Local elections must remain nonpartisan
After the 2023 election, the League of Women Voters of Boulder County wrote a letter to the editor regarding the partisan postcard that declared a party affiliation for one of the Boulder mayoral candidates. We want to remind everyone that our municipal elections are nonpartisan, as are most city governments in the U.S. The political parties do not nominate candidates for our municipal elections.
Additionally, that postcard was funded by a national organization, the Working Families Party National PAC. We believe that our local elections should be locally funded.
So, we’re asking the candidates:
• Do you pledge to keep our municipal elections nonpartisan?
• Will you disavow any campaigning and/or funds from outside groups?
And we’re asking you, the voter to:
• Learn about the candidates.
• Attend a candidate forum & ask questions.
• And, be sure to vote.
The League of Women Voters of Boulder County is hosting candidate forums, including: a Boulder City Council Candidate Forum on September 27 at 10 a.m. in council chambers; a BVSD Board of Education Candidate Forum at 6 p.m. on October 9 at the BVSD Education Center; Longmont Mayoral and City Council Candidate Forums beginning at 10 a.m. on October 11 at Longmont Public Media; and a Lafayette City Council Candidate Forum on Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. in Lafayette City Hall. Go to lwvbc.org for more details.
If you were disgusted by the 2023 postcard, then put a reminder in your phone to show up at a candidate forum and ask questions about partisanship and outside money in nonpartisan elections.
Molly Saunders, Co-President, League of Women Voters of Boulder County
Re-elect Lauren Folkerts for Boulder City Council
Please join me in supporting the re-election of Lauren Folkerts to the Boulder City Council.
I have known Lauren since her first campaign in 2021, and I continue to be impressed by her quiet yet unshakable leadership in the face of adversity. Whether it’s expanding affordable housing, protecting Boulder from wildfire and climate-related risks or standing up for workers by raising the minimum wage, Lauren consistently holds true to her progressive values and is never afraid to take on powerful interests.
What sets Lauren apart is the way she leads — with determination, humility and integrity. She doesn’t seek the spotlight, but she gets results.
That’s why I am proudly voting for Lauren Folkerts, our mayor pro-tem, as my #1 choice for Boulder City Council on November 4.
Douglas Hamilton, Boulder
Mark Wallach is willing to make the hard decisions
Leadership in public office can be demonstrated in myriad ways, but in the context of local government, leadership means thoughtful, in-depth analysis and thorough research of every issue. It entails discarding ideologies and embracing pragmatism. Like many communities, Boulder is grappling with a precarious financial outlook, one with endless requests for resources that Boulder simply does not have, especially in light of reduced federal and state funding. Everyone wants affordable housing, but Boulder is not going to become an affordable housing mecca overnight. Addressing crime, safety and homelessness should remain our top priorities at a time of tight budgets. Boulder’s issues require thoughtful, time-tested solutions rather than experimental, pie-in-the-sky ideas that may reflect the latest soundbite but are not realistic in practice. I support pragmatic leadership on the Boulder City Council, and that’s why I’m backing Mark Wallach’s bid for a third term. Mark embodies the ideal of a thoughtful, realistic leader dedicated to preserving the best in Boulder by not reaching for the stars. Mark is willing to make the hard decisions and say “no” when a particular proposal is out of the realm of possibility for a small community like Boulder. The best leaders are the ones able to stand strong against the tide of popular but misguided ideas. Mark Wallach is such a leader.
Michael Christy, Boulder