As your City Councilor, my approach to our city’s finances will be guided by a simple, non-negotiable principle: Trust the Voters.

Golden’s residents have been shut out of the most important financial decision that affects our future. The current top-down process, where the city decides first and communicates last, is a recipe for misplaced priorities and broken trust. My commitment is to replace this broken model with a collaborative process that puts our residents’ needs first, always.

The Problem: A Broken, Top-Down Process

The “Heart of Golden” project is the most glaring example of our city’s flawed approach. Committing over $60+ million to the largest spending project in a generation without a direct vote is not responsible leadership; it’s a symptom of a process that no longer serves the people.

Many residents have told me that the city’s current “Decide, Celebrate, Communicate” model perfectly captures how they feel. When this happens, we get the projects the city wants, not the protections and services our families actually need.

Let’s be clear: Golden’s police officers, city staff, and residents deserve a modern and efficient municipal facility. But the debate has never been about whether we need one; it’s about the broken process, the price tag, and the priorities.

The Evidence: A Timeline of a Broken Process

A transparent process doesn’t begin with a photo-op; it begins with respecting the residents. The city’s own documents on its Guiding Golden website reveal a timeline where the most critical decisions were made long before the public was meaningfully consulted.

• September 17, 2024: A full month before the first “Community Outreach Meeting” was scheduled (Oct. 15), the city published a detailed project report that had already locked in the core decisions: a $60 million total budget and specific square footage allocations for each department. The time for public input on the most critical questions was already over. [See the City’s Own September 2024 Report]
• December 17, 2024: The City Council holds its final vote to approve the use of Certificates of Participation—a form of debt that bypasses voter approval. This was the most critical financial decision of the entire project. [See the City’s Own December 2024 Report]
• February 12, 2025: The first update on the Municipal Center is held—nearly two months after the binding financial decision to bypass the voters had already been made. [See the City Council Study Session]
• July 22, 2025: The contractor provides the city with the “Guaranteed Maximum Price” for the project, effectively locking in the final, massive cost. [See the City’s Own July 2025 Report]
• July 23, 2025: The very next day, the city holds a celebratory groundbreaking ceremony—before the public had any chance to review or comment on the final price tag. [See the City’s Own July 2025 Report]

This is the definition of a “Decide, Celebrate, Communicate” model. It is a failure of transparency, and it is not the Golden Way.

The Real Cost: Our Community’s Sidelined Priorities

Every dollar is a choice. The most critical failure of the “Heart of Golden” process is one of priorities. As one insightful Ward 2 resident put it, the decision to unilaterally push forward with this massive project has huge implications:

“What could you do with the millions [saved] with regards to other priorities? How much open space could we acquire, how many affordable housing units could we develop, how could we better support police and fire?” – Greg, Golden Resident

This is the central question. By choosing to commit over $60 million to one building without your approval, the city has also chosen which of our community’s urgent needs will go unfunded. This is the real cost of a process that doesn’t include residents:

• Real solutions for 19th Street, like a pedestrian bridge or smart traffic lights, to safely manage the thousands of students from the new Mines housing projects.
• Real solutions to our downtown parking challenges, like a new garage and a simple, no-hassle permit system for residents.
• A grant program to help our teachers, firefighters, and police officers afford to live in the city they serve.
• Funding for real wildfire mitigation and additional support of the Golden Fire Department to protect our homes.
• Purchasing more open space to preserve our trails and unique quality of life.

The Path Forward: Making the Most of a Bad Decision

Many of you have asked, “The decision was made, so what can be done now?” This is a great, practical question. A leader doesn’t just point out a problem; they show you how to clean up the mess.

While we cannot undo the initial commitment, we can and we must mitigate the damage and ensure the rest of this project is managed with the transparency you deserve. As your City Councilor, I will immediately fight for three common-sense actions:

1. A “Pause and Review” of All Non-Essential Features: I will call for an immediate review of the building’s design to identify and eliminate non-essential, “nice-to-have” features to find cost savings that can be returned to the city’s general fund.
2. A Full, Independent Audit: I will demand a full, independent audit of all contracts and financing related to the project to ensure not another dollar of our money is spent without complete public transparency.
3. A Citizen’s Oversight Committee: I will create a resident-led oversight committee with full access to project documents, tasked with monitoring the budget and construction progress and reporting directly to the public, not to City Hall.

This is how we make the best of a bad situation. This is how we begin to restore financial discipline.

The Solution: The Architect’s Method

This isn’t about being negative; it’s about delivering a better way. My approach is different, and it’s a simple promise: As your City Councilor, I will replace the broken process with one that puts RESIDENTS FIRST.

We will: ✅ CONSULT with you from the start. ✅ CO-DESIGN the solutions together. ✅ DELIVER a plan that reflects our community’s true priorities.

The Choice: A Clear Contrast in Leadership

The choice on this issue offers a clear contrast in leadership philosophy.

My opponent’s position is clear: He has publicly stated he has ‘full trust’ in the current city council to issue this debt without your approval. He trusts a closed-door process.

My philosophy is clear: I trust you. My job is to listen to residents, develop a detailed, transparent plan based on that input, and execute that plan effectively. On the largest financial decision in our city’s history, the choice is simple: a leader who trusts a handful of politicians, or one who includes and trusts the people of Golden.

This is how we restore trust. This is how we get back to the Golden Way. My commitment is to be a leader who listens first, and a financial steward who ensures every dollar we spend is a direct reflection of our shared values.

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