October 23, 2023 10:48 AM UTC

Aurora Republicans Pretend To Be Less Partisan Than They Are

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• by: Jason Salzman

(Promoted by Colorado Pols)

Kristi Burton Brown, the former leader of the Colorado Republican Party, makes no secret of her support for Aurora City Council candidate Stephanie Hancock.

“I certainly hope to see you get elected to City Council,” Burton Brown told Hancock in June on a right-wing radio show. “And for anyone listening who wants to get involved in your campaign, maybe walk doors with you, find out more about you. Where can they do that?”

The comments by Brown — set against the partisan divide that defines political life in Aurora — illustrate the fact that even though the Aurora City Council election isn’t technically a partisan election, as a practical matter, it is partisan.

Democratic leaders mostly endorse Democratic candidates in Aurora. Republicans, like Brown, mostly endorse Republicans — though Aurora Republicans, trying to navigate the politics of a Democratic-leaning city, aren’t promoting the depth of their connections to fellow Republicans.

Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman, who’s seeking re-election, has spent most of his career fighting for right-wing GOP causes. Conversely, Juan Marcano, who’s running against Coffman, is a well-known Democrat, endorsed by leading Democrats, including the former leader of the Colorado Democratic Party.

Even though the official Aurora ballot does not state the partisan leanings of Aurora City Council candidates, party affiliation is clearly a major factor in the election. And it’s in the public interest to have the party affiliation of the candidates available in one place.

Mayor

Democrats

Juan Marcano, Democrat

Jeffrey Sanford, Democrat

Republican

Mike Coffman, Republican

AT-LARGE CANDIDATES

Democrats

Alison Coombs, Democrat

Dr. Thomas Mayes, Democrat

Republicans

Curtis Gardner, Republican

Jono Scott, Republican

WARD 4 (WESTERN AURORA) CANDIDATES

Democrat

Jonathan Gray, Democrat

Republican

Stephanie Hancock, Republican

WARD 5 (SOUTHWESTERN AURORA) CANDIDATES

Democrat

Chris Rhodes, Democrat

Unaffiliated

Angela Lawson, (formerly a Republican), Unaffiliated

WARD 6 (SOUTHERN AURORA) CANDIDATES

Democrat

Brian Matise, Democrat

Republican

Francoise Bergan, Republican

SOURCES: Public voting records, Aurora Sentinel, Aurora Clerk’s candidate list.