At the Jan. 13 Golden City Council meeting, two well-loved City Councilors announced their resignations. Ward Four Councilor Gwyn Green announced her resignation effective at the end of the meeting, and Ward Two Councilor Marcie Miller announced that she would step down after a special election is held and her replacement sworn in or her home in Golden is sold.

Green was elected to serve as State Representative for House District 23 in November. She said she intended to remain on City Council while serving in the Legislature, but that the hours and attention needed to move her agenda forward for House District 23 led her to “the reluctant conclusion” that she would not be able to remain on City Council.

Miller recently sold her downtown Golden coffee shop, Higher Grounds, and purchased a home in Hawaii. She said the five-year plans she was making quickly and unexpectedly accelerated into a five-month plan, bringing her to a crossroads. She said she “loves this City with all her being,” but believes life is calling her down a different path. She plans to take up residency in Hawaii and start an art center. She said she chose to resign at the same time as Green so that one special election could be held to fill both seats. Miller said she didn’t want to put it off and decide to leave later in her term, when the seat may have remained vacant for as many as 180 days until the November election.

Green and Miller were elected in November 2001. Both Councilors said they are extremely sad to leave, but are very proud of the strides that have been taken by the City in their time on Council.

“I have loved working for the citizens of Golden as Ward 4’s City Councilor and have worked hard to make a difference,” Green said. “But it became clear to me that I cannot keep giving it my all, 150 percent, and Golden deserves that.”

Green cited responsiveness to constituents, keeping an unnecessary beltway and dangerous supertower out of Golden, historic preservation and promoting livable communities as her passions while serving on Council, and said they will remain focal points in her service as State Representative to Golden and Lakewood.

Miller said that when she was first elected, she was “an open space-loving hippie who really wanted to save the (table) mesas,” and said she still is. Miller said when she started, she was skeptical of government, but thanked City Council, City Manager Mike Bestor and City staff for making her a believer in municipal government through their hard work and dedication to the City of Golden and its citizens.

“I really love this town” Miller said, trying to hold back tears. “Being on City Council is a labor of love, and I have been very fortunate to have served with people who care so much about our City.”

Miller named off a long list of accomplishments that have taken place during her tenure on Council, and said they were accomplished through the vision and hard work of many, but was proud to say her name was among them.

Mayor Chuck Baroch said he believed he was speaking on behalf of the entire City when he said Green and Miller would be greatly missed. He said that Green and Miller had both been strong advocates for Golden’s anti-beltway position, as well as tremendous supporters of open space. Both pushed the Council to fight the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners’ rezoning to allow a supertower on Lookout Mountain. Miller and Green often brought thoughtful reflections and questions before the Council for consideration, and will be remembered for the cooperative spirit they embodied.

Golden’s City Charter requires a special election be held if a seat on the Council will be vacant for more than 180 days. As a result of the resignations, the City Clerk’s Office has begun planning a special election for April 5 to fill these vacancies through the terms’ end. The City Council will be presented with a proposed schedule at its Jan. 27 meeting. (The proposed schedule is posted below.)

“I very much want for citizens of Golden to be involved and thoughtful voters,” Miller said. “I want you to choose thoughtfully and pick someone who will stand tall for what you believe in, someone who is ethical and really cares.”

If you live in Ward Two or Ward Four and are interested in running for City Council, please contact the City Clerk’s Office by calling 303-384-8014 or e-mail sbrooks@cityofgolden.net. You can find out which ward you live in by checking the ward maps or by calling the Clerk’s Office.

If you live in Ward Two or Ward Four and are interested in running for City Council in the April 5 special election, please be aware of the following deadlines:

Feb. 14, 2005
First day to pick up and circulate nomination petitions

March 4, 2005 
Last day to file nomination petition with City Clerk

March 7, 2005
Last day to register to vote in the April 5, 2005, Special Municipal Election

Applications for absentee ballots may be requested from the office of the City Clerk either orally or in writing between now and Friday, April 1. Call 303-384-8014 or 303-384-8015.

This Special Election will be a polling place election and is for Wards 2 and 4 only. The polling place for Ward 2 will be Fire Station No. 4. The polling place for Ward 4 will be Golden City Hall Council Chambers.

Judges are needed for the Special Election. You must be a registered voter. If you are interested, contact City Clerk Susan Brooks at 303-384-8014.