Know Before You Vote: Colorado Springs City Council District 1 candidate Dave Donelson

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) - April 1 is Election Day in Colorado Springs, and KKTV wants you to Know Before You Vote!

Dave Donelson is one of the candidates running for Colorado Springs City Council in District 1.

Below is a candidate profile submitted to KKTV 11 News by Donelson:

Hometown: I was born at Turner Air Force Base (Albany, Georgia) and grew up in an Air Force family. We moved several times during my childhood - Georgia, Florida, Texas, New Mexico, Germany.

How long have you lived in Colorado Springs? My wife Holly and I came to Colorado Springs in October 1991 as our first duty station in the US Army. We have been here ever since - except for training assignments during my time in the Army and my deployments to Iraq, Korea, Kazakhstan, Turkey, etc.

Education: BA in Political Science/Economics; BS in Physician Assistant Studies; Physician Assistant - National Certification (PA-C).

Profession: Currently I am fully occupied as the Councilman from District 1. Immediately before Council I was a Physician Assistant and Clinic Director for a Men’s Health Center. Before retiring in 2010 from the Army I held several positions. I was a Russian Linguist in Military Intelligence, a Green Beret, and finally a Physician Assistant. I started as a junior enlisted, became an NCO and then an Officer. I have also been a certified Paramedic. I had 3 year long deployments to Iraq during the war. Before the Army I was a Wilderness Guard and Trail Crewman in the US Forest Service.

Previously held and current elected positions: Currently I am the Colorado Springs District 1 City Councilman. I am also the current Chair of the Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) Board of Directors, and the President of the El Paso County Board of Health.

During my first four years on council I have also served as the Vice-Chair of the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority (PPRTA), secretary of the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments (PPACG), and a member of many other committees to include Lodging and Rental Tax (LART), Stormwater, Audit, and Independent Ethics Committee.

Top Five Priorities:

1. Public Safety - This is the most important function of local, and actually all levels of government. We must fully fund our Police and Fire, decrease crime (by enforcing our laws), and decrease response times. I wrote and got passed the resolution declaring that Colorado Springs is not a Sanctuary City. I wrote and got passed a city ordinance to stop human trafficking in massage therapy businesses in Colorado Springs.

2. Infrastructure - This refers to things like roads, sidewalks, and our stormwater system. The condition of our roads needs to be prioritized right after public safety. The condition of our roads and sidewalks is a source of frustration for our citizens. We have an unforgiving climate in Colorado Springs for our roads with repeated freeze/thaw cycles and large temperature swings.

3. Parks - General Palmer founded Colorado Springs at the foot of Pikes Peak because of the striking beauty of this area. Our Parks, Garden of the Gods in particular, bring hundreds of thousands of tourists to our city annually. We need to prioritize their maintenance and protection.

4. Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) - City Council is also the Board of Directors for CSU. I have served as the Board Chair for the last two years. We need to continue to focus on keeping our rates as low as possible while ensuring 100% reliability and a realistic approach to our energy portfolio. We cannot allow ourselves to be forced to adopt unrealistic “clean energy” goals by the state which result in severe price increases for citizens and businesses.

5. Clean and Safe - This is what citizens want and what will attract businesses and jobs to Colorado Springs. If we look at all our decisions through this lens it will lead to an orderly and prosperous city. Example - Should we expand the “No Sit/Lie” ordinance to South Nevada? Answer - Yes, because it will make the city cleaner and safer.

What are your goals for the district in which you’re running?

In general, my goal is to truly represent the will of the citizens of District 1. My signs say: “VOTE DONELSON - HE VOTES FOR YOU.” That is what I will continue to do. I don’t take developer campaign donations so citizens don’t have to worry about a conflict of interest when I am voting on annexations, rezones, or development plans. My opponent, and most on council, do take developer money and I believe that rightly concerns citizens.

I have a proven record of voting in the interest of the citizens of District 1 - and really the entire city. I voted against the two large high density apartment complexes at a fire evacuation chokepoint in District 1(30th and Garden of the Gods). I worked with the citizens of District 1 to improve the Blodgett Open Space Master Plan. I fought to keep Rockrimmon Library open - and am fighting now to get a PPLD Library restored to the Rockrimmon area.

I have voted against the two large flag-pole annexations (Amara and Karman Line) that were proposed to council. I wrote and got passed a Resolution stating that we are not a Sanctuary City (a reporter from the border told us that that resolution got Colorado Springs on a list of cities given to illegal immigrants NOT to go to). I proposed letting citizens vote on a downtown building height limit so that our downtown doesn’t become more like Denver. I worked with a neighborhood to keep a large four lane road (the Constitution extension) from cutting through their neighborhood. I will keep working with the citizens of District 1, and the entire city, on their behalf!

Website information: davedonelson.org

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