2023 Election Watch: NEW JERSEY and COLORADO
Run for Something is excited to have 8 candidates on the ballot on Tuesday, June 6 in New Jersey & Colorado! In any of those states? Help get voters to the polls by volunteering for a shift this weekend. Learn more below:
COLORADO
Denver City Council, District 10, CO
Primary Election: 06/06/2023
Shannon, a resourceful advocate, educator, and former small business retail employee, is a candidate for Denver City Council, District 10. She would bring a unique perspective on housing to council, as there are no current council members who are renters, despite making up more than 50% of the city’s population.
As someone from a working class background who has worked primarily in education and nonprofits, Shannon has seen firsthand how policies impact people directly — for better and worse. From access to affordable housing to prioritizing the planet and community co-governance, she is determined to find solutions to the biggest challenges the city faces. And, most importantly, she has the experience and tenacity to make it happen. Shannon currently works for a nonprofit developing mixed-used affordable housing and formerly served as the Project Manager for From Allies to Abolitionists, an Emancipation Theater project, where she led a research team of local individuals who filed more than 40 Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) requests. This resulted in 427 documents that provided insight into how city funds are used to conduct sweeps or forced displacements of unhoused neighbors. The advocacy of this community group resulted in the City Auditor including the cost of sweeps in his future audit plan. Shannon believes the city needs more representatives on the city council that reflect its working class population and who will prioritize the needs of people over profit.
Denver City Council, District 9, CO
Primary Date: 06/06/2023
Candi is a policy expert, social worker, community organizer, and the co-founder of Project VOYCE, Cross Community Coalition, and Tierra Colectiva/GES Land Trust. She is a proud fifth-generation native of northeast Denver and is the first LGBTQ Latina and first Democratic Socialist to serve on the Denver City Council. As an elected official, Candi successfully led the charge to divest from halfway houses run by private prison companies, co-sponsored the Eviction Defense Right to Counsel ordinance, and co-sponsored a charter amendment to bring balance between the branches of government when it comes to mayoral appointments. She has sparked many of Denver’s most exciting ideas from re-imagining policing, making the independent monitor truly independent, investing in cooperatives for a new economy, investing in historic businesses through a legacy business fund, participatory budgeting, modernizing the city’s community engagement and customer service practices, reforming neighborhood organizations to foster equity, campaign finance reform, and anti-displacement efforts. In 2020, Candi began convening a Food Desert Solutions stakeholder group that has since developed into the East Denver Food Sovereignty Initiative, and it is launching the first community-owned and sourced co-op grocery store in District 9. Candi has continued to be a fierce advocate for housing as a human right, food as a utility, environmental justice, and preservation/stabilization of Denver’s Black and Brown communities. Looking forward, she will continue to center the margins of society, and infuse city government with policy expertise, a lens for justice, and ancestral wisdom.
NEW JERSEY
County Legislature, District 9, Hudson County, NJ
Primary Election Date: 06/06/2023
Alex is a former Sergeant in the New Jersey Army National Guard and a non-profit leader who has dedicated his life to serving his community. Raised in Kearny by an immigrant mother who came to Hudson County seeking a better life for her family, Alex is a product of Kearny public schools and holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Rutgers-Newark.
Over the years, Alex has worked tirelessly to coordinate after-school and summer programs for low-income youth in the cities of Passaic and Paterson, showing his commitment to ensuring the next generation has access to the support they need to achieve their goals. In addition to his work in New Jersey, he has spent time on humanitarian missions abroad providing aid to Ukrainian refugees displaced by the Russia-Ukraine war, vulnerable Afghans who were evacuated to the United States, and asylum-seekers fleeing oppressive regimes in Central and South America.
Motivated by his desire to protect the opportunities that allowed him to achieve success in Hudson County, Alex is now running for Hudson County Commissioner in District 9. His goal is to make sure that our communities remain safe, affordable, and accessible to all. He recognizes the challenges that face our district and is committed to working tirelessly to promote environmental safety, affordable housing, and economic growth while ensuring that the American Dream remains attainable for everyone. Alex’s lifelong dedication to serving his community makes him the perfect candidate for Hudson County Commissioner.
County Legislature, District 1, Hudson County, NJ
Primary Election Date: 06/06/2023
TJ is a devoted advocate for the rights of renters who is seeking a seat on the County Board of Commissioners to represent his community. As someone who was born and raised in Hudson County, he utilizes his years of experience in real estate to bring innovative solutions to the area’s growing housing crisis.
TJ is determined to address a range of pressing issues affecting his district, including the lack of affordable housing and infrastructure improvements. His vision includes bringing a community land trust program to the county and securing funding for safer roadways designed for both cyclists and pedestrians.
For more information about TJ and his campaign, visit his website, Facebook page, and Twitter account. He is committed to utilizing his skills and expertise to serve his community and create positive change in Hudson County.
County Executive, Hudson County, NJ
Primary Election Date: 06/06/2023
Eleana is a dedicated environmental engineer, advocate for progressive policies, Democratic Committeewoman, and former president of the esteemed Harsimus Cove Association. A long-time resident of Jersey City, Eleana has seen first-hand the plight of ordinary citizens in the area, grappling with problems ranging from steep rent hikes, increasing flood risks, unsafe roads, and affordability challenges.
What sets Eleana apart is her genuine belief that county officials should tirelessly serve the people, rather than simply paying lip-service to the concerns of politicos and their affluent allies. As someone who struggles with the everyday issues faced by her constituents, Eleana has an in-depth knowledge of the difficulties facing working-class families and marginalized communities.
With sharp analytical skills and a natural leadership ability, Eleana has made tangible contributions that have impacted numerous communities in the region. She is a champion of environmental justice, routinely pushing for sustainable development and measures that protect the environment for future generations. Her dedication to social justice issues is equally legendary, exemplified by her tireless efforts to ensure that all residents have equal access to essential services and resources.
Whether she’s working behind the scenes or on the front lines, Eleana’s passion for positive change and dedication to service is an inspiration to many in the community. Her ability to bring people together, foster dialogue and build consensus has resulted in real-world solutions that have benefited countless families and individuals in the region. Eleana’s leadership, passion, and commitment to serve at the highest level ensure that county officials remain accountable to the people they represent.
County Legislature, District 8, Hudson County, NJ
Primary Election Date: 06/06/2023
Stephanie is a dedicated environmental advocate with a passion for community organizing. Throughout her academic years at Saint Peter’s University and in her community in North Bergen, Stephanie has been committed to promoting environmental justice as a means to achieve social justice. As the first Gen Z candidate to run for District 8, she is a fresh and forward-thinking voice in the quest for a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future.
Stephanie strongly believes that environmentalism is about more than just protecting the planet — it encompasses issues such as gender equality, food sovereignty, and public healthcare. By addressing these critical issues, she believes we can create a more just and equitable world for all.
Above all, Stephanie is passionate about putting everyday people first. She firmly believes that by working together, we can build a stronger, more united community that prioritizes the best interests of its residents. With a focus on clean, healthy, and sustainable living, Stephanie hopes to create a bright future for generations to come.
Let us come together as a community and put the Unity in our commUnity — with Stephanie leading the way towards a cleaner, more equitable world for all.
County Legislature, District 2, Hudson County, NJ
Primary Election Date: 06/06/2023
Adrian (he/him) is a community organizer and 24-year-old graduate student at NYU Wagner Graduate School for Public Service. He is running for County Commissioner in Hudson County’s 2nd District, where he has lived for 18 years.
Adrian’s passion for public service stems from his desire to create positive change in his community. He wants to bring Hudson County its first Planned Parenthood location and build affordable housing for low-income families. He is committed to making local government transparent and accessible to everyone in Hudson County.
Adrian is running as one of two Gen-Z candidates in an area where youth voices are often told to “”wait their turn.”” He believes that young people should have a voice in local government and wants to create a Youth Advisory Council for the Board of Commissioners to give young students opportunities to work with elected officials.
Adrian decided to run for County Commissioner after seeing friends and neighbors get priced out of their homes. He believes that elected officials should be fighting for policies that empower and protect working-class families. His top issues are affordability, safe streets, and addressing the mental health crisis.
Adrian’s inspiration comes from his friends, family, neighbors, and organizers who call Hudson County home. He hopes that his candidacy will inspire others to take a stand against a status quo that doesn’t prioritize fighting for Hudson County’s working class.
City Council, Ward 2, Pleasantville, NJ
Primary Election Date: 06/06/2023
Irvin is a first-generation Mexican-American who’s dedicated his life to education, community organizing, and leadership for Latinos. He is running for Pleasantville City Council in Ward 2 to fight for the working-class community and make a difference where it’s needed most.
Irvin earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from Stockton University in 2015 and went on to complete his Master of Arts in Holocaust and Genocide Studies from the same institution in 2022. His impressive academic qualifications are matched by his impressive track record of community involvement.
Currently, he serves as the Board President of El Pueblo Unido of Atlantic City. This advocacy organization works tirelessly for immigrant rights in Atlantic County, New Jersey. Irvin has held various other high-profile positions in the past, including Executive Member of the Hispanic Advocacy Committee for Equity (H.A.C.E), Secretary and Advocacy Chair of the Hispanic Association of Atlantic County (HAAC), and Co-Chair of the Education Committee of the NAACP’s Atlantic City Branch.
In recognition of his tireless work and dedication to promoting Holocaust education in the state of New Jersey, Irvin was appointed by Governor Phil Murphy as a member of the New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education in 2021. By leveraging his experience, he is fighting for the underprivileged communities he represents by standing up to the institutions that have often failed them.
The residents of Pleasantville can trust Irvin’s experience, dedication, and qualifications to be their champion and make a real difference in their community.
