Candidate Profile: Tom Keefe For Lakewood City Council

LAKEWOOD, CO — Twelve City Council candidates are running for Lakewood'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.

Tom Keefe is running for Lakewood City Council - Ward 5.

Age: 48

Family

Wife, Colleen, who is a Jeffco grad and Jeffco teacher. TJ, 21, and Grace 19, both are Jeffco graduates.

Education

I haves a BA in History from St. Joseph’s University, an MA in Diplomacy from Norwich University, an MAT in Social Studies from Miami University, an EdD in Organizational Leadership from Grand Canyon University, and a certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University.

Occupation

I am a college professor (Associate Professor of Humanities) at the Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design in Lakewood where I teach history, politics, and world religions.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

I have studied policy and political science for years. I earned the Lyndon B. Johnson Internship Award and worked in the U.S. House of Representatives. I have also worked for two mayors in other municipalities on diversity initiatives. I have been a member of the Jefferson County Historical Commission, and I am currently a member of the First Judicial District Judicial Retention Commission.

Campaign website: Tom4Lakewood.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am running to give back to the community that has given so much to my family. I will bring my policy experience to the city council and to improve the civility in our politics. I want to do my part in building a safer, stronger, and greener Lakewood.

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

My educational background and life experiences make me uniquely qualified to serve on Council. I know these struggles that so many of us face —from safety in our community to safety within our homes, from physical health to mental health, and providing for our family while supporting our neighbors in need. I know what it’s like to be a single parent, a blended parent, an entrepreneur, and a public servant. That’s why I want to be one of the two new Ward 5 Councilors. We are stronger together.

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

I think that the City of Lakewood worked well within the limitations of federal and state policy. I wish the federal and state had worked directly with payroll firms as other countries did to handle COVID-19 relief checks and unemployment dispersals. This would have saved time and resources at the federal and state level that then could have been used elsewhere.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I am committed to a safer, stronger, and greener Lakewood. Safety includes personal safety, property safety, and traffic safety. Stronger means fiscal responsibility and increasing our municipal employee retention. I will also ensure we invest in our future infrastructure responsibly, our small businesses, and continuing to attract new businesses. I will support the continued expansion of our parks and open spaces which both protects the environment and adds to our quality of life.

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

From receiving the the Lyndon B. Johnson Congressional Internship Award to just recently receiving the Philip J. Steele Distinguished Faculty Award, I have a proven track-record of commitment and success. This includes not just service to a job or community service opportunity, but also supporting each member of the organizations. I have a doctorate in Organizational Leadership and I am excited to bring that background and my passion for data and policy to the Lakewood City Council.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Trust your strengths, know your weaknesses, and surround yourself with people who are supportive, mission-focused, and complement your strengths and weaknesses.

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

Not only am I running to give back to the community that has given so much to my family, I am also running to do my part in restoring civility to our politics and to do so with a mind-set of service not cynicism. I want to make a positive difference in the lives of our Lakewood community.