44 apply for council seat; list will be reduced to six

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Apr 4, 2000 | by Raquel Rutledge

From attorneys to artists, business owners to teachers, 44 Springs residents with varied backgrounds spent Monday morning telling the Colorado Springs City Council why they should be appointed to fill a vacant seat.

Council members are to name six finalists today and conduct interviews with them Wednesday. The new council member will be selected Friday. He or she will serve until the next city election in April 2001.

"We had some very good candidates," said Councilman Richard Skorman. "They represented a lot of different parts of the community. We're going to have to do some soul searching."

Mayor Mary Lou Makepeace wants somebody with an "upbeat attitude" who is "clearly interested in the community." Makepeace wouldn't say who her top choices are.

Councilman Bill Guman's ideal candidate "is someone who will be compatible with the ideals and behavior of this council. We don't want an instigator."

Each candidate had three minutes to make a pitch to the council. Several candidates withdrew after seeing the crowd and several didn't show up for the interview.

Aspen Valley High School Principal Ann Elrod used a videotape to do her talking. Elrod couldn't attend the meeting.

Then there was Tom McElroy, a theater director and actor, who didn't say anything at all.

McElroy stood at the podium, shuffled papers, cleared his throat, switched eyeglasses a couple of times, then walked away.

Others talked about their military experience, the budgets they've managed or the businesses they've run.

Roy Clennan said life experiences qualified him.

"I've walked in the shoes of most of the people in this town," Clennan said, noting his military career, business ownership and education.

Sallie Clark said her involvement in the community would give her a head start on issues. Clark ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 1999.

She is a regular at City Hall and cites public safety as a top priority.

The council seat opened up last month when Joanne Colt resigned after allegations she participated in an illegal Internet stock- trading scheme with her son.

- Raquel Rutledge covers city government and may be reached at 476-1605 or rutledge@gazette.com. Edited by Cliff Foster. Headline by Gary Houy

Final six

The six finalists for the Colorado Springs City Council vacancy will be invited to participate in a forum at 7 tonight at the Colorado Springs Senior Center, 1514 N. Hancock Ave.

Council candidates

Applicants for the City Council seat vacated by Joanne Colt:

Allan Ackerson, 51, Technical writer.

Clarica "Reese" Armstead, 44, retired utilities worker and code enforcement officer with Colorado Springs.

Thomas Baucom, 39, Internet Web master for Colorado Springs Utilities.

David Behsman, 39, general laborer.

W. Thomas Beltz, 52, attorney.

Kang Lee Sheppard Brown, 62, art instructor, Pikes Peak Community College, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.

Shirley Brown, 53, just earned master's in social work from the University of Denver.

Robert Chaplin, 57, retired Air Force officer.

Sallie Clark, 40, innkeeper.

Roy Clennan, 45, owner, Freedom Financial Services, Freedom Realty.

Leslie Cole, 75, retired from U.S. Dept. of Education as rehabilitation specialist.

Robert Coulson, 45, retired from Air Force; seminary student.

David Dahm, 52, grant writer for Partners in Housing.

Stephen Day, 32, computer engineer, System Technology Associates.

Thomas Deniston, 61, owner, Accessible Design Associates, a consulting firm in designing building entrances for physically disabled.

Mark Ditsious, age unknown, director of operations, SeraCare Inc.

Ann Elrod, 53, principal, Aspen Valley High School.

Daniel Fenaughty, age unknown, radio talk show producer.

Robert Fisher, 39, attorney.

Douglas Fitzgerald, 38, owner, Shapemakers Fitness, Gazette copy editor.

Peter Frech, age unknown, executive director, Keep Colorado Springs Beautiful.

Robert Garrity, 65, adjunct business instructor, National American University.

Ron Glover, 41, assistant general manager/director of specialty leasing, Chapel Hills Mall.

J.C. "Moe" Graham, 60, retired engineer with Colorado Interstate Gas Co.

John Harper, 52, retired project manager, Lucent Technology Services.

James Harris, 48, economics and geography professor, Air Force Academy.

William "Bernie" Herpin Jr., 56, contract administrator for National Systems & Research Co.

John Himmelreich, 48, owner, John Himmelreich & Associates, a geology consulting firm.

Peggy James, 66, retired public relations consultant.

Cheryl Kondratow, 52, owner, Shamrock Liquors.

Todd Lippert, 38, sales associate, Dillard's.

Jan Martin, 49, president, Martin Business Group.

Thomas McElroy, 45, owner, Chaos Theatrearts.

Judith Noyes, 68, owner, Chinook Bookshop.

Rich Paul, 48, owns business consulting firm.

Elaine Petersen, 59, art instructor.

Tim Pleasant, 42, attorney.

William Price, 60, semiretired; owner of management and consulting firm.

Rob Regan, age unknown, account executive, Abbott Laboratories.

Ralph Spory JR., 60, attorney.

Fran Taylor, 59, Urban League consultant.