go ahead….make my day.,….funny boy…!!
Well this is certainly an informed and rational discussion!
Ward 1 Will stick with Sally Mounier. I was favorably impressed when I met her for long chat, when she campaigned for State office, and this year has lived up to my comments of her at time she was selected. Never met Mr. Busch, but do not feel he would be true representative for me, as a Senior, and Retired Military. I know most of those on council, and agree with their selection last year to fill that slot. Bought home in Aurora in 1963, when only about 3,000 lived here, and even though I was away in service, I was aware of changes during that period and moved back in 1977 after retirement to home. Hope Grywolf20 and Old Auroran are still around and still see these comments (Re: Council appoints Sally~~~~) 4 Oct 2012 Also need more like her at State legislators positions.
Don’t know who Richard Clark is, but Green Bay Packers don’t list anyone by that name in period he listed. Had 4 Clarks, but in the 1980s era. And I don’t think he is the one who was in Washington in Clinton Administration, as security advisor. Anyway, hopefully we won’t get too many more carpet baggers from Denver to Aurora, running for office. I resented paying Denver Head Tax, when I worked at Samsonite, after retiring in 1976 from military. By time I paid income tax, State tax, County tax, employer paid unemployment tax for my services, my take home pay was severely reduced with no children living at home by then. Gave my notice because working 7 days a week, 10-12 hours a day as Journeyman Electrician was sapping my health, and affecting my personality. Must be the reason I have a problem with “tax and spend” candidates, regardless of party.