Lakewood Election Results: Stewart, Olver, Mayott-Guerrero Lead

This story was updated at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday.

LAKEWOOD, CO — With around 99 percent of votes counted, candidate Rich Olver led Christopher Arlen by 1,549 votes in Lakewood's Ward 4 race.

Rebekah Stewart led Mike Bieda by 1,358 votes in Lakewood's Ward 3 race, and in Ward 2, Mayott-Guerrero was in the lead by 1,084 votes against Charles Davis.

Unofficial voting results for other Lakewood City Council races were tighter.

The election will decide the fate of twelve candidates who are running for six seats on City Council. Lakewood voters will elect one council member each in Wards 1 through 4, and two members in Ward 5.

Jeslin Shahrezaei, Catherine Kentner, Thomas Keefe, Wendi Strom, Mary Janssen and Michael Gunstanson have also been campaigning for a council seat.

Our state has a 7-year history of successful mail-in voting, and Jefferson County had one of the highest ballot return rates leading up to Nov. 2.

Lakewood City Council Election Results

Unofficial results as of 5:30 a.m. Wednesday.

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Ward 1

• Jeslin Shahrezaei: 4,006
• Cathy Kentner: 3,576

Ward 2

• Charles Davis: 1,956
• Sophia Mayott-Guerrero: 3,040

Ward 3

• Rebekah Stewart: 4,436
• Mike Bieda: 3,078

Ward 4

• Christopher Arlen: 3,808
• Richard Olver: 5,357

Ward 5

• Michael Gunstanson: 2,286
• Wendi Strom: 4,054
• Thomas E. Keefe: 3,441
• Mary Janssen: 3,440

Many accusations flew among Lakewood candidates in the months before the City Council election, making it one of the most dramatic metro Denver council elections in years.

But as the city grapples with recovering from the pandemic, reader feedback and surveys show that financial security, public safety, small business recovery, keeping students in school, climate change and fixing infrastructure are far more pertinent for voters than learning about the latest campaign drama.

Ward 1

Jeslin Shahrezaei went up against Catherine Kentner for the Ward 1 seat.

Shahrezaei, a non-profit director who has worked in the sector for 15 years, said she campaigned for office because she believes "it is long past time for us to widen the lens of who represents us in our community."

"In the recent history of Ward 1 there has not been someone elected to council who shares my lived experience of a young family putting down roots in our community," her Patch profile read. "My kids attend our local schools, play in our parks and recreate in our open spaces."

Shahrezaei sits on the board of directors for the Mid Lakewood neighborhood association and she's a charter organizer for the City of Lakewood's Sustainable Neighborhood program. One of her top priorities is to "balance meeting the needs of a growing population in a responsible and measured way," she told Patch.

"I want to support the momentum that is happening on West Colfax and encourage it west through Ward 1. The West Colfax BID and 40 West Arts District have done great work to begin the revitalization of West Colfax. The Westland shopping center provides one of the biggest opportunities for us to keep the revitalization going through Ward 1. We need elected officials willing to work together and in partnership with community leaders to keep this momentum going."

Another issue that defined her campaign platform was increasing sustainability.

"We need elected officials who understand this means more than recycling. This should be basis for our city planning and goal-setting, we cannot wish these problems away. We have a responsibility to protect our open spaces, clean air and water for our kids and grandkids.

Shahrezaei's opponent, Kentner, spent 30 years working as a public school music teacher.

Kentner is a former president of the Bonvue Neighborhood association and current board member of the Bonvue Water and Sanitation District. She is also a co-founder of Lakewood Neighborhood Partnerships.

"Ward 1 must be represented by someone who puts people and Lakewood first," Kentner's Patch profile read.

"I have the necessary experience and background to work with the City's legislative process, including my service on the Planning Commission, and my longtime advocacy for neighborhood issues as an independent thinker, a person who is unafraid to represent the interests and needs of our community instead of special interest demands."

Some of the top issues that defined Kentner's platform included community safety, improving infrastructure, the redevelopment of West Colfax, protecting the environment and investing in Parks and Open Space.

"I have helped neighborhoods advocate for protection of parks and open space, for responsible development and against warehousing of the elderly," Kentner said.

"I hear neighbors and neighborhood leaders speak of the unwise consequences of our 2012 zoning changes, and I brought together people of diverse backgrounds and party affiliations to bring positive change by initiating the grassroots Lakewood Strategic Growth Initiative."

In a blog post, Stephanie Schooley, a Jeffco Board of Education member, said a candidate crossed a line when she came to Schooley's home and left an abrasive note (which was first read by Schooley's children) asking why she endorsed Shahrezaei. Kentner admitted she had dropped off the note, but told the Littleton Independent that the blog post was taken out of context, and that she was canvassing in the member's neighborhood when the note was left.

Kentner was also accused of a conflict of interest after rumors surfaced in the Oct. 11 City Council meeting of a relationship between her and Charlie Able. Able was accused of helping Kentner get appointed to the Lakewood Planning Commission, but there is no formal rule against commission members or council members being in a relationship, as the Littleton Independent first reported.

Ward 2

Sophia Mayott-Guerrero campaigned against Charles Davis for Lakewood's Ward 2 City Council seat.

Mayott-Guerrero, who spent seven years working in the environmental justice sector, said she campaigned because she wants to "help create an inclusive, affordable, and sustainable Lakewood with vibrant business, arts, and recreation opportunities."

Mayott Guerrero said she wants to see local businesses thrive, particularly those on Colfax.

"We are the largest city in the county and can lead the way on sustainability initiatives, collaboration on regional issues such as housing and transportation, and support for local business and the arts," her Patch candidate profile read.

"There is so much potential in new ownership of Belmar, the White Swan, Casa Bonita and other businesses, and an expanding art scene- we have a moment to capitalize on this momentum."

Mayott-Guerrero's opponent, Davis, has spent the past four years working as a mortgage loan officer. He told Patch he believes the city government needs to improve its "professionalism, transparency and engagement."

"I'd love to see Lakewood expand the energy that the resurgence of West Colfax has seen. The people who have spearheaded and been an integral part of this, myself included, have been amazing, involved, and have taken personal ownership in the process."

Davis said he would like to expand the revitalization further through "collaboration, communication and compromise."

"I'd also love to see some residential recycling mandates to increase our sustainable efforts through residential recycling programs. Perhaps requiring local carriers to include recycling, not as an option, but as part of their monthly service or subsidizing these at a residential level to assist in adoption."

Ward 3

Rebekah Stewart campaigned to unseat Mike Bieda for the Ward 3 seat.

Stewart is a nonprofit chief operations officer and member of both the South Lakewood Business Association and Alameda Connects.

Stewart said she believes the city government needs more leaders from professions that "put people first."

"Leaders who approach every individual and issue with nonjudgement, are willing to listen and make decisions with empathy and compassion, and who consider all voices in our community," her Patch profile read.

"Lakewood should be at the forefront of innovation when it comes to sustainability, protecting green space, improving affordability, creating safe communities, and supporting small and local businesses."

Bieda was first elected to City Council in 2017, and he serves on the Jeffco Criminal Justice Committee, Legislative Committee, the Budget and Audit Board and other committees. He's been a practicing attorney for 46 years.

"As Senior Attorney Advisor for the U.S. General Services Administration at the Denver Federal Center, I learned the intricacies of the federal government," Bieda's city profile read.

"I saw public service as a way to get to know my neighbors and work together for the betterment of the community we share."

Ward 4

Christopher Arlen went up against Richard Olver for Lakewood's Ward 4 seat.

Arlen is a small business owner and principal consultant for the Soft Skills Company, a management consulting and professional development firm. He also spent 25 years working in the nonprofit sector.

"The issues that we face in Lakewood must be addressed together," Arlen said in his Patch profile. "Whether we're talking about Lakewood's economic future, inspiring families to choose to build their lives in Lakewood, addressing the epidemic of speeding and traffic safety, or just strengthening our civic bonds, Lakewood needs leadership that will move us all forward in service of the common good."

Like Stewart, Arlen also campaigned with the goal of "putting people first."

"My thoughts are simple. I think that people who work in Lakewood should be able to live in Lakewood," Arlen said.

"I believe that we are stewards of our natural environment and should do all that we can to protect it. When our loved ones leave the house we should have faith that they will return safely. So I support making or streets, roads, and highways safer for vehicle traffic, cyclists, pedestrians, and others who share this space. These are things we can take on together and find solutions that work for us all."

Arlen's opponent, Olver, is a business owner who has spent more than four decades working as a geophysicist.

Olver said he's reached a stage in his life where he's ready to give back to the community, and use the skills he learned in his career to help Lakewood.

"As a Geophysicist and business owner, I've been problem solving since back in the dim time," Olver's profile read.

"I can look at problems, analyze the implications of all possible scenarios and devise logical solutions. After living a full life and a having a long productive work career, I'm hungry for more. I understand the complexities of diverse issues and will focus on what I can actually change, rather than debating issues that are beyond the scope of City Council."

Some of the issues that defined Olver's campaign platform include adding more dog parks to the city, making streets safer for scooters and bikes, creating a fair short-term rental ordinance, adding high-tech red lights for smoother traffic flow, keeping "an eye on" 5G towers and keeping "Soviet-style" apartment blocks from "being built willy nilly around Lakewood," he said.

Ward 5

Four candidates campaigned for two seats in Ward 5: Thomas E. Keefe, Wendi Strom, Mary Janssen and Michael Gunstanson.

Keefe is an associate professor at the Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design, where he teaches history, politics and world religions. He's a former member of the Jefferson County Historical Commission, and a current member of the First Judicial District Judicial Retention Commission.

"I am committed to a safer, stronger, and greener Lakewood," Keefe's Patch profile read. "Safety includes personal safety, property safety, and traffic safety. Stronger means fiscal responsibility and increasing our municipal employee retention."

Keefe's platform also included investing in infrastructure, small businesses and the expansion of local parks and open spaces.

Like Keefe, Strom's campaign platform included public safety, small business investment and sustainability.

Strom has spent more than two decades working in the financial services sector, and has spent the past 12 years working as a certified financial planner.

"I've been helping people be good stewards with their finances for 20 years," Strom's profile read.

"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."

The majority of candidates said that one of their top goals is to gather as much feedback as possible from constituents; however, Janssen pledged to create a 'Ward 5 Citizen Cabinet' that would include residents from each of the district's neighborhoods.

"It's about finding solutions that likely won't 100% please everyone but we still end up making Lakewood even better than now," Janssen's profile read.

Janssen, who has owned a photography studio in Ward 5 for the past 35 years, said she's dedicated to improving capital maintenance, strengthening neighborhood partnerships with local businesses and reducing crime in Lakewood.

"We must reduce the double-digit increase in crime rates," she said.

Gunstanson, a digital marketer, Eagle Scout and former small business owner, said he believes the Lakewood Police Department needs to be expanded.

"People are sick of having their cars, tools, catalytic converters, stolen," Gunstanson's profile read. "They are tired of waiting for police that sometimes never show up. Lakewood is at the council-mandated 282 officers. I'm proposing to raise this by 40."

Another central issue that defined Gunstanson's campaign platform was the Bear Creek Lake Expansion proposal.

"The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which owns the lake, wants to expand it from 2,500 acre feet (the amount of water needed to flood one acre one foot deep) to 25,000 acre feet," Gunstanson said. "Essentially, they want to put a Chatfield-sized lake where Bear Creek Lake is now."

Gunstanson cited a study by the organization, which found there's between a 30 and 40 percent chance the dam will fail in the first three to five years.

"That means everyone down stream, including my neighborhood of Westlake, will need to purchase flood insurance, he said. "That's a minimum of $650 annually. All so developers in the northern suburbs can build more apartments. NO THANKS!"

Both Janssen and Gunstanson were involved in controversies during their campaigns.

During a forum, Janssen said the city hadn't yet trimmed trees on a median that were blocking the view, so she took trimmers and cut them to improve safety — an act that goes against city procedures.

Gunstanson was accused of using a moniker to spread misinformation about Keefe and Strom's campaign funding on The Denver Post's Your Hub blog, but Gunstanson told Patch the accusation is false and said the moniker was not his.