Wheat Ridge council hears District 3 candidates; appointment scheduled for Dec. 8

Wheat Ridge City Council interviewed six candidates Dec. 1 to fill the vacant District 3 city council seat and scheduled a formal appointment at the Dec. 8 regular meeting.

Each applicant had up to five minutes to summarize qualifications and priorities, followed by council questions. Justin Slocum highlighted his campaign track record and said "1,317 certified voters" had supported him; he emphasized constituent engagement and a measured approach to traffic and safety tools. Maki Delate described long-term residency and business association leadership, prioritizing communication, business retention and streamlined processes for entrepreneurs. Simon McGowan stressed multigenerational ties, collaborative leadership on capital projects (Anderson Pool, city hall relocation) and balanced-budget stewardship. Rebecca Growth highlighted municipal procurement and smart-mobility experience; Susan Wood, an urban planner with nearly 30 years' experience including RTD work, emphasized listening, outreach, and planning expertise.

Council members probed candidates on several recurring topics: how they would engage disengaged constituents, approaches to major capital projects and private–public partnerships, positions on traffic-enforcement tools such as automated speed cameras, funding priorities and how to ensure equitable outcomes from potential stormwater fees.

No appointment was made at the study session; staff and councilors confirmed the appointment vote will occur at the Dec. 8 meeting so whoever is appointed can participate immediately. The Dec. 8 agenda item will be first on the regular meeting so the new appointee can join that meeting’s business.

The council thanked all applicants for their time and noted the decision will be difficult given the number and caliber of applicants.