Author : Lakewood News from Karen

Every Lakewood candidate recommended by the Progressive Voters Guide won the 2025 race in all five ward districts. The Progressive Voter Guide also identified Wendi Strom, Isabel Cruz and Glenda Sinks as progressive candidates in 2023.

Under progressive leadership, Lakewood’s quality of life has declined while Council focuses on issues that residents consider secondary. With progressive ideology dominant, those with differing opinions have been run off, such as liberal-leaning Rich Olver and Anita Springsteen, and conservative-leaning Mary Janssen.

All candidates except Bill Furman ran on climate issues, even at a time when even Bill Gates has said that past investments in climate change have been misplaced. Bill Furman only wrote three little paragraphs on issues, saying the least of all candidates.

A recent ethics complaint was filed against a group of Colorado Representatives, including Lakewood’s Rep. Rebekah Stewart. The complaint alleges Representatives received gifts in the form of food, beverages and lodging in Vail for a lobbyist retreat. The main donor was One Main Street, a nonprofit of the same name as heavy political donors to Wendi Strom’s campaign for Lakewood Mayor in 2023. No matter the outcome of the ethics complaint, these dark money ties are being exposed in Lakewood and throughout Colorado.

As reported by the Colorado Sun: “Ethics complaints were filed Wednesday against several Democratic state lawmakers alleging they violated Colorado’s prohibition on elected officials receiving gifts when they attended a retreat last month in Vail where they mingled with lobbyists at a ritzy hotel.  The complaints were filed by Colorado Common Cause, a liberal-leaning nonprofit that advocates for an open government.“

Residents are discovering the truth behind years of planning to consolidate Lakewood’s recreation centers. Despite denials from City Council, the documents speak for themselves. Recent discussions on nextdoor.com show that most residents are unhappy with the idea of closing down any rec centers.

Lakewood resident Steve F points out that the plan included automatic steps forward on rec center consolidation but officials now claim those are not being carried out. He writes, “They are REQUIRED by what they voted on to move forward.” He goes on to quote from the document: “NEXT STEPS: Upon approval, the goals and recommendations of the plan will be pursued by delegating each plan action to a staff representative along with a timeline for completion.” Assuming there is no one working on the consolidation, as staff and Council Members claim, Steve asks,  is there even a functioning city government in Lakewood?”