Forums · candidates in their own words

Same question, every candidate

Forum questions that three or more candidates answered, with their words side by side.

Each page shows one forum question and every candidate we quote on it, in ballot order. There are no scores. We mark yes or no only when the candidate said it outright. A blank means they didn't, so read the quote. Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording.

Boulder Chamber forum · August 26, 2026

If elected, name your top three priorities. And do you believe the city is moving in the right direction or wrong direction on those top priorities?17 candidates The mayor has a unique role in building consensus and setting council priorities. How would you use that leadership role to bring council, city staff, and the business community together around a clear economic strategy and hold the city accountable for measurable progress?4 candidates What are your thoughts on the highest and best uses for Area 3 Planning Reserve? And what resources and tools can the City of Boulder use to help the land comprising Area 3 Planning Reserve achieve its highest and best use, particularly as it relates to bringing utilities and infrastructure to this site?3 candidates Tell us one city issue on which you changed your position after considering new evidence or another perspective.6 candidates What role do you see public and private partnerships playing in some of our greatest areas of need?3 candidates If elected, what is the single most important new initiative you would pursue in your first year to improve Boulder's business climate? Are there any past policies the Council has adopted you would consider reversing?3 candidates Do you support continuing to prioritize alternatives to driving, or do you think the city should shift more investment back towards roads and automobile capacity?3 candidates What specific strategies would you recommend that the City of Boulder initiate to recruit and retain businesses in our community? What kinds of industries or businesses would you target?3 candidates If elected, what specific actions would you take to support downtown businesses, encourage investment, and make economic vitality a priority?3 candidates

PLAN / Open Boulder / Better Boulder forum · September 2, 2026

Opening introduction (two minutes)12 candidates Title 9 of our city code is our land use code. Some council and community members are advocating for a complete rewrite of this title. Do you support or oppose this, and do you think now is the right time to undertake this effort?4 candidates A citizen group has developed a proposal for the city to hire a performance auditor, different from a financial auditor, and to fund a small department to support that auditor; this auditor would report to city council, with an audit committee in the 2027 budget. Do you support this or think it is necessary?4 candidates Wildfire question: mandatory home-hardening/defensible-space compliance and how to fund it (wording partly garbled in transcript)6 candidates Given the strong city manager / weak mayor structure of our city's government, how would you approach your role as mayor to set the council's overall objectives?3 candidates

Arts and culture forum · September 15, 2026

How should the city use these tools [tax increment financing, special districts, public-private partnerships, city-owned assets] to strengthen cultural infrastructure and create more vibrant commercial and civic areas?3 candidates What measures would you support to ensure future CCRS non-profit capital investments are transparent, guided by clear public priorities and evaluation criteria, and directed toward significant projects that create visible, lasting community value?3 candidates What would you do as a council member to make Boulder's budget, debt commitments, use of dedicated taxes, and major capital priorities more transparent and understandable to the public?3 candidates Final council-candidate arts question on implementing adopted plans/priorities (question wording partly lost at the Pt 2/Pt 3 video split)3 candidates If elected mayor, how would you use your leadership role to help ensure that adopted plans are translated into action and that major projects are delivered responsibly and within budget?6 candidates Final one-minute statement15 candidates

League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026

Opening statement (one minute)12 candidates If elected, name your top three priorities, and do you believe the city is currently moving in the right direction on those priorities?12 candidates What specific policies, development strategies, funding approaches, or partnerships would you pursue to increase or preserve housing affordable to families at approximately 30 to 40 percent AMI? (submitted by co-sponsor EFAA)12 candidates Boulder voters are being asked to authorize $400 million in new debt through additional property taxes for recreation, public safety and other city facilities as part of ballot issue 2K. Do you support this measure? Why or why not?12 candidates What are your feelings about the bus-only lanes and the core arterial network (CAN)? Should Boulder continue prioritizing protected bike lanes?18 candidates Do you agree or disagree that our city council is adequately representative of the social, political and economic interests of Boulder? Would you support a study session on proportional representation?12 candidates Ballot issue 2J, the residential vacancy excise tax, would be a tax of approximately $4,000 on residential property vacant for more than half the year. Do you support this tax and will it generate enough income to pay for administering this complex program? (30 seconds)12 candidates Tell us about one city issue on which you changed your position after considering new evidence or another perspective. What changed your mind?18 candidates Mayoral opening statement (one minute)6 candidates What are the unique roles of the Boulder mayor that make the job different from being a city council member?6 candidates (EFA) What specific policies, development strategies, funding approaches, or partnerships would you pursue to increase or preserve housing affordable to families at approximately 30 to 40 percent AMI?6 candidates Ballot measure 2K: Boulder voters will consider authorizing up to $400 million in new debt through additional property taxes for recreation, public safety and other city facilities. Do you support this measure? Why or why not?6 candidates What types of housing would you prioritize? How are you as mayor going to promote housing for middle-income families?6 candidates Ballot issue 2J, the residential vacancy excise tax (~$4,000 on residential property vacant more than half the year). Do you support this tax and will it generate enough income to pay for administering it?6 candidates If elected, what is the single most important new initiative you would pursue during your first year as mayor? (30 seconds)6 candidates