Ward III candidates Johnny Olson and Valerie Leal-Whitehead are preparing for the upcoming local government election in Greeley.
Leal-Whitehead has been an active community member since she was in high school and is a former District 6 board member.
Olson is the current Ward III and has served for the past four years. He currently works for a private engineering firm. Olson declined an interview.
“I think the voter turnout will be high,” Leal-Whitehead said.
The growth of the city has resulted in numerous issues. Voters are particularly divided over the Greeley Westside Project. The project involves creating a new, mixed-use entertainment district in West Greeley with a hockey arena, indoor water park, conference center and new housing units. Residents have also been giving Greeley City Council complaints about the construction that comes with those projects.
“I disliked some of the interactions I saw,” Leal-Whitehead said. “It didn’t seem like the community’s voices were taken into account.”
Many residents have said they wish they were able to vote or have a say in some decision-making processes of this project.
This issue has been a hot topic at the city council meetings. The Ward I Council Member Tommy Butler loudly advocated during the city council meetings about answering the people’s questions, and that is what Leal-Whitehead said she wants as well.
“I want to make sure that the community has confidence in the council and has confidence that their voices are heard,” Leal-Whitehead said.
Leal-Whitehead has other wider goals to benefit the council and the Greeley community. She wants more than to just give the people their voices—she wants to make an impact.
“I hope to improve community engagement with the city council,” Leal-Whitehead said. “My number one goal is to be proficient in understanding the budget and where it can be manipulated to meet the needs of housing and infrastructure and safety.”
Many residents are planning to register to vote and be a part of this important election because they plan on spending more time in Greeley and don’t want changes to happen that they feel would be negative for the community.
Landry Stone is a Greeley resident that has lived here since birth. They currently attend the University of Northern Colorado and have never thought about voting in the local election until this year.
“I think that there’s a lot of stupid decisions being thrown around right now,” Stone said. “These people need to understand who lives here and that a lot of the things they are doing will not benefit the people who are here.”
Hazel Anderson, a University of Northern Colorado student and new resident, expressed disappointment in the city council.
“I definitely think there needs to be a change here,” Anderson said. “I vote to make a change.”
Leal-Whitehead encouraged residents of all ages to vote and do everything they can to get their ballots filled and turned in no matter what way they choose to turn them in.
“Democracy should be participatory,” Leal-Whitehead said.
Leal-Whitehead was informed that Olson was running unopposed and decided then that she was going to run for Ward III as well.
She wants to bring in a new perspective and new energy to the council. As a Latina, she represents an underrepresented group, and being retired gives her the opportunity to work toward her goals.
“I have all of the time I need and want,” Lead-Whitehead said. “I’m active, I’m involved and I’m healthy, which are important factors.”
Leal-Whitehead says she wants to bring the energy and personality from her campaign into the council for as long as she can if she’s elected.
Greeley City Council elections are on Nov. 4. All ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on election day, and all mail-in ballots must be mailed or dropped off by Oct. 28.
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