Boulder VotesCity of Boulder · November 3, 2026
Election year: 2026

2026 guide › City Council

Photo: benitaduran.com (campaign website)

Running for Boulder City Council · 2026

Benita Duran

Duran is a government consultant running for Boulder council.

Money (city clerk; 14th day before election report, filed Oct. 20, 2026; retrieved Oct. 30, 2026): raised $9,627.50 · spent $9,157.74 · matching funds received $9,425.

About this candidate

Duran is a government consultant running for Boulder council. She emphasizes affordability, the local economy, wildfire preparedness and public safety.

Bio sources: boulderreportinglab.org

In their own words

Short passages from questionnaires, interviews and the campaign website, by topic. If a topic is missing, we have no quote on it. That says nothing about their view.

Downtown

Could have been right path had city council and staff had an engagement strategy on the front end to educate and inform people of the structure and pro/ cons so that by the time council voted on…
Could have been right path had city council and staff had an engagement strategy on the front end to educate and inform people of the structure and pro/ cons so that by the time council voted on moving it to ballot for the district voters, it would have had majority support.

Source: Better Boulder · questionnaire · 2026-09-13 · 2026 City Council Candidate Questionnaire

Yes, support the DDA.

Source: Downtown Boulder Partnership · questionnaire · 2026-09-21 · 2026 Mayoral and City Council Candidate Questions — Benita Duran

Governance

Every major city priority, project, and initiative should have a real community engagement strategy.

Source: Campaign website: Benita Duran · campaign website · Campaign priorities: Benita Duran

Affordable Housing, economic vitality, and sustainability I think priorities should be wildfire mitigation, attainable housing for the middle class, and economic recovery for small businesses.

Source: Better Boulder · questionnaire · 2026-09-13 · 2026 City Council Candidate Questionnaire

I was once a part of a family-owned business in downtown Boulder - People Productions was owned by Brad Gilbert for over 25 years and we met, married and had a son when I worked in the city manager’s office.

Source: Downtown Boulder Partnership · questionnaire · 2026-09-21 · 2026 Mayoral and City Council Candidate Questions — Benita Duran

Housing

Yes. It helps.

Source: Better Boulder · questionnaire · 2026-09-13 · 2026 City Council Candidate Questionnaire

Public safety

My position is that the city is on a better and more productive track in addressing safety and security issues of the downtown.

Source: Downtown Boulder Partnership · questionnaire · 2026-09-21 · 2026 Mayoral and City Council Candidate Questions — Benita Duran

Transportation

Yes. No additional comment submitted.

Source: Better Boulder · questionnaire · 2026-09-13 · 2026 City Council Candidate Questionnaire

What reporters wrote

These are the reporter's words about the candidate, not the candidate's own.

Richard Valenty reporting Benita Duran’s interview · downtown
Duran said she would have voted to put the DDA on a ballot for people with connections to the DDA had she been on Council, but said there were problems with the process at the time.

Richard Valenty · 2026-09-22 · Candidate interview: Benita Duran

Boulder Reporting Lab reporter · homelessness
Benita Duran is running for Boulder City Council on a platform of strengthening the local economy, improving affordability, preparing for wildfires and addressing public safety and homelessness.

Boulder Reporting Lab · 2026-08-28 · Profile source: Benita Duran

Daily Camera reporter (reporting Benita Duran) · housing
Duran also wants to improve affordability in Boulder.

Daily Camera · 2026-09-21 · Candidate profile: Benita Duran

Endorsements

Each line says where the endorsement comes from.

What the labels on each endorsement mean
Endorser's own statement
The organization or person announced it themselves (their site, their press release, or a news story reprinting that release).
“X campaign lists Y”
Only the candidate's (or ballot campaign's) own website says so. We didn't find the endorser saying it. It may be true, but it is the campaign's claim.
City filing
A committee's registration with the city clerk names the candidate or measure it supports.
News listing
A news outlet lists the endorsement, but we did not find the endorser's own statement.

Titles (e.g. “U.S. Representative”) are as printed on the cited page and describe the person, not an endorsement by their office. A blank title means the source did not give one.

Organizations and committees (6)

Current elected officials (7)

Former elected officials (13)

Other individuals (4)

Endorsements they have given (2026)

These are personal endorsements, not ones made by any office they hold.

At the forums, in their own words

Short passages from 2026 candidate forums, by topic, with the question and a link to that moment in the recording. Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. If a topic is missing, we have no quote on it. Compare answers to the same question.

Housing

2026 · forum · Housing

League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026

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)

No on 2J (the vacancy tax), in their words below.

I am opposed to it and would be voting no.

Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 1:29:53 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)

Budget, debt and the 2K bond

2026 · forum

League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026

If elected, name your top three priorities, and do you believe the city is currently moving in the right direction on those priorities?

I'd like to see more consistent profit and loss statements that are shared with the public

Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 25:58 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)

2026 · forum · Rec and safety bond

League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026

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?

No on 2K (the $400 million bond), in their words below. Adds that she does not oppose the investment in recreation, public safety and facilities.

But this one I do oppose, but I don't oppose the investment that we want to be making in our recreation, our public safety, our municipal facilities.

Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 49:38 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)

2026 · forum

League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026

Tell us about one city issue on which you changed your position after considering new evidence or another perspective. What changed your mind?

I think the city should have put a pause on the plans for that project

Transcript note: Alpine-Balsam.

Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 1:38:10 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)

Transportation

2026 · forum · Transportation

League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026

What are your feelings about the bus-only lanes and the core arterial network (CAN)? Should Boulder continue prioritizing protected bike lanes?

No yes/no label: Endorses the principles of the CAN; no explicit yes/no on the lanes.

I believe in the principles and the guidance and the policies related to CAN.

Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 1:00:43 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)

2026 · forum · Transportation

League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026

What are your feelings about the bus-only lanes and the core arterial network (CAN)? Should Boulder continue prioritizing protected bike lanes?

I just felt like people's voices were not being heard

Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 1:01:15 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)

Growth and development

2026 · forum

League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026

If elected, name your top three priorities, and do you believe the city is currently moving in the right direction on those priorities?

One relates to the Land Use Code and Title IX, updating that, getting a process in place

Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 25:24 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)

Climate and wildfire

2026 · forum

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?

Wildfire mitigation needs to happen. It needs to be more aggressive here in Boulder.

Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 18:19 · 2026 | Boulder City Council Candidate Forum (Boulder Chamber, YouTube)

Arts and culture

2026 · forum · Arts and culture

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?

I think that kind of financing, bond financing, private sector partnering is what we need to look at to help accelerate some of the projects

Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 18:19 · (Pt 1/5) 2026 City Council Candidates Forum on Arts and Culture (Boulder County Arts Alliance, YouTube)

2026 · forum

Arts and culture forum · September 15, 2026

Final one-minute statement

We need an implementation plan that relates to arts and cultural investment

Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 20:04 · (Pt 3/5) 2026 City Council Candidates Forum on Arts and Culture (Boulder County Arts Alliance, YouTube)

Workers and wages

2026 · forum

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

Opening introduction (two minutes)

I'm a candidate for the working families, the working people of our community, to see that we're more inclusive, that we provide that economic power so that people can make it.

Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 18:01 · City of Boulder Colorado Candidate-Forum - 090226 (greenlight studios, YouTube)

2026 · forum · Housing

League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026

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)

affordability also means having good paying jobs here in this community again

Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 38:09 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)

Other topics

2026 · forum · Business and the local economy

Boulder Chamber forum · August 26, 2026

What specific actions would you take to ensure Latino entrepreneurs have equitable access to city contracts, business resources, commercial space, and economic opportunities?

I believe that there is a real need to aggressively partner with chambers.

Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 1:31:57 · 2026 | Boulder City Council Candidate Forum (Boulder Chamber, YouTube)

2026 · forum · How the city is run

League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026

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?

I think our public engagement needs a refresh and a fix.

Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 1:23:55 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)

Questionnaire answers by year

Newest first. A yes or no answers only the question on that card, not the whole topic.

2026

2026 · forum · Municipal airport

Would you support accepting federal FAA grants that could require Boulder to keep the municipal airport open in perpetuity?

Yes. Reported by Boulder Reporting Lab from the June 6 2026 Raucous Caucus. Not a written questionnaire; a journalist's grouping of spoken answers.

A reporter grouped the candidates by position. This is not the candidate's own written answer.

Source: Boulder City Council candidates preview election-year battles over housing, airport and wages

Money

2026 · Benita for Boulder · 14th day before election report, filed Oct. 20, 2026; retrieved Oct. 30, 2026.

Clerk contribution total includes $348.29 in loans.

148 contribution lines, 15 expenditures. City clerk, not TRACER. Clerk statements · Everyone.

Who gave: all 148 contribution lines
NameTypeDateAmount
Benita Duran (from candidate)Monetary2026-08-26$463.77
Benita Duran (from candidate)Loan2026-09-06$136.79
Daniel AizenmanMonetary2026-09-24$100
Paul AlabackMonetary2026-09-03$100
Judy AmabileMonetary2026-08-28$100
Susan Barnes-GeltMonetary2026-10-12$100
Kathleen BeckerMonetary2026-08-30$100
Charles BloomfieldMonetary2026-09-07$100
Juana BordasMonetary2026-08-30$100
Ronald BrambilaMonetary2026-08-13$100
Stephen BrettMonetary2026-09-21$100
Carol BrewerMonetary2026-09-01$100
Thomas BriggsMonetary2026-10-02$100
Terri BrncicMonetary2026-09-11$100
Aaron BrockettMonetary2026-08-27$100
DeAnne ButterfieldMonetary2026-08-31$100
Sheila CarriganMonetary2026-09-21$100
Lauren CasteelMonetary2026-10-13$100
Lyn CioccaMonetary2026-08-22$100
Claudine CmaradaMonetary2026-08-30$100
Kevin J. CoakleyMonetary2026-08-31$100
Cynda Collins ArsenaultMonetary2026-08-31$100
Ann CooperMonetary2026-08-27$100
Katy CooperMonetary2026-09-02$100
Thomas CosgroveMonetary2026-08-19$100
Dolores CrillMonetary2026-09-21$100
Michael DoghertyMonetary2026-09-07$100
Robert DrakeMonetary2026-09-23$100
Steven DuranMonetary2026-09-03$100
Diane DvorinMonetary2026-08-30$100
Eli FeldmanMonetary2026-09-28$100
Mike FerrufinoMonetary2026-08-22$100
Margaret J FreundMonetary2026-09-15$100
Rachel FriendMonetary2026-08-27$100
Stanley GarnettMonetary2026-10-02$100
Beth GotthelfMonetary2026-08-30$100
Thomas GougeonMonetary2026-10-12$100
Aaron HarberMonetary2026-09-28$100
Allegra HaynesMonetary2026-09-07$100
Josephine HeathMonetary2026-08-30$100
Mark HellerMonetary2026-09-02$100
Patricia HennenMonetary2026-10-17$100
Deborah HerreraMonetary2026-10-19$100
Mary Kay HoganMonetary2026-09-24$100
Virginia HootenMonetary2026-10-06$100
Edith HootonMonetary2026-09-11$100
Lynda JohnsonMonetary2026-08-30$100
Stephen KaplanMonetary2026-10-13$100
Steven KatichMonetary2026-10-13$100
Garth C LuceroMonetary2026-09-25$100
Anthony MassaroMonetary2026-09-09$100
Steven MiesiwiczMonetary2026-10-19$100
Mardi MooreMonetary2026-08-29$100
Jacob NeumannIn-Kind2026-09-24$100
Tom NussbaumMonetary2026-10-12$100
Blanca OLearyMonetary2026-08-26$100
Joan PadillaMonetary2026-09-21$100
Cindy PenaMonetary2026-08-30$100
Federico PenaMonetary2026-08-30$100
Ranelle RandlesMonetary2026-08-26$100
Arthur RichmondMonetary2026-09-07$100
Maria RichmondMonetary2026-09-07$100
Dorothy RupertMonetary2026-08-30$100
Andy SaylerMonetary2026-08-28$100
Gail SchoettlerMonetary2026-10-06$100
Linda ShoemakerMonetary2026-09-02$100
Dustin SimantobMonetary2026-09-21$100
Sina SimantobMonetary2026-09-21$100
Michael StrattonMonetary2026-10-18$100
Theresa SzczurekMonetary2026-08-30$100
Margaret TayerMonetary2026-10-08$100
Marilee UtterMonetary2026-08-31$100
Sam WeaverMonetary2026-09-19$100
Robert I WinerMonetary2026-09-01$100
Laura WoodwardMonetary2026-09-17$100
Ruth WrightMonetary2026-09-28$100
David ZuckerMonetary2026-10-12$100
Donald ZuckermanMonetary2026-09-02$100
Stephen LeBlangMonetary2026-09-03$75
Miles GilbertIn-Kind2026-09-07$70
Janet BeardsleyMonetary2026-10-16$50
Guy BenintendiMonetary2026-09-24$50
Nancy BillicaMonetary2026-09-25$50
Jan BurtonMonetary2026-08-26$50
Leslie L DurginMonetary2026-09-04$50
John FleagleMonetary2026-09-08$50
Richard M GarciaMonetary2026-08-28$50
Douglas HamiltonMonetary2026-09-08$50
Anna Jo HaynesMonetary2026-09-07$50
Carol HuntMonetary2026-10-13$50
Cory KalanickMonetary2026-08-29$50
Roger S. LewisMonetary2026-08-30$50
Joan NagelMonetary2026-09-20$50
Peter SalasMonetary2026-08-28$50
Anne M. TappMonetary2026-08-31$50
Sylvia WirbaMonetary2026-09-15$50
Benita Duran (from candidate)Loan2026-09-02$49.86
Benita Duran (from candidate)Loan2026-08-26$38.76
Anja RichmondIn-Kind2026-10-06$32.50
Benita Duran (from candidate)Loan2026-09-06$25.97
David AdamsonMonetary2026-08-25$25
David AdamsonMonetary2026-08-29$25
Tracy AgrafasMonetary2026-09-10$25
Kristopher BrambilaMonetary2026-09-14$25
Maylen CalienesMonetary2026-09-20$25
Lawrence CarlsonMonetary2026-09-17$25
Debbie CarosellaMonetary2026-08-25$25
Yvonne CastilloMonetary2026-10-17$25
Norma DeMarinisMonetary2026-09-08$25
Denise DelahorneMonetary2026-10-13$25
Heather DupreMonetary2026-08-29$25
Benita Duran (from candidate)Monetary2026-08-20$25
Diane FeddemaMonetary2026-09-08$25
Laura FerencMonetary2026-09-09$25
Steve FisherMonetary2026-09-09$25
Laura L. FlemingMonetary2026-09-04$25
Miles GilbertMonetary2026-09-07$25
Saira HamidiMonetary2026-09-11$25
Carly HareMonetary2026-09-11$25
Elise JonesMonetary2026-09-28$25
Junie JosephMonetary2026-08-27$25
Elena KlaverMonetary2026-08-27$25
Stephen LeblangMonetary2026-08-29$25
Valerie E. LipetzMonetary2026-09-08$25
Sara LoflinMonetary2026-09-21$25
Richard LopezMonetary2026-08-29$25
John LuceroMonetary2026-09-11$25
Mark MaganaMonetary2026-08-26$25
Betsey MartensMonetary2026-09-07$25
Robert McCalebMonetary2026-08-22$25
Bruce NorikaneMonetary2026-08-30$25
Cec OrtizMonetary2026-09-16$25
Courtney PeroutkaMonetary2026-09-08$25
Anja RichmondMonetary2025-08-25$25
Nick RoblesMonetary2026-08-31$25
Carolyn SchuhamMonetary2026-08-25$25
Jennifer ShriverMonetary2026-08-27$25
Cindy StrangeMonetary2026-09-28$25
Bere TellezMonetary2026-08-28$25
Marilyn WalkerMonetary2026-08-25$25
Patricia WellsMonetary2026-10-13$25
Margaret WrennMonetary2026-08-31$25
Benita Duran (from candidate)Loan2026-09-02$24.81
Benita Duran (from candidate)Loan2026-08-30$22.91
Benita Duran (from candidate)Loan2026-08-06$20.78
Benita Duran (from candidate)Loan2026-09-02$18.61
Benita Duran (from candidate)Loan2026-08-24$9.80
Benita Duran (from candidate)Reimbursement2026-10-05$-812.06
Spent on: all 15 expenditure lines
PayeePurposeDateAmount
Prairie mountain mediaAdvertisement 19/18/20262026-10-20$1,900
Local Reporting Lab Initiative Inc.Boulder Reporting Lab Sponsorship2026-08-24$1,500
Sara LoflinCampaign Management2026-09-18$1,000
Sara LoflinCampaign Management2026-10-11$1,000
Corazon Printingcampaign yard signs2026-09-17$879.01
Gamino PrintingPrinting: walk piece2026-09-23$634.41
MarkelsCreativeDigital marketing management2026-10-19$600
USPSPostage2026-10-20$325
Gamino PrintingPost Card Printing2026-09-16$292.42
SquarespaceOnline Payment Processing Fees2026-09-18$273.45
Jacob NeumannPhotography2026-09-24$250
Corazon Printingstickers2026-09-18$144.20
Meta platformsFace book advertising2026-10-19$142.08
USPSPostage2026-10-02$130
SquareSpaceOnline payment processing fees2026-10-02$87.17

Campaigns

YearOfficeOutcome
2026Boulder City Council · campaignon the ballot
2019Boulder City Council11,576 votes

Forum attendance