Mail ballots will begin arriving at the homes of 163,000 registered Denver voters Oct. 12–22, seeking decisions on school board candidates, infrastructure and marijuana.
The largest issue on the ballot is a $480 million bond issue and mill levy increase aimed at improving streets, parks, libraries, rec centers, public safety facilities and cultural buildings such as the Botanic Gardens, Boettcher Concert Hall and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.
Bond issues A through I will address neglected infrastructure and create a $25 million annual fund for future repairs. “It’s a deferred maintenance fund,” spokesman Howard Gelt said at the September meeting of the Platt Park People’s Association.
Also on the ballot are candidates for three seats on the Denver school board. Races are between Rita Montero, Theresa Pena and John McBride for an at-large seat; Frank Deserino, Bruce Hoyt and Laurence Botnick for the District 1 seat and Jose Silva, Raymond Gutierrez, Tony Curcio and Arturo Jimenez for the District 5 seat. DU is in District 1. District 5 is northwest of Broadway and Alameda Avenue.
Question 100, also on the ballot, is a citizen initiative asking voters to make private possession of marijuana by people over 21 the city’s “lowest law-enforcement priority.”
The deadline for registering is Oct. 9.
For bond issue information, go to www.betterdenver.com.
Get a sample ballot.