In a short, bittersweet meeting, the Westminster City Council said goodbye to three councilors Dec. 4.
While outgoing Councilors Rich Seymour and Lindsey Emmons gave upbeat, emotional farewell speeches, controversial Councilor Bruce Baker gave a warning to incoming councilors. Baker, who was elected 2013 and 2021 and failed to win a third term in November’s election, cited problems he sees in the city. Those include what he characterized as a culture of “hatred” on the council.
“There’s too much hate in Westminster,” said Baker, who has opposed the construction of a new water treatment plant and the still-developing new downtown. “Perhaps I am more aware of the hate because I am the frequent target. I am concerned you new councilors will become the targets of a similar strain of hate.”
Baker suggested incoming representatives could “lessen the hate” by only proclaiming values in which they believe, and not taking offense during difficult discussions.
“My council proclaimed noble values to cloak ourselves in virtue, but we really did not believe in those values,” he said. “We never took the time to talk about deeply held philosophical differences within our council. Members who I thought were allies turned out not to have the values I thought we shared. I was left with an overwhelming sense of betrayal.
“My council got very offended by clear, direct conversation. We could not deal with situations where facts were not universally held.”
Baker ended his speech by encouraging new councilors to “not return hate with hate.”
“Hate will drain intelligence, empathy and leadership from your council and replace those important attributes with half-truths, emotion and bullies,” he said “I wish you success.
“Find a new path to downtown, and please don’t build that water plant.”
Seymour, who served as a city councilor since 2019, described his time on the board as an honor.
“While some of us don’t always agree, I think we’ve found an opportunity to agree to disagree at times,” he said. “Hopefully inside Westminster, we can find a way to keep the noise outside from filtering into us.
“You will see me around from time to time. It is not farewell. It is until next time.”
Emmons, elected to the council in November 2019, said her service was a wild, challenging and rewarding ride.
“No council has ever had to navigate a pandemic in the way we had to, peppered with civil unrest, all while trying to keep a community and city moving forward,” she said. “Add in a recall, finding a city manager, making a decision on one of the largest remaining properties in Westminster and finalizing a decision on a water treatment plant — we worked through a lot.”
Emmons also cited changes to the comprehensive plan, lowering water rates, adding open space and updating city codes among the council’s accomplishments.
“We’ve all had difficult conversations at one point or another,” she said. “But we’ve moved the city forward together and I appreciate your service.”
New councilors sworn in
The group then adjourned and reconvened to swear in new representatives Amber Hott, Kristine Ireland and Claire Carmelia, and hold its first official meeting as a new board. In a secret ballot, the council then unanimously chose Sarah Nurmela as its new mayor pro tem.
Councilor Obi Ezeadi announced after the swearing-in that he and Ireland will host joint office hours. He called it a show of unity.
Ezeadi currently is available to the public for an hour every Monday in the city hall’s main-level conference room. Those hours will be expanded to 4:30 to 6 p.m. and include Ireland.
“My hope and vision for this council is that we’re united, that we will move toward consensus as often as we can, that we address the food deserts, the infrastructure needs, the housing crisis in our city,” he said. “But we can’t do any of that with a divided council.
“I just want to give hope to everyone who’s watching and listening that it is possible, government can work. I think we have an opportunity to collaborate. No more hateful talk, no more division, no more vitriol. We’re moving forward.”
Ezeadi, a Democrat, is running for election in 2024 to represent District 19 in the Colorado State Senate.
I much enjoyed the new council reception and swearing in. I am so pleased and encouraged by Mr. Ezeadi’s announcement that he and Ms. Ireland will be holding office hours together. It is a very positive step for the council and Westminster.
Progress is made, not by insisting on getting your own way, but by respecting, listening to, and learning from others.
BTW – it’s “food deserts” rather than “food desserts. 🙂
Meanwhile the water plant is costing twice what we were told it would cost and the engineer and builder who should of been fired continue to make millions instead of just finding a way to make Semper work