Candidate Profile: Wendi Strom 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.

Wendi Strom is running for Lakewood City Council - Ward 5.

Age: 48

Family

My husband is Chris, we have a 15 year old son named Christopher and a lovable dog named Pilot.

Education

Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Northern Colorado
CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ are certification marks owned by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. These marks are awarded to individuals who successfully complete the CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements.

Occupation

Financial Planner for 12 years and in financial services for 21.

Campaign website: www.wendistrom.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am a mom who cares about and is highly invested in our community. My family has benefited from living here and every person that lives here should have the same opportunity. Last year was a tipping point for me as so many families were hurting, small businesses were struggling, and partisanship seemed to be overflowing. I decided I wanted to run because we all deserve to have good people in this office that will listen, be objective, and think outside of the box to find solutions. I want to change the narrative about some of our difficult challenges to “How”. “How” do we address our communities needs and preserve the Lakewood we love. “How” do we make sure we are doing the best that we can for our community and able to continue to offer the programs and services they want and rely on. And “How” do we become a city where every hard-working neighbor has the chance to experience financial security and a home that they can afford. As a financial planner I want to be a voice at the table to help Lakewood rebuild a stronger economy, helping small businesses and workers get back on track. And finally because the people of Lakewood want a government that works for the people. We all deserve the opportunity to feel we are represented by our leaders and that our voices matter.

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

There are three areas where I am uniquely qualified for the City Council that our community needs right now. I have been actively involved improving our community for over a decade and have experience bringing people together to accomplish significant tasks. One example of this is an effort I co-lead to revitalize a school & community park playground in 2014. Separately, I am a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. I’ve been helping people be good stewards with their finances for 20 years. I have budget experience and look forward to using this to make sure the city is in the best place possible to continue to keep our parks clean and safe, offer the programs and services our community enjoys and relies on, and has the flexibility to implement other programs that can advance us in areas like sustainability and public safety. And finally, although this is my first run for office, I’ve been involved in the leadership of several organizations over the last two decades. I understand the challenges that come with leading and have experience bringing people together to find tough solutions.

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

At the local level, by in large, I think most of our leadership has done a good job responding to COVID-19 and the economic impacts that it's had on our community. What I would like to see going forward, as our community addresses the incoming American Rescue Plan dollars, is attention given to getting our small businesses and workers back on track, and addressing our community's safety and homelessness. It's been a tough 18 months, things are getting better, but it will still take work.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Safety. In a variety of ways, many of us have experienced a decline in our feeling of safety and security over the last year and a half. From traffic safety to crime, I will prioritize problem solving and directing resources in a way that will help each of us feel more safe in our city.

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

The answer to this, would be almost the same as the answer to the question above about the critical differences between myself and the other candidates. With the community involvement and leadership roles that I've surrounded myself with since the age of 16 I've been preparing for this position for over half of my life. It's 32 years of experience working with people to find common ground, address the communities needs and help organizations more forward.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

As simple as it is, it was my Mom that years ago imprinted in my mind that "haste makes waste". She died when I was 17 but I still think of it frequently and it reminds me that my best work happens when I am present in the moment, slow down and truly focus on the task at hand.

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

In this office, I can’t promise that we will agree about everything, but I will promise that with each issue that comes before me, I will:
Dig deep and learn everything I can,
Seek input from varying perspectives,
Be open minded, and vote my conscience.
We all have a shared stake in a bright future for Lakewood and I ask that you vote for me so I can continue to work hard to make this a better community for us all.