Lakewood 2021 Election Voter Guide: City Council, Ballot Question

LAKEWOOD, CO — Ballots for the Nov. 2 election are being mailed to Lakewood voters, who will decide the fate of 12 candidates running for City Council.

If you haven't received a ballot, contact the Jefferson County elections team, which can issue you a replacement by mail until Oct. 25 — the last day to return your ballot by mail to ensure it arrives in time, and first day in-person vote centers are open.

Ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Nov. 2. Colorado doesn't have a registration deadline, so voters can both register and vote Nov. 2. If you are voting in person, you must be in the line before 7 p.m., officials said.

Lakewood City Council Candidate Profiles

Ward 1

• Jeslin Shahrezaei
• Catherine Kentner

Ward 2

• Sophia Mayott-Guerrero
• Charles Davis

Ward 3

• Rebekah Stewart
• Mike Bieda*

Ward 4

• Christopher Arlen
• Richard Olver

Ward 5

• Thomas E. Keefe
• Wendi Strom
• Mary Janssen
• Michael Gunstanson

*Patch reached out to candidate for profile, and will link once completed.

Voter Registration

If you’ve changed your name or moved since the last time you received a mail ballot, you need to update your voter registration as soon as possible, and no later than Oct. 25 to receive a mail ballot.

Coloradans who will turn 18 on or before Nov. 2 can pre-register to vote in the election here. They will need a valid driver’s license or Colorado State ID number to register online.

Colorado has same-day voter registration, so even if you put it off until the last minute, you can go to a voter service and polling center with your ID, register, and cast a ballot on Election Day.

Ballot Tracking Registration

Jeffco voters who want to track their ballots can sign up ahead of time here to receive alerts by phone, email or text message.

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Lakewood 2021 Ballot Issue

Taxes on Marijuana: If this initiative passes, retail marijuana (and marijuana-infused products) will be taxed 5-10 percent, and an excise tax of 5-10 percent will be imposed on the wholesale transfer of marijuana products to or from Lakewood marijuana businesses. The taxes would go to funding marijuana regulation, enforcement, education and general city expenses, officials said.

Here's how the question will appear on your ballot:

SHALL CITY OF LAKEWOOD TAXES BE INCREASED BY $2,904,000 ANNUALLY IN THE FIRST FULL FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2022, AND BY SUCH AMOUNTS AS ARE RAISED ANNUALLY THEREAFTER, BY THE IMPOSITION OF A SALES TAX OF 5% ON THE SALE OF RETAIL MARIJUANA AND RETAIL MARIJUANA INFUSED PRODUCTS (AS AUTHORIZED BY STATE LAW), AND AN EXCISE TAX OF 5% ON THE WHOLESALE TRANSFER OF RETAIL MARIJUANA AND RETAIL MARIJUANA INFUSED PRODUCTS FROM OR TO A MARIJUANA BUSINESS IN THE CITY, INCLUDING TRANSFERS BY THE SAME BUSINESS BETWEEN LICENSES, ASSESSED ON THE AVERAGE MARKET RATE OF UNPROCESSED MARIJUANA NOT FOR RETAIL SALE (FOR MARIJUANA) AND ON THE GREATER OF THE PRICE PAID BY THE PURCHASER OR THE CASH VALUE OF MARIJUANA PRODUCTS (FOR MARIJUANA PRODUCTS), WITH THE RESULTING SALES AND EXCISE TAX RATES CAPABLE OF BEING INCREASED TO A MAXIMUM OF 10% WITHOUT FURTHER VOTER APPROVAL, WITH THE RESULTING TAX REVENUES TO BE USED TO FUND MARIJUANA REGULATION AND ENFORCEMENT, AND EDUCATION AND PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS ASSOCIATED WITH MARIJUANA CONSUMPTION, AND FOR OTHER GENERAL EXPENSES OF THE CITY, AND SHALL THE CITY BE PERMITTED TO COLLECT, RETAIN AND EXPEND ALL REVENUES DERIVED FROM SUCH SALES AND EXCISE TAXES AND ANY INVESTMENT EARNINGS THEREON AS A VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE AND AN EXCEPTION TO LIMITS WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE APPLY UNDER ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION OR ANY OTHER LAW? YES __ NO __

>> Learn more about the Lakewood election on the city's website.