Candidate Profile: Kyle Schlachter, Running For Littleton Mayor

LITTLETON, CO — Nine City Council candidates are running for Littleton'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.

Kyle Schlachter is campaigning to become Littleton's mayor.

Age: 40

Family: Lisa, wife; Benjamin, 10; Beatrice, 5

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? I work for the Colorado Department of Agriculture.

Education: B.S. Environmental Science, University of Denver; M.S. Geography, University of Tennessee

Occupation: Marketing Coordinator, Colorado Wine Board, CO Dept. of Agriculture.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: Littleton City Council At-large 2017-2019

Campaign website: www.Kyle4Littleton.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

We love Littleton. That’s why we live here, it’s a wonderful place to raise children, plant roots, work, play, and enjoy an incredible quality of life. It’s important to me that Littleton not simply remain a great place, but get even better. That’s why I am running for Mayor. Serving my community as Mayor is a task that requires a commitment to the past, present, and future of Littleton.

The single most pressing issue facing our city is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing our city is the depleting Capital Projects Fund. This is why I support ballot initiative 3A and am hopeful a majority of the voters will also support it. It is vitally important 3A passes so we can address our street maintenance issues, fund future major construction projects, and provide our Police Department with the resources they need (vehicles, body worn cameras, etc.).

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

I have a proven track record of working respectfully and collaboratively with other City Council members, as well as the city staff, consultants, and guests. I've been the Chair of a city board, meaning I am the only candidate to have the experience of setting agendas and running public meetings - and for the past 12 years I have worked as a staff member for a Governor-appointed state board. Additionally, have been endorsed by nine former Littleton mayors, as well as our county and state elected officials.

As a challenger, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

Councilmember Fey has refused to participate in discussions at council meetings and has even walked out during a study session. This approach is not productive for council or the community. Working respectfully as a team and maintaining professionalism is paramount for Councilmembers and especially for the position of Mayor.

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

I think Colorado and the City of Littleton have done as good a job as any in responding to the still present pandemic.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Being proactive and prioritizing long-term planning are my main objectives. We took a big step in the right direction by updating the Comprehensive Plan when I was on City Council, but there is more work to be done. Had long-term planning been a priority 15-20 years ago, we may not have the current financial troubles with the Capital Projects Fund. We need to look to the future to determine what our current needs are. The future definitely holds more traffic issues, so it is important to start planning how to meet those traffic needs along Santa Fe and Broadway in particular. I look forward to working with CDOT and RTD to develop plans to address future transportation needs starting now.

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

I've served on City Council from 2017-2019. During that time, I worked closely with the LPS Board of Education, CDOT, and worked to establish the Comprehensive Plan as well as the Transportation and Mobility Board (the Chair of the TMB endorses me). I also worked hard to create the Next Generation Advisory Committee to increase the variety of feedback provided to City Council.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Don't worry, the first 40 years of parenting are always the hardest.

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

I find that listening to others is a very important trait for leaders. I am not a land-use planner. I am not a traffic engineer. I am not an economic developer. I plan on listening to the experts in those fields as well as the members of our community and business owners when I am faced with making a decision that will affect our community.