Candidate Profile: Chelsea Canda For Arvada City Council

ARVADA, CO — Six City Council candidates are running for Arvada's Nov. 2 municipal election.

Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Chelsea Canda is running for Arvada City Council.

Age: 36

Family

Husband, Dan - 39
Son, Daniel - 12
Son, Payson - 8
Son, Maddox - 6
Daughter, June - 4

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My father-in-law is a Custer County Commissioner

Education

B.A. English Secondary Education; M.A. Gifted and Talented Education - both from UNC - Greeley

Occupation

11 Years - HS English Teacher; Current Office Manager for our family's small business (open for 3 years)

Campaign website: www.chelsea4arvada.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am running for office because I am a citizen of Arvada who is concerned about the direction our beautiful city is headed. I believe that we need leaders who serve the people and the people’s interests rather than their own. I want to preserve the Arvada community as a safe, family-friendly city.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

My opponent is a typical political insider. He has the backing of special interest groups who are aiming to fundamentally change Arvada. I’m a regular citizen who lives here by choice, loves it here, and wants to keep Arvada safe, family-friendly, and small business-friendly.

How do you think local officials are performing in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

I think allowing people the access to information and available prevention and treatment is the best way to respond. If I had been on City Council in 2020, I would never have passed controversial ordinances while COVID restrictions acted as a barrier to citizens voicing their opinion. Beyond that Arvada was one of the first councils to resume in person meetings and Apex got kids back into sports and activities before anyone in the state (which my family really appreciated). Compared to other cities in the metro area, Arvada has maintained a far more open environment for people and businesses to get back to work and resume normal life. This is what makes Arvada a great place to live.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Aside from public safety, I also believe that we should be prioritizing
1. Small businesses: As a small business owner, I know our city thrives when small businesses are allowed to operate and grow. We should get out of their way.
2. Infrastructure. We must make sure that we are providing and maintaining the roads, sewers, sidewalks, etc. that citizens need.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

On the City Council you have to work as a team even when there are disagreements. My time as a teacher sharpened my listening skills and gave me plenty of opportunities to understand other perspectives. As my husband and I have navigated owning and growing a business, I’ve really honed my problem-solving skills to logically approach issues. My background and experience is not similar to many in politics today. I am a typical mother of 4 and wife managing the demands of family and work, now a campaign. I am bringing a voice and experience that represents a vast majority of the families in Arvada but is not currently represented on our City Council.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

"Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all of you who wait for the Lord!" - Psalm 31:24

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Voters can trust that I share their values and desires about living here and raising a family. Voters should know that I will represent their ideas and values on the City Council - that I’m not going into this thinking that I already know what’s best for everyone.