Elections Archives

False Allegations Lead To Election Free Speech Harassment

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on April 6, 2026Posted in Crime, Elections, TransparencyTagged code enforcement, Colorado, electioneering, Free speech, Lakewood, police, Shahrezaei, Sinks, Special election, Ward 1, yard sign

Lakewood confiscated political yard signs without warning or discussion less than a week before election day. Whole neighborhoods were denuded of signs, angering residents who argue they were properly placed. Days later, residents pushed back, protesting for free speech at a city ward meeting. City Council members unjustly accused the protesters of electioneering, even while conducting similar discussions within electioneering limits themselves. Police were called. No electioneering was found. No apologies were issued to free speech, “Vote Yes” advocates for any of these incidents.

Social Housing Agenda Exposed

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on March 28, 2026Posted in Development, Elections, TransparencyTagged affordable housing, agenda, April 7, Colorado, election, Lakewood, news, referendum, social housing, zoning

Is new zoning about making it easier for teachers and firefighters to pay for housing? Or is it about making teachers and firefighters pay for someone else? Is housing a commodity or a right? “Social housing” is public housing based on the belief that housing is a right. Information available shows that re-zoning is necessary to implement social housing. Social housing increases the tax burden on the missing middle class by imposing more taxes to fund subsidies. The missing middle is who Lakewood is hoping to convince to support the new zoning, although they may be the ones paying in the end.

Lakewood Councilors Working to Undermine Zoning Limits Already

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on March 17, 2026Posted in Development, Elections, TransparencyTagged Colorado, densification, HB26-1114, height restriction, HOME Act, Lakewood, minimum lot size, public trust, Special election, will of the people, zoning

The Lakewood City Council Legislative Committee supports two state bills that would override Lakewood zoning code limits: HB26-1001 and HB26-1114. These state bills would further densify Lakewood regardless of the April 7 special election vote on new zoning densification, suggesting Committee Members are ignoring the will of the people.

Who Are You Gonna Call?

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on March 17, 2026Posted in Development, ElectionsTagged Broomfield, Colorado, infrastructure, Lakewood, safety, sewer, somebody should do something, Special election, vote yes, zoning

No, not when you see pink slime coming out of your bath tub faucet. When shit backs up in your basement. Probably a plumber, who will tell you it’s $500 just to come out and have a look (since this will probably happen around 2:37 AM, on a Saturday night/morning). And, a few days later, once the shock of the damage wears off a little bit and anger starts settings in, you’ll probably get on the phone with your local water and sanitation district.

Special Interest Money for Special Election

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on February 10, 2026Posted in ElectionsTagged campaign finance, elections, housing interests, special interests, zoning

Campaign Financial reports for four issue committees related to the zoning referendum election were posted on February 6, 2026. The reports show a lot of non-Lakewood special interest money on one side.

Lakewood Violates TABOR Promises to Voters

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on February 3, 2026Posted in Budget, Elections, TransparencyTagged broken promise, business tax, excess revenue, misinformation, refund, tabor

There is no dispute that the City of Lakewood must comply with a recent Colorado Supreme Court ruling requiring repayment of illegally collected Business and Occupation taxes. However, the way Lakewood is paying that refund has raised concerns that voters were misled about how their TABOR money would be used.

City staff and Council presented the TABOR Fund as the only option available. However, the TABOR Fund is a Lakewood-created accounting mechanism, not a requirement of state law or the court decision. Lakewood could have paid the refund from the General Fund. Instead, on January 26, 2026, City Council voted to take money from the TABOR Fund that had been explicitly promised to voter-approved purposes.

Dark money donations allowed in Lakewood

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on February 1, 2026Posted in Elections, TransparencyTagged campaign finance, Citizens United, corporations, dark money, donations, Metro Housing Coalition

New campaign finance rules for Lakewood define non-profits and corporations as people. The change allows large donations without individual disclosures. This is commonly referred to as dark money. The rule change follows 2010 changes at the federal level known as the Citizens United v FEC decision.

Shahrezaei and Councilor Bill Furman were beneficiaries of this change during the 2025 election. Each received $400 from the Metro Housing Coalition through the Metro Housing Coalition Political Action Committee.

Special Election Set for April 7

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on January 27, 2026Posted in Elections, TransparencyTagged densification, listening, referendum, Special election, special interests, transparency, trust, urbanization, zoning

Lakewood City Council unanimously decided to put the zoning code up for a vote on a special election on April 7, 2026. Both pro-zoning and anti-zoning advocates requested the special election. Both sides believe they have the support of the people.

The decision to put the zoning code on the ballot was not about the zoning code. The issue was whether City Council would listen to the people. City Council rushed to approve a new zoning code without a public discussion of the underlying densification decision. The actual changes were a different discussion than the broader Comprehensive Plan or “affordable housing” discussion. Once people started to understand zoning densification impacts, there was a rising number of complaints. City Council Members discounted these voices as a “small minority.”

Lakewood Citizens Demand City Overturn Ordinances Benefiting Wealthy Individuals and Corporations

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on January 25, 2026Posted in Development, ElectionsTagged Cathy Kentner, overturn, people over profits, petition, referendum, Regina Hopkins, save belmar park, zoning code

From Save Belmar Park, Inc and People Before Profits
On Monday January 26, Lakewood City Council will again vote on a controversial new zoning scheme enacted by a council majority that was led by dark-money, developer-funded Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem.
This vote—triggered by four historic citizen referendum petitions—will determine whether the Council repeals its radical zoning rewrite or sends it to Lakewood voters for a citywide vote.

Resident Voices: Keep Lakewood Special

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on January 18, 2026Posted in ElectionsTagged budget, developers, joan poston, referendum, Special election

Guest post from Joan Poston
Hello Neighbors, on January 26 there will be a meeting of the city council of Lakewood. They are having a vote about the referendum petitions that were successfully presented to the city. Now the city is faced with a choice. They can repeal all of the ordinances about zoning that they passed this past August and September. Or they can hold a special election. I have been hearing rumors that they want the special election and I have been contemplating why? Why would you choose the more expensive route using taxpayer money when you can remedy the situation for free? This seems to be a kitchen table issue. Money is tight right now for both taxpayers and city government. Why would you want a special Election costing at least $300,000? I have a couple of theories. Maybe some of the city council will use this election to raise war chest money. It is always easier to raise money when you show that you’re fighting for an issue. The real question is who are they fighting for? I believe that some members of City Council are fighting for the developers. And developers have deep pockets.

Elections

False Allegations Lead To Election Free Speech Harassment

Lakewood Councilors Working to Undermine Zoning Limits Already

Who Are You Gonna Call?

Special Interest Money for Special Election

Lakewood Violates TABOR Promises to Voters

Dark money donations allowed in Lakewood

Special Election Set for April 7

Lakewood Citizens Demand City Overturn Ordinances Benefiting Wealthy Individuals and Corporations

Resident Voices: Keep Lakewood Special

Lakewood Informer

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