 Aurora mayoral candidates debate at August AAR forum
Aurora's six mayoral candidates, all from very diverse backgrounds, presented their views to a full house of AAR members at the end of August, each offering insight into their visions for the future of the City of Aurora.
The gathering, hosted by the Association in its Conference Center, was one of very few forums – if any – this season to feature all six candidates under one roof, highlighting the importance of the real estate industry to those running for office.
Sheilah Davis
Colorado native Davis has lived in Aurora since 2001. Much of her time is spent volunteering within the community, serving on education committees and as a victim's advocate within the judicial system. She is currently an active member of Citizens for Responsible Aurora Government and the Colorado Union of Taxpayers. Davis began her presentation with a thank you to REALTORS®, one of whom helped her family find their home. She said she appreciates the knowledge REALTORS® bring to the general public in one of the largest of life's investments. Her vision for Aurora, she said, includes a smaller government – one that is accountable to its citizens.
Ryan Frazier
Frazier was elected to the Aurora City Council in November 2003 and re-elected in 2007. He serves as an at-large member representing all of Aurora's 325,000 citizens. Frazier currently serves as president and CEO of Western Skies Forum. He has worked in the telecommunications and aerospace industries and served five years in the U.S. Navy. Frazier is a founding board member of Highpoint Academy, a pre-kindergarten through 8th grade public charter school serving over 600 students. As mayor, he said his central focus would be the economy and job growth. He said he also wants to be a strong voice for education.
Steve Hogan
Hogan graduated from the University of Denver, served as a former Colorado State Representative, was Mayor Pro-Tem for the City of Aurora and was an at-large member of the City Council through 2009. He currently co-chairs the Public Issues Committee of the Aurora Chamber of Commerce and is on the Board of Directors of the Aurora Economic Council. As mayor, he said his first priority would be jobs; he feels that small business owners haven't been a priority in the city as evidenced by the fact that only one person on the city staff deals with retail businesses, working with no budget or authority to deal with the long range planning needed to bring in jobs. Hogan said his next priorities for the city would be the protection of Buckley Air Force Base and the creation and protection of jobs at the Health Sciences center at Anschutz.
Jude Sandvall
A REALTOR® member of the Aurora Association of REALTORS®, Sandvall graduated from the Metropolitan State College of Denver with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. He started his first business in Aurora in his 20s and has owned and operated several small businesses including a handyman franchise, a general contractor construction company and property management services. He has served on several boards and commissions at the city and county levels and has been active in the community through Boy Scouts and the Drug Abuse Education Program. Sandvall said that his vision of the City of Aurora is that it be the city of choice for all businesses with opportunities for education, recreation and the safety of its citizens. He would work for accountability in local government and the cutting of bureaucratic red tape.
Debbie Stafford
Stafford is a four-time elected representative from Colorado's House District 40. She has worked as a domestic violence and mental health counselor and is a certified addiction counselor. She developed the Colorado Suicide and Crisis Helpline and served as vice chair of the key community response team working as the liaison between police and firefighters for community crisis response in Aurora. Stafford was twice appointed to work as an advocate for the poor and homeless. She has also worked on banking, budgeting and affordable housing issues. Stafford said her vision is to be the mayor for the people – to facilitate and lead on behalf of the citizens of Aurora. She said she would like to partner education and business to generate the required work force for current and future businesses in Aurora. She feels that the city doesn't need to offer large tax incentives to get businesses to locate in Aurora.
Barbara Yamrick
Yamrick graduated from Loretto Heights College/Regis University with a B.A. in Social Studies and received a Masters in Planning and Community Development from the University of Colorado Denver. She currently works as a substitute teacher in the Denver and Aurora Public Schools. She has served two terms on the Aurora Public School Board and one term as a Regional Transportation District Director. Yamrick's emphasis as mayor, she said, would be on building communities that are in existence currently – not expanding. She would like more transparency and accountability in government, she said, and would like to see more development of the middle class and an expansion of family life and free time. Yamrick was against the devaluation of land to "blighted" status to help the Gaylord project. Her question, she said, is "What are we willing to give to get something – there is no policy".
More than 100 AAR members and members of the public in attendance listened attentively to the candidates, seeming to appreciate the opportunity to hear their views. Several of the candidates stayed and answered questions individually, providing further insight into their viewpoints and plans for the city.
AAR provided the forum as a free member benefit. All attendees were also welcomed to a free breakfast to accompany the event.
Five of the six candidates running for mayor of Aurora share a laugh at the Candidate Forum presented by the Aurora Association of REALTORS® Aug. 26.
Candidate Debbie Stafford joins AAR President Terry Wenze and CEO Carol Reed at the Aug. 26 Aurora Mayoral Candidate Forum.
AAR Member Terri Whitley and AAR Immediate Past President David Barber (second from left) talk with Mayoral Candidates Ryan Frazier and Steve Hogan, both of whom stayed after the panel discussion to talk with attendees.
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