Better Boulder is endorsing Aaron Brockett, Benita Duran, Rachel Friend, Junie Joseph, Mark McIntyre and Bob Yates for Boulder City Council.
“We believe well-designed density and sustainable urbanism will ensure Boulder evolves into a more inclusive, leading- edge city with a smaller environmental footprint and a more dynamic culture. Our organization is fueled by ideas and input from a wide and diverse representation of our community who are committed to implementing a vision for how our city can progress in a livable, vibrant and connected way. These endorsements reflect that vision.” Sue Prant-Chair Better Boulder
Aaron Brockett is an incumbent running for re-election…We applaud Aaron’s focus on inclusivity for families and younger people, social justice and support services, advancing affordable housing, improving bike/pedestrian/transit connections, supporting culture, arts, entrepreneurship and businesses, and addressing climate change.
- Incumbent Aaron Brockett was elected to a four year term on Boulder City Council in 2015. Prior to being elected, Aaron served on Planning Board for five years, two of them as the elected Chair. He has distinguished himself with a strong leadership style, deftly bringing together disparate factions with clear results and seeks reelection this year.
- Aaron and his family have lived in Boulder for 16 years. He received a B.A from Swarthmore College and owned a small business for 19 years. During his time on council, Aaron has served on many committees and boards, including as the city’s representative to the Denver Regional Council of Governments, the Dairy Arts Center for the Arts Board, the comprehensive plan process committee, open space master plan process committee, the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District, and was chosen by his Council colleagues to serve a year as Mayor Pro Tem.
- We applaud Aaron’s focus on inclusivity for families and younger people, social justice and support services, advancing affordable housing, improving bike/pedestrian/transit connections, supporting culture, arts, entrepreneurship and businesses, and addressing climate change.
Benita Duran’s deep and detailed understanding of Boulder and regional issues comes from her years of experience. She has practical ideas for addressing our housing-economic-environmental-transportation linked crisis. Her passion for community and placemaking includes ALL people, and she wants to bring more thoughtful leadership and accountability to our local government.
- Benita has lived in Boulder for over 25 years. Active as a leader in the Latinx community,her experience spans 30 years of leadership experience in public, private and non-profit sectors in Boulder and Denver.
- Benita owns and operates Duran Consulting serving as Project Director of the Latino Cultural Arts Center. She has a B.A. Degree in Economic and Public Affairs from the University of Denver and is a proud CU alumn with a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. After serving as first Project administrator and Assistant City Manager in the Boulder, she went on to projects including; Assistant to Denver Mayor Federico Pena Co-Chair-Mayor Hickenlooper’s Greenprint Denver Committee,Chair and Trustee of the Community Foundation, Boulder Shelter for the Homeless, YWCA of Boulder, Family Learning Center, Attention Homes, Intercambio de Communidades, The Watershed School and Boulder Community Health Board.
- Benita’s deep and detailed understanding of Boulder and regional issues comes from her long experience. She has practical ideas for addressing our housing-economic-environmental-transportation linked crisis. Her passion for community and placemaking includes ALL people, and she wants to bring more thoughtful leadership and accountability to our local government.
benitaforboulder.com
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We appreciate Rachel Friend‘s view that action on climate change, social justice, housing, and transportation are all related and that solutions should be based on accurate and relevant data. We also agree that our Open Space is a key amenity and that both preservation and access are important goals. She sees everything through the lens of imminent climate crisis and advocates bold and sensible action in all areas to address this key challenge.
- Rachel has already proven herself an effective leader and advocate on a number of City issues, such as; Flood Mitigation for South Boulder, Social Justice and the Boulder Assault Weapons Ban. In addition to building relationships with various constituencies of Boulder residents, she has met with community leaders to build support for her campaign.
- Rachel practices law, and has clerked with a federal appellate court judge on cases including Elian Gonzales v. Janet Reno and Bush v. Gore. She currently primarily advocates for asylum seekers, people with disabilities, domestic abuse survivors and children surviving abuse, as well as elderly people. She teaches in the Criminal Justice field at Front Range Community College, and provides pro bono legal representation to asylum seekers detained in Aurora, CO. As a local activist, Rachel has served as the local lead for Boulder Moms Demand Action to prevent gun violence, as Deputy Director of Digital Outreach for Colorado Resistance, as Deputy Director of Digital Outreach for Colorado Resistance and as Events Development Coordinator for Blue Rising. She dedicates herself to listening to all sides of an issue and to patiently working through thorny issues based on facts and data. Rachel is currently co-director of South Boulder Creek Action Group, advocating for flood safety for the many residents, including herself, who live in that relatively affordable and diverse neighborhood. She is passionate about getting women and people of color elected to public office.
- We appreciate Rachel’s view that action on climate change, social justice, housing, and transportation are all related and that solutions should be based on accurate and relevant data. We also agree that our Open Space is a key amenity and that both preservation and access are important goals. She sees everything through the lens of imminent climate crisis and advocates bold and sensible action in all areas to address this key challenge.
- friend4boulder.org
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Junie Joseph has done her homework on City Issues. She understands and advocates for Affordable Housing, saying that housing “plays a major role in all the forms of inequality we see and experience in Boulder.” Junie’s goals also include improved transit options, championing social justice, better programming for the homeless, government efficiency, open space management and protecting our environment.
- We’ve been impressed with Junie’s hard work leading up to and into the City Council campaign. She has prepared by engaging over the last year with all sectors of the community and particularly the most vulnerable, as well as launching a strong campaign.
- Junie currently chairs the Boulder County Health and Human Services Citizen Panel Review, serves on the Community Corrections’ Board, and studies law at CU Boulder. Born in Haiti, Junie moved to the United States at 14, earned a B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Anthropology from the University of Florida and a Master’s in Applied Human Rights from the University of York, in England. Before moving to Boulder she worked as a Human Rights Officer within the United Nations Mission to the Central African Republic, serving 75k internally displaced persons.
- Junie has done her homework on City Issues. She understands and advocates for Affordable Housing, saying that housing “plays a major role in all the forms of inequality we see and experience in Boulder.” Junie’s goals also include improved transit options, championing social justice, better programming for the homeless, government efficiency, open space management and protecting our environment.
Mark McIntyre shares our view that “Fear of change and fear in general make for poor policy as do most moratoriums.” He also shares our commitment to “Equity, Justice, Democracy, and Environment,” viewing all other issues through these lenses. His top issues are housing, transportation, and open space, but he has given thoughtful consideration to social justice, economic vitality, CU South flood mitigation, transportation and environment.
- Mark has been a strong and effective voice on the Transportation Advisory Board; prioritizing safety and traffic calming. Working in consensus on TAB, and “blowing by the status quo,” we’re excited to see the future of the North Broadway reconstruction project. He ran a strong campaign for Boulder City Council in 2017 and we like his chances for a win in 2019.
- Mark has lived in Boulder for 42 years, since he was a 17 year old climber. Eventually he attended CU, graduating with a B.F.A. While studying at CU he served for a year on the university council and also served as the “Community Relations Commissioner,” meeting with City Council Members and Mayor (Ruth Corell) to advocate for an underpass at Broadway. He also served as the student representative to the Citizens Committee on Housing and Community Development, allocating federal block grants for housing and social service needs. Mark worked in the solar industry early on, and subsequently owned a business for 32 years.
- Mark shares our view that “Fear of change and fear in general make for poor policy as do most moratoriums.” He also shares our commitment to “Equity, Justice, Democracy, and Environment,” viewing all other issues through these lenses. His top issues are housing, transportation, and open space, but he has given thoughtful consideration to social justice, economic vitality, CU South flood mitigation, transportation and environment.
We appreciate Bob Yate’s transparency as a current member of Council, particularly his regular updates on “how I voted and what I was thinking.” He has been a consistent advocate for robust housing options and good governance.
- “I really, really love this job!” Bob’s own quote sums up his passion and drive to represent all of his constituents. First elected as the top vote-getter in 2015, Bob is running again, this time as an incumbent. He knows the ropes and has been previously successful, so we think he is a very strong candidate.
- Bob retired from a successful career at Level 3 at the age of 50 to dedicate all his time to community service in his hometown, Boulder. He served as chair of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and co-chair of a capital investment strategy group appointed by the city manager. He was elected to the boards of the Dairy Arts Center and the Colorado Chautauqua Association. He served as committee chair for the Conference on World Affairs, as a kindergarten reader for the YWCA’s Reading to End Racism program, and as a law school adjunct professor (all of which he still does). He also served as Chair of the Museum of Boulder Board during which time he accomplished what may be his most lasting legacy. In 2014, Bob crafted and led the 2014 Ballot Measure 2A, the Community, Culture and Safety tax which provided capital funds for needed city projects as well as funding capital campaigns for the Museum of Boulder’s new home in the historic Masonic lodge, major improvements to the Dairy Center for the Arts building, and Chautauqua Park.
- We appreciate Bob’s transparency as a current member of Council, particularly his regular updates on “how I voted and what I was thinking.” He has been a consistent advocate for robust housing options and good governance.
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