Story updated at 5:15 p.m. Nov. 9
Mayor Meredith Leighty claimed victory as she retained her seat in a race against Councilor Tim Long and Northglenn native Mark Bromley on Tuesday night in the 2023 election.
“I’m very excited,” said Leighty, an elementary school principal who was elected mayor in 2019 after serving two years on the city council. “I’m really inspired to continue leading my community, and keeping us on course.
“We’re going to have a really solid group of dedicated city council members. I’m just really looking forward to working with the new team.”
Leighty had 4,152 votes compared to 1,448 for challenger Long and 1,051 votes for Bromley as of Nov. 9, according to the unofficial results.
Ward 2 will be represented by newcomer Adam Nowicki. Nowicki is a mental health therapist who moved to Northglenn in 2019. He won in a race against Spencer Yale and Laura Garcia Pascoe. He takes the seat vacated by Becky Brown, whose term expired this month.
Nowicki had 759 votes for the Ward 2 seat, besting Pascoe with 531 votes, and Yale with 266 votes, according to the unofficial tally.
Ward 4 will be represented by council newcomer Jody Roper, who won chair for a two-year term over Andrew Thompson and Preston Evans. Roper is a 20-year Northglenn resident and Adams 12 Five Star Schools assistant principal. She takes the seat formerly held by Long, who vacated it to run for mayor. Roper had 728 votes according to the unofficial tally, compared to Thompson’s 838 votes and Evans’ 498 votes.
Councilors Megan Burns of Ward 1, Ward 3’s Katherine Goff and Richard Kondo, and Ward 4 Mayor Pro Tem Shannon Lukeman-Hiromasa ran unopposed.
Leighty said the council will focus on many issues, including climate action.
“We are going to be hiring a sustainability coordinator, who will be working on our climate action plan,” she said. “That is something council members are excited about moving forward.”
While Leighty believes the city is on a good track, Long and Bromley said they felt expenses needed to be reined in.
Long said he was disappointed by the results.
“I had an estimation there was a solid majority in Northglenn that had differing opinions than were being espoused by the leadership of the council,” he said. “I guess I read that possibility wrong.”
Bromley said he plans to run for office again.
“I will not be done running for office, and will be making a triumphant return for a new office in the general election of 2024,” he wrote in an emailed statement. “Look towards the light and you will find me pushing for our freedoms in 2024 bringing love, understanding and hope for a brighter Colorado.”
Roper said she believes the new councilors will bridge some divides she feels the council had recently experienced.
“Over the past year, there has been some divisiveness among the council,” she said. “A lot of people have let their personal agendas come to the forefront, which took away from the ability to collaborate, and from the work of the city.
“I’m only one of nine people. But I feel we have a good, cohesive team that wants what’s best for our city.”
Nowicki said he’s ready to take on his new role.
“I’m grateful to the voters of Ward 2 for the opportunity to represent them on the city council,” he said. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to address the challenges facing the city and I am optimistic we will continue to make Northglenn a great place to live, work and raise a family.”
Community elections are dynamic, so this story may be updated as new information becomes available.
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