Arvada 2019 Mayoral Race: Marc Williams Is Projected Winner

ARVADA, CO — Arvada residents have voted for their next mayor and three city council seats in the Nov. 5 election. Two candidates, Dave Palm and Harriet Hall, campaigned to unseat Marc Williams, who's been Arvada's mayor since 2011; however Williams is now the projected winner of the mayoral race.

Council members serve four-year terms, and can serve up to three terms in one seat. The mayor and six council members — four district members and two at-large members — sit on the city council.

Regular municipal elections for the city council are held in November in odd-numbered years.

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Arvada Nov. 5 election results

*As of 9 a.m. Nov. 6*

Mayor

City Council District 2

City Council District 4

City Council At-Large

Williams, who has served two terms as Arvada's mayor, has been on city council for two decades. He was elected as a council member at-large in 1999, and served for three terms before he was elected mayor in 2011.

In a City Council Election Forum hosted by the Arvada Chamber of Commerce Sept. 20, Williams said he believes one of the top problems in the community is traffic congestion.

"We've dramatically increased how much we're spending on our local roads, and I will continue that," Williams said. "I championed 3F [ballot issue], which helped get us the money to do the work that needs to be done on Ralston Road and 72nd Avenue, and will continue to be a champion for transportation issues for years to come."

Williams said he aims to boost annual transportation spending to $20 million.

Another major issue in Arvada is homelessness.

"This is truly a regional issue — it's not just in Arvada, and we've seen it throughout the region, the state and the nation," Williams said. "We've looked at ways to give financial assistance through a flex fund — providing monies to help some individuals get out of that cycle of poverty."

Williams said cities such as Seattle have taken a "hands-off" approach and that he won't let that happen in Arvada.

"Our Arvada Police Department has the assistance of social workers who are going with them," he said.

Another contentious issue brought up at the chamber's Sept. 20 forum was whether the city should pursue a single-hauler trash service. Residents currently get to choose who picks up their trash, and those who oppose a single-hauler system say it takes that choice away and puts smaller companies at a disadvantage because they can't compete against larger companies for city-wide contracts.

"I live in an HOA that has a single-hauler, so I certainly see the benefits," Williams said. "I also understand the other side ... we put out a [request for proposal] and unfortunately the numbers that RFP gave us were not very encouraging. A lot of our residents were going to end up paying more for trash service, and I don't think that's what people want."

Williams said the city council will continue to look at companies' numbers and make sure the option remains on the table; however, he said the decision should ultimately be up to the taxpayers.

In many public events, Williams expressed full confidence that he would win the Nov. 5 election, and continue to serve Arvada.

"I came to Arvada in 1979 as a law clerk and I've never left. I love this city — it's an incredible place," Williams said. "These past eight years, it's been my distinct honor and privilege to be mayor of this incredible, incredible city."

If Williams is officially re-elected, he become the chair of the Metro Mayors Caucus.

Results for the statewide ballot questions