2023 Colorado Springs Municipal
Mayoral Runoff
CANDIDATES
Candidates presented in Ballot Order
THE TOPICS
& QUESTIONS
click each box to read
Candidate Information
Campaign Website URL:
Email Address:
Occupation/Vocation:
Military Background:
Resident of Colorado Springs:
Political Leanings
As a candidate in the Colorado Springs nonpartisan municipal election, you are not officially associated with any specific political party. How would you describe your political leanings (socially, fiscally, etc.) and why do you define yourself in this way?
Your Experience and Vision
What experience (personal, professional, other) would you bring to your role as Colorado Springs Mayor that will benefit our city? What is your vision for being Mayor, and what do you hope to accomplish during your first year in office?
Defending Constitutional Liberties
Many Americans believe that the government at every level is not securing their Creator-given rights, but rather encroaching on them. Established freedoms, including that of speech, peaceable assembly, exercise of religion, medical autonomy, and commerce are often negatively impacted by state and federal regulations, and were greatly infringed upon by COVID mandates. As Mayor, how will you protect the residents of Colorado Springs from current and future unconstitutional government overreach?
Crime and Police
Colorado Springs’ crime rates are rising, while Police Department recruitment is down. As Mayor, what will you do to ensure citizens are protected from crime, including improving recruitment, morale, and response time within the CSPD?
Protecting the Most Vulnerable
As Mayor, how will you ensure the protection of the most vulnerable in our city, including the lives of the unborn, the trafficked, and the elderly?
Business/Jobs
What specifically should the Mayor’s office do to bring more businesses/jobs to Colorado Springs?
Election Security/Voter Confidence
Many Americans have lost faith in the integrity of our electoral system and are deciding to not even take the time and effort to vote. All Mayors are the public face of city government, and in Colorado Springs the Mayor appoints the City Clerk who in turn oversees our municipal elections. If elected Mayor, what will you do to help assure election security, increase voter confidence, and encourage more civic engagement by our citizens?
Affordable Housing
As more and more people move to Colorado Springs, what can be done to provide affordable housing while also retaining our city’s unique character and environment that have made it such a popular place in the United States to live?
Homelessness/Vagrancy
How can the Mayor’s office address the increase in the homeless/vagrant population in our city in ways that best serve all Colorado Springs residents?
Impact of Drug Use on Our Community
What are your views pertaining to Colorado Springs’ ban on recreational Marijuana sales within city limits? Also, with the recent decriminalization of Psilocybin-containing mushrooms and other psychedelic drugs in Colorado, and the Opioid/Fentanyl crisis, what do you believe should be done to protect our city and its residents, and especially our youth, from the negative physical, mental, emotional, social, and economic impacts of Schedule I and II drug use and abuse?
Engagement with the Faith Community
Colorado Springs has a large, diverse, and well-established religious community, consisting predominantly of those practicing some form of Christianity, and is home to hundreds of local churches and international parachurch ministries. What is your current engagement with the local faith community, and how do you plan to interact with and represent us in your role as Mayor?
WAYNE WILLIAMS
Candidate Information
Campaign Website URL: www.WinWithWayne.org
Email Address: WayneWilliamsForMayor@gmail.com
Occupation/Vocation: City Councilmember and Attorney
Resident of Colorado Springs: 30+ years
Political Leanings
As a candidate in the Colorado Springs nonpartisan municipal election, you are not officially associated with any specific political party. How would you describe your political leanings (socially, fiscally, etc.) and why do you define yourself in this way?
I am a pragmatic, compassionate conservative Republican who puts good policy above partisan politics. While I am the former Chair of the El Paso County Republican Party, I work across the aisle to seek policies that are best for our community. I speak up to address issues in our community, including adopting resolutions at City Council last fall opposing recreational marijuana sales in our city and supporting the extension of the Pikes Peak RTA to address critical transportation needs.
Your Experience and Vision
What experience (personal, professional, other) would you bring to your role as Colorado Springs Mayor that will benefit our city? What is your vision for being Mayor, and what do you hope to accomplish during your first year in office?
As the only candidate with elected executive experience, I have a proven track record of accomplishment and leadership at both the local and state level – tackling problems effectively and efficiently as Colorado Secretary of State, County Clerk & Recorder and County Commissioner.
As a Colorado Springs City Councilman, we’ve funded 62 new police, 66 firefighters and 3 new fire stations. As mayor, I will continue this emphasis on public safety, as well as prioritizing critical transportation infrastructure and promoting our economic vitality.
My mission as Mayor is to ensure that through community collaboration, Colorado Springs continues the progress we’ve been making and that we remain the very best city to live, work and raise our families.
Defending Constitutional Liberties
Many Americans believe that the government at every level is not securing their Creator-given rights, but rather encroaching on them. Established freedoms, including that of speech, peaceable assembly, exercise of religion, medical autonomy, and commerce are often negatively impacted by state and federal regulations, and were greatly infringed upon by COVID mandates. As Mayor, how will you protect the residents of Colorado Springs from current and future unconstitutional government overreach?
I believe in a limited government that works to secure the rights that we are endowed with by our Creator. The essential government functions are ensuring public safety and order; protecting individual freedom and human rights; and providing essential public services.
Government should serve the community by providing assistance to our residents and businesses instead of over-burdening them with needless regulation and oversight. In Colorado Springs, we rejected overreaching government mandates during COVID which is why our community fared better during COVID than many others.
I’ve taken a stand against government overreach – working with faith leaders, I’ve repeatedly sponsored Colorado Springs’ Constitution Day and Religious Freedom Day Resolutions.
Crime and Police
Colorado Springs’ crime rates are rising, while Police Department recruitment is down. As Mayor, what will you do to ensure citizens are protected from crime, including improving recruitment, morale, and response time within the CSPD?
Maintaining public safety will be one my top priorities as mayor. In my four years on City Council, we provided funding for an additional 62 police officers. We’ll need add 200 more police officers by 2035 to keep up with our growth.
Like most major cities, Colorado Springs has struggled to fill our available police positions, but we are making progress. We’ve moved to a continuous year-round police academy and are reducing the waiting time before a new class starts. As mayor, I’ll make sure that we’re competitive in the recruitment process, but we will always ensure our high standards are met.
I will always ensure that our first responders know how much we appreciate them and respect their service.
Protecting the Most Vulnerable
As Mayor, how will you ensure the protection of the most vulnerable in our city, including the lives of the unborn, the trafficked, and the elderly?
I am committed to protecting the lives of all residents. I’ve Chaired our Area Agency on Aging and helped adopt ordinances to give law enforcement resources and tools to combat trafficking. As an adopted child myself, I am a strong advocate for adoption and annually sponsor our city’s National Adoption Day Resolution.
Business/Jobs
What specifically should the Mayor’s office do to bring more businesses/jobs to Colorado Springs?
The mayor’s office should continue to promote an economic environment that allows for businesses to grow and thrive, instead of one that stifles innovation and development. I support our continued use of performance-based economic incentives that are tied to the jobs actually created.
I’m committed to preserving a low tax burden while delivering economic growth to our city through business development and recruitment, as well as public/private partnerships and investments. As County Commissioner, I eliminated our portion of the business personal property tax, and the city has done the same. I’m honored to have received the Chamber’s Regional Leader of the Year Award and now serve on the Board of Directors for the Colorado Springs Chamber and Economic Development Corporation.
Election Security/Voter Confidence
Many Americans have lost faith in the integrity of our electoral system and are deciding to not even take the time and effort to vote. All Mayors are the public face of city government, and in Colorado Springs the Mayor appoints the City Clerk who in turn oversees our municipal elections. If elected Mayor, what will you do to help assure election security, increase voter confidence, and encourage more civic engagement by our citizens?
I had the honor of serving as the Colorado Secretary of State and the County Clerk and Recorder. As Colorado’s chief elections official, I adopted new standards requiring bipartisan judges, voter-verifiable paper ballots, and forensic risk-limiting audits. I also ensured Colorado signature verification requirements were followed and have spoken out against DC’s attempts to overturn them.
Because of these efforts, President Trump’s Homeland Security Secretary touted Colorado as a national model and The Washington Post called Colorado, “The safest state to cast a vote.” And Colorado’s League of Women Voters presented me with its annual Leader of Democracy Award.
I’ll continue that leadership as mayor and will ensure our city clerk protects the integrity of our voting processes.
Affordable Housing
As more and more people move to Colorado Springs, what can be done to provide affordable housing while also retaining our city’s unique character and environment that have made it such a popular place in the United States to live?
In 1994, Mayor Bob Isaac asked me to serve on our city’s Housing Authority Board. While Chair, we partnered with Peterson Air Force Base to provide affordable off-base housing for enlisted personnel.
As Utilities Board Chairman, I helped establish a fund to cover utility connection fees for affordable and attainable housing to encourage construction by non-profits and other community partners. On City Council, I worked to establish a program to rebate sales tax for affordable and attainable housing. As mayor, I’ll continue to work with community partners to provide such incentives.
Home ownership is a key to personal wealth creation. As mayor, I’ll work with the legislature to improve Colorado laws so that we support the building of entry-level homes.
Homelessness/Vagrancy
How can the Mayor’s office address the increase in the homeless/vagrant population in our city in ways that best serve all Colorado Springs residents?
Colorado Springs is one of the few large cities in America where the number of unhoused have been reduced. We must compassionately address the root causes of homelessness by working with non-profit partners like Springs Rescue Mission, Catholic Charities, and the Salvation Army to provide assistance, education and treatment options for those experiencing drug addiction and/or mental illness.
For our community’s health and safety, we must enforce city ordinances that prohibit blocking public right-of-ways and camping on, and potentially contaminating, our public spaces and waterways. We worked to ensure our ability to enforce these rules by having sufficient beds available. We also need to expand our Homeless Outreach Team and Alternate Response Teams to meet the needs of our community.
Impact of Drug Use on Our Community
What are your views pertaining to Colorado Springs’ ban on recreational Marijuana sales within city limits? Also, with the recent decriminalization of Psilocybin-containing mushrooms and other psychedelic drugs in Colorado, and the Opioid/Fentanyl crisis, what do you believe should be done to protect our city and its residents, and especially our youth, from the negative physical, mental, emotional, social, and economic impacts of Schedule I and II drug use and abuse?
I opposed recreational marijuana and Psilocybin legalization on the statewide level, and recently fought against permitting recreational marijuana within Colorado Springs city limits – including specifically adopting a city council resolution opposing the measure. The negative costs of legal drug sales greatly outweigh the tax revenue it provides.
As mayor, I’ll focus our anti-drug efforts on education and treatment for those battling addiction, and will work with law enforcement to ensure that we’re actively combatting illicit drug trafficking within our city.
Engagement with the Faith Community
Colorado Springs has a large, diverse, and well-established religious community, consisting predominantly of those practicing some form of Christianity, and is home to hundreds of local churches and international parachurch ministries. What is your current engagement with the local faith community, and how do you plan to interact with and represent us in your role as Mayor?
I am active in my own church where I serve in the Sunday School Presidency for several congregations. I regularly engage with faith leaders throughout our community, including working to adopt annual resolutions supporting religious liberty and have worked with various denominations to host religious liberty symposiums. I attend various groundbreakings, ribbon cuttings, and celebrations at many churches and ministries. As mayor, I will continue those efforts and maintain an open dialogue with residents and faith leaders of all persuasions.
YEMI MOBOLADE
Candidate Information
Campaign Website URL: www.YemiForMayor.com
Email Address: Yemi@YemiforMayor.com
Occupation/Vocation: Non-Profit Leader and Business Owner
Resident of Colorado Springs: 13 years
Political Leanings
As a candidate in the Colorado Springs nonpartisan municipal election, you are not officially associated with any specific political party. How would you describe your political leanings (socially, fiscally, etc.) and why do you define yourself in this way?
I am a West African immigrant, a U.S. citizen and a political independent. My affiliation is to the city of Colorado Springs. I am a pastor and I co-founded the nonprofit COSILoveYou that unites about 100 churches to serve the city. My philosophy of government draws inspiration from Catholic social teaching that contains a rich treasure of ideas that emphasize advancing the common good, promoting human dignity, and protecting human rights. I’m committed to the belief that all humans are created in the image and likeness of God, thus possessing truth, beauty, and goodness. As mayor, I will be devoted to serving the citizens of Colorado Springs – regardless of party affiliation, race, creed, gender, sexual identity, age, or status.
Your Experience and Vision
What experience (personal, professional, other) would you bring to your role as Colorado Springs Mayor that will benefit our city? What is your vision for being Mayor, and what do you hope to accomplish during your first year in office?
I am a father, husband, and pastor. I am also a triple-strength candidate with proven leadership in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. I am the only candidate with experience working in city government, where I led regional efforts to streamline government processes and cut red tape for local businesses. I have launched/operated three businesses, co-founded the nonprofit COSILoveYou, and was the Vice President of Business Retention/Expansion at the Chamber & EDC during a period of record job growth for Colorado Springs. I am a fiscally responsible leader, have a track record of making government work better for our residents, and have the leadership experience to move our city forward in the areas of safety, infrastructure and economic vitality.
Defending Constitutional Liberties
Many Americans believe that the government at every level is not securing their Creator-given rights, but rather encroaching on them. Established freedoms, including that of speech, peaceable assembly, exercise of religion, medical autonomy, and commerce are often negatively impacted by state and federal regulations, and were greatly infringed upon by COVID mandates. As Mayor, how will you protect the residents of Colorado Springs from current and future unconstitutional government overreach?
As a business owner, I have felt the negative impact of state laws, making it harder to do business and causing more harm than good. The institution of city government is an instrument of grace to advance the common good, elevate human dignity, protect human rights, and promote public safety. Government is sometimes necessary, but it should not interfere where it is not needed. Solutions to city problems should be developed and employed as much as possible at the most local level. As mayor, I will work in partnership with residents, families, local businesses, churches, and non-profit organizations to champion local interests while minimizing reliance on government. When it’s needed, the city government should intervene with involvement scaling up gradually.
Crime and Police
Colorado Springs’ crime rates are rising, while Police Department recruitment is down. As Mayor, what will you do to ensure citizens are protected from crime, including improving recruitment, morale, and response time within the CSPD?
To address crime and improve incident response times, I will bolster recruitment and year-round training academy efforts in order to eliminate the shortage of about 70 officers. I will also ensure we are closing the back door to prevent early retirement and improve retention. The weight of the badge is heavy. Like being a mayor, the work of our law enforcement officers is a noble undertaking, and one of the highest callings. From my firsthand experience with ride-alongs and my conversations with law enforcement officers, I see an opportunity to boost morale and reduce burnout.
As mayor, I will invest resources to boost morale through:
- Recognition for exemplary performance
- Leadership development and additional training
- Support for a healthy work-life balance
Protecting the Most Vulnerable
As Mayor, how will you ensure the protection of the most vulnerable in our city, including the lives of the unborn, the trafficked, and the elderly?
I’m committed to the belief that all humans have inherent dignity and deserve respect because they are created in the image and likeness of God, possessing truth, beauty, and goodness. My approach to public service, therefore, concerns the well-being of each person in every dimension: economic, political, social, and ecological. Our institutions must work to benefit the human person in all its beauty and diversity. The promotion of life and dignity is possible only by recognizing human rights, such as those enshrined in the United States Constitution. Human rights emerge from the simple fact that we are “endowed by our Creator.” Therefore my approach to public service and civic order is to also ensure human rights are protected.
Business/Jobs
What specifically should the Mayor’s office do to bring more businesses/jobs to Colorado Springs?
In addition to being a business leader, I served as the Vice President of Business Retention and Expansion with the Chamber & EDC. I will build upon my successes to ensure a healthy local business climate that supports local jobs and investment.
As mayor, I will:
- Make it easier to do business with the City by streamlining the city approval and permit processes, and increasing resources to support entrepreneurs and small businesses.
- Support the growth and expansion of local businesses, including “anchor industries” (i.e., defense, software, information technology, healthcare, and manufacturing) to drive job growth, promote a healthy economy, and improve quality of life.
- Proactively recruit new companies that will provide well paying jobs to our residents.
Election Security/Voter Confidence
Many Americans have lost faith in the integrity of our electoral system and are deciding to not even take the time and effort to vote. All Mayors are the public face of city government, and in Colorado Springs the Mayor appoints the City Clerk who in turn oversees our municipal elections. If elected Mayor, what will you do to help assure election security, increase voter confidence, and encourage more civic engagement by our citizens?
The right to vote is one of our most important privileges as Americans. It is my duty as mayor to protect this right and increase citizens’ confidence in our electoral systems, processes, and results. According to the City Code, Chapter 5 Elections, Article 1 General Elections, the City Clerk is required to take all necessary steps to ensure ballot security at each stage of the mail ballot process, to protect the confidentiality of the ballots cast and to maintain the integrity of the election. I will guarantee a trusted team member will oversee our municipal elections, and I will ensure that robust security measures are maintained to protect the integrity of our elections and safeguard our voting process.
Affordable Housing
As more and more people move to Colorado Springs, what can be done to provide affordable housing while also retaining our city’s unique character and environment that have made it such a popular place in the United States to live?
In 2019, 71% of the homes in Colorado Springs were affordable, but today that has dropped to only 24%. This new reality impacts housing affordability for the pillars of our community including teachers, firefighters, law enforcement officers, and military.
As mayor, in order to encourage diverse housing options that are attainable for all residents, I will:
- Work with philanthropic foundations to establish a “missing-middle housing fund” to support housing innovation for residents that make $50K-$100K a year.
- Expand existing municipal financial (tax rebate) incentives for affordable housing projects.
- Appoint a Chief Housing Officer (without adding a new position) who will develop public-private partnerships opportunities and advance our city’s housing priorities, including expediting attainable and affordable housing projects.
Homelessness/Vagrancy
How can the Mayor’s office address the increase in the homeless/vagrant population in our city in ways that best serve all Colorado Springs residents?
I serve on the Board of Springs Rescue Mission. As mayor, I will work to provide services to our homeless residents while also maintaining the safety of our neighborhoods. The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless reported that 71% of people experiencing homelessness have a mental illness.
Therefore, my priorities include:
- Boosting the city’s partnerships with local providers that focus on mental health care.
- Increasing the amount of permanent supportive housing. Supportive housing combines housing with behavioral health care and intensive case management services.
- Expanding the city’s street behavioral health outreach programs to address encampments and ensure our residents experiencing homelessness have access to the needed care and services to get them off the street and into housing, health and work.
Impact of Drug Use on Our Community
What are your views pertaining to Colorado Springs’ ban on recreational Marijuana sales within city limits? Also, with the recent decriminalization of Psilocybin-containing mushrooms and other psychedelic drugs in Colorado, and the Opioid/Fentanyl crisis, what do you believe should be done to protect our city and its residents, and especially our youth, from the negative physical, mental, emotional, social, and economic impacts of Schedule I and II drug use and abuse?
The citizens of Colorado Springs recently voted to maintain a ban on recreational marijuana sales within city limits, and as their elected mayor, this is the decision I will work to uphold. Increased concerns over the impacts of drugs in our communities only emphasize the importance and urgency of bolstering safety measures in Colorado Springs.
As mayor, I will:
- Partner with policymakers and nonprofit providers focusing on expanding mental health care and substance abuse treatment to the community.
- Restart the Youth Advisory Council, where high school juniors and seniors advise the Police Chief to help address youth issues.
- Provide economic opportunities through programs like Thrive Network and Transforming Safety which prevent crime and drug use through community development and entrepreneurship.
Engagement with the Faith Community
Colorado Springs has a large, diverse, and well-established religious community, consisting predominantly of those practicing some form of Christianity, and is home to hundreds of local churches and international parachurch ministries. What is your current engagement with the local faith community, and how do you plan to interact with and represent us in your role as Mayor?
I am a pastor and I moved to Colorado Springs to start a new church with the Chirstian and Missionary Alliance. I later served as the Local Missions Pastor and Worship Leader at First Presbyterian Church. My mission expanded to co-founding COSILoveYou and CityServe Day, a nonprofit and movement to unite over 100+ churches from various denominations and parachurch organizations in service to Colorado Springs. My personal mission is to collaborate for the health, growth and flourishing of Colorado Springs. I am a community advocate and serve the causes of many local faith-based organizations, including Springs Rescue Mission Board of Directors. I am active in my home church and continue to periodically preach at other local churches around Colorado Springs.
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Christian voting
Voting is a simple, yet significant way to do something about public policy in our country. As people of faith, we will be held accountable for our actions, as well as our lack of action. (Luke 12:48)
Biblical worldview
By diligently learning, applying, and trusting God’s truths in every area of our lives, we can begin to develop a deep comprehensive faith that will stand against the unrelenting tide of our culture’s non-biblical ideas.
Vote your values
The issues of the day change. Political parties and platforms change. God’s Word never changes. The vote of every Christian should be based on the principles of Scripture and not persuasive personalities.
Electing righteous leaders
Bad governance and our loss of freedom is the direct result of the church’s failure to disciple. When the citizenry do not seek to be obedient to God’s Law, they vote in wicked and corrupt candidates, who then trample underfoot the God-given liberties of the people.