Running for Boulder City Council · 2026
Dave Martus
Martus is a first-time council candidate and a senior adviser with a background in institutional finance.
Money (city clerk; 42nd day before election report, filed Sept. 22, 2026; retrieved Oct. 1, 2026): raised $2,430 · spent $1,554.04 · matching funds received $2,330.
About this candidate
Martus is a first-time council candidate and a senior adviser with a background in institutional finance. He emphasizes budget oversight, government trust and changes to land-use regulation.
- Occupation: Senior advisor
- In Boulder: moved to Boulder in 1985
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.
Airport
I support the continued operation of the airport and the acceptance of FAA funding.
Source: Boulder Chamber · questionnaire · 2026 candidate questionnaire — David Martus
Downtown
In general, I do not believe fragmenting the city into siloed revenue sources and spending pools is the best approach.
Source: Better Boulder · questionnaire · 2026-09-13 · 2026 City Council Candidate Questionnaire
I support the fundamental mission of a DDA, but the lack of detailed coordination with impacted agencies would have led me to vote no as well.
Source: Downtown Boulder Partnership · questionnaire · 2026-09-21 · 2026 Mayoral and City Council Candidate Questions — David Martus
Governance
I believe the city’s current top three priorities are: 1) long-term financial stability; 2) wildfire and public-safety resilience; and 3) housing policy.
Source: Better Boulder · questionnaire · 2026-09-13 · 2026 City Council Candidate Questionnaire
I spent 25 years in institutional finance building consensus among people with different views, and I would bring that same approach to Council: listen first, be clear about facts and tradeoffs, and…
I spent 25 years in institutional finance building consensus among people with different views, and I would bring that same approach to Council: listen first, be clear about facts and tradeoffs, and work toward practical agreement.
Source: Downtown Boulder Partnership · questionnaire · 2026-09-21 · 2026 Mayoral and City Council Candidate Questions — David Martus
Housing
No. If higher density is part of the solution, I believe it should be focused in areas of the city that provide more benefits.
Source: Better Boulder · questionnaire · 2026-09-13 · 2026 City Council Candidate Questionnaire
Public safety
Businesses should be able to expect a public safety presence to match their operating hours.
Source: Downtown Boulder Partnership · questionnaire · 2026-09-21 · 2026 Mayoral and City Council Candidate Questions — David Martus
Transportation
Yes. The build-out should proceed if the outcome is positive, the cost is reasonable, and lessons from completed projects are incorporated.
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.
David Martus is a first-time candidate for Boulder City Council, running on a platform of fiscal stewardship, increasing trust in government and reducing regulation and bureaucracy.
Boulder Reporting Lab · 2026-08-28 · Profile source: Dave Martus
1 further passage (Daily Camera) not shown yet. We could not find the quoted words in the article, so we are holding them until we can check.
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 (1)
- PLAN-Boulder CountyEndorser's own statement. 2026 Candidate Endorsements (PLAN-Boulder County) · 2026-09-28
Endorsements they have given (2026)
These are personal endorsements, not ones made by any office they hold.
- Endorses: Jill Grano (council)Jill Grano campaign lists Dave Martus. Only the campaign says so. Endorsements – Jill for City Council
- Endorses: Ryan Jamieson (council)Ryan Jamieson campaign lists Dave Martus. Only the campaign says so. Endorsements – Ryan Jamieson
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
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)
What are the opportunities there to repurpose them into the type of housing that's needed in the community because the infrastructure is there.
Transcript note: Refers to city properties vacated when offices move to the Western City Campus (Alpine-Balsam).
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 40:18 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
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.
No, and it's for the exact second half of the question, the complexity of administrating it.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 1:24:55 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Budget, debt and the 2K bond
PLAN / Open Boulder / Better Boulder forum · September 2, 2026
Opening introduction (two minutes)
I think that fiscal stewardship is a key trait to bring as part of the city council team.
Transcript note: Name transcribed 'Dave Martis'.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 19:40 · City of Boulder Colorado Candidate-Forum - 090226 (greenlight studios, YouTube)
Arts and culture forum · September 15, 2026
Final one-minute statement
fiscal transparency and good stewardship of capital. And why is that important to the arts? Because through that, I think we can make the pie bigger.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 17:35 · (Pt 3/5) 2026 City Council Candidates Forum on Arts and Culture (Boulder County Arts Alliance, YouTube)
League of Women Voters forum · September 26, 2026
Opening statement (one minute)
the superpower I would bring to council is financial acumen.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 16:01 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
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 think the bond issue that's coming up is going to be a no, and it's not a no because people don't agree with supporting these facilities.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 27:48 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
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.
As I mentioned earlier, I'm a no vote on this.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 51:28 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
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?
So we need to measure it. It can't be permanent if it's not going right.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 1:03:07 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
Arts and culture
Arts and culture forum · September 15, 2026
What changes would you support to make Boulder easier for creative activity and small cultural businesses to operate in?
The second would be to introduce a dashboard where if you're a creative, you're an artist, you can go there
Transcript note: Self-identified as 'Dave Morris' (Whisper).
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 6:59 · (Pt 2/5) 2026 City Council Candidates Forum on Arts and Culture (Boulder County Arts Alliance, YouTube)
Other topics
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?
So overall, I think we're representing the community very well.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 1:14:02 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
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 DDA can help deliver that.
Quoted from an automatic transcript. Check the recording. Watch at 1:40:26 · September 26, 2026 League of Women Voters of Boulder County Candidate Forum (City of Boulder, YouTube)
No earlier questionnaire answers on file.
Money
- $2,430Raised
- $1,554.04Spent
- $2,330Matching funds received
- $3,205.96Cash on hand
2026 · David Martus for Boulder City Council · 42nd day before election report, filed Sept. 22, 2026; retrieved Oct. 1, 2026.
39 contribution lines, 9 expenditures. City clerk, not TRACER. Clerk statements · Everyone.
Who gave: all 39 contribution lines
| Name | Type | Date | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Martus (from candidate) | Monetary | 2026-08-29 | $200 |
| Rob Andrew | Monetary | 2026-08-30 | $100 |
| Andrew Bray | Monetary | 2026-09-20 | $100 |
| Gary Dorris | Monetary | 2026-08-30 | $100 |
| Paul Gardner | Monetary | 2026-09-09 | $100 |
| Jacqueline Han | Monetary | 2026-09-14 | $100 |
| Karen Hollweg | Monetary | 2026-09-11 | $100 |
| John Longmire | Monetary | 2026-08-29 | $100 |
| Kelly Mayer | Monetary | 2026-08-30 | $100 |
| Pamela Mayer | Monetary | 2026-08-30 | $100 |
| Lisa Morzel | Monetary | 2026-09-14 | $100 |
| Mike Murray | Monetary | 2026-08-29 | $100 |
| Colin Smith | Monetary | 2026-08-29 | $100 |
| Rob Vissers | Monetary | 2026-08-29 | $100 |
| Sebastian Corradino | Monetary | 2026-08-29 | $50 |
| Jill Grano | Monetary | 2026-09-17 | $50 |
| Andrew Hawk | Monetary | 2026-08-29 | $50 |
| Bob Hedlund | Monetary | 2026-08-30 | $50 |
| Amy Long | Monetary | 2026-08-30 | $50 |
| Brian Long | Monetary | 2026-08-30 | $50 |
| Katey Martus | Monetary | 2026-08-29 | $50 |
| Tom Nero | Monetary | 2026-08-29 | $50 |
| Michael O'Brien | Monetary | 2026-09-08 | $50 |
| Brad Ramsey | Monetary | 2026-08-29 | $50 |
| Lisa Ramsey | Monetary | 2026-08-29 | $50 |
| sara Travis | Monetary | 2026-08-29 | $50 |
| Elizabeth Zimels | Monetary | 2026-08-29 | $50 |
| Barry Long | Monetary | 2026-08-29 | $40 |
| Gary Bishop | Monetary | 2026-08-30 | $25 |
| Brian Cook | Monetary | 2026-09-18 | $25 |
| Mitchell Dixon | Monetary | 2026-09-16 | $25 |
| Alec Martus | Monetary | 2026-08-29 | $25 |
| Leo Martus | Monetary | 2026-08-29 | $25 |
| Lisa Nibarger | Monetary | 2026-08-30 | $25 |
| Ellison Ramsey | Monetary | 2026-08-29 | $20 |
| Emily Ramsey | Monetary | 2026-08-29 | $20 |
| Jake Ramsey | Monetary | 2026-08-30 | $20 |
| Sophie Ramsey | Monetary | 2026-08-30 | $20 |
| Matthew Mogavero | Monetary | 2026-09-10 | $10 |
Spent on: all 9 expenditure lines
| Payee | Purpose | Date | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Signs on the cheap | signs | 2026-09-03 | $1,137.51 |
| Eleva Ease Found Inv | Social Media - Sept | 2026-09-15 | $250 |
| FedEx Printing | Printed Matter | 2026-09-02 | $56.01 |
| Amazon | Signs | 2026-09-15 | $54.58 |
| FedEx Printing | printed matter | 2026-09-16 | $19.11 |
| Amazon | Name badges | 2026-09-13 | $11.11 |
| Staples | Forum materials | 2026-09-21 | $10.91 |
| Cloudflare.com | website domain | 2026-08-27 | $10.46 |
| Staples | printed matter | 2026-09-20 | $4.35 |
Campaigns
| Year | Office | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Boulder City Council · campaign | on the ballot |
Forum attendance
- 2026-09-26 League of Women Voters of Boulder County City Council and Mayoral Candidate Forums — attended · recording
- 2026-09-15 2026 City Council Candidates Forum on Arts and Culture — attended · recording
- 2026-09-02 Collaborative City Council and Mayoral Candidate Forum (PLAN-Boulder County / Open Boulder / Better Boulder) — attended · recording