This week, a resident on Facebook asked if I was a Democrat. It’s a question that, while understandable in today’s polarized national climate, highlights a dangerous trend: the injection of divisive party politics into our local Golden issues.

This gets to the very heart of why I’m running.

My response was simple: My whole campaign is focused on Golden, not party politics.

This isn’t just a talking point. It’s a foundational belief, and it’s also the law. Golden’s municipal elections are, by law, non-partisan.

The Problem: External Interests Don’t Understand Golden

When local elections are treated as partisan, a new set of priorities enters the room. Decisions stop being about “what is best for our neighborhoods” and start being about “what is best for the party.”

Party politics brings external interests that don’t understand (or care) about the complex, local issues we’re facing in Golden. It’s a top-down model that conflicts with the “Golden Way” of doing things—a way that has always been about neighbors, community, and sensible solutions for Golden. State or national parties don’t care about traffic or parking issues in Golden—our issues are crowded out by state and national partisan agendas.

My opponent has made his choice: he has accepted and promotes endorsements from a major political party, injecting partisanship directly into this non-partisan race.

The “Proof in the Press”

This partisan connection is no longer just about endorsements.

New public campaign finance reports, as summarized by the Denver Gazette on October 27, 2025, show my opponent is also accepting financial contributions directly from political party representatives.

This is the core of the “top-down” model I am running to fix. The “Golden Way” means being accountable to neighbors, not to external party interests—and especially not to their checkbooks.

I’ve made a different choice.

The Architect’s Solution: A Neighbor-First, Non-Partisan Approach

Like many residents, I’ve long been frustrated by the bickering of the two major parties, neither of which fully represents the common-sense, independent-minded voter.

I am running as a pragmatic, sensible “Architect” for Golden City Council. My platform isn’t about a national or state party; it’s about what works for Golden. My singular focus is on bringing residents and businesses together to find the best solutions for our community.

This is a core part of my “Consult, Co-Design, Deliver” method. We cannot “Co-Design” real solutions if half the room feels alienated because of a “D” or an “R” next to a name.

This is why, if you look at my campaign’s “Community Board,” you won’t see any party endorsements. Instead, you’ll see a growing list of Golden residents, community leaders, and neighbors who believe in this mission.

My commitment is to you, the residents of Golden—not to an external party machine. I believe that’s the only way to fix our broken process and restore the trust that residents deserve to have in their City Hall.

Learn more about the neighbors, not partisans, who are supporting this campaign on our Community Board.