After another successful election, let’s keep working on bettering our city

The election is over. The results aren’t all in, but, at this point, we can’t change any outcomes. So, now we must wait patiently for the county clerk and recorder to finish counting every vote — and ranking all our mayoral choices.

In the meantime, though, while we wait for the final results, we can begin the process of reconciliation.

Citizens around Boulder put their time and energy and hearts into campaigning for things and candidates they believed in. Even though many of these contests were driven by the genuine belief that a particular outcome would benefit the entire community, frustration and animosity were still stirred. Like in all elections, things got heated. But in today’s political climate — when 80% of Americans think the opposing party would destroy the country — heated has a new meaning.

Now, though, it is time to cool off and remember that it takes a village — for our students to be safe, for affordable housing to be built, for our open spaces to be cared for, for elected officials to succeed, for our community to thrive. As we digest the results we do know, let’s do so with an eye toward this truth: This is our community, and we have to continue working together to make it stronger.

(All results were as of Friday.)

The most notable result is possibly the most novel: Aaron Brockett has announced his victory in the mayoral race. Not only is it Boulder’s first direct election of a mayor, but it is also our community’s first experience with ranked choice voting.

The race was extremely tight, with Bob Yates leading for much of Tuesday and Wednesday before Brockett pulled ahead in the “instant runoff,” which occurs in ranked choice voting when no single candidate gets more than 50% of first choice votes.

If this result holds when the official tally arrives, we have no doubt that Brockett will continue to be an exemplary mayor for Boulder. In his time on City Council, Brockett has proved an effective, principled leader capable of navigating the nuanced issues facing our community. For all the divisiveness of this election, his victory is a statement that, while we have real problems facing our community, the direction we are headed in is the right one.

In the race for City Council, Tara Winer and Tina Marquis hold firm leads, with Taishya Adams not far behind. Ryan Schuchard has a narrow edge over Terri Brncic for the fourth open seat.

Like in the mayoral race, the election of these candidates points to our community’s belief in the progress we are making on our biggest issues, while also adding new voices and new perspectives to the conversation — a must if headway is going to continue.

Far and away the most divisive question on the ballot was Safe Zones 4 Kids, which passed with more than 60% of the vote. The passage of the measure, which we saw as the codification of an ineffective enforcement policy, points to what was likely the defining issue of this election for many voters: public safety.

It is our hope that Safe Zones can make a real difference for our students and those who utilize our multiuse paths and that the new enforcement prioritizations are efficient and effective. But we are also hopeful that this ordinance modification won’t distract us from continuing to seek real solutions to homelessness — the issue at the heart of many people’s public safety concerns.

This public safety mandate, though, must be addressed holistically and with proven initiatives — something we believe our mayor and City Council are well-positioned to do. Enforcement in the name of public safety is acceptable; enforcement as a solution to the public suffering and marginalization of our neighbors is intolerable. Housing, addiction and mental health treatments, and services to help people get on their feet are the humane path forward.

Ballot Issue 2A also passed easily, capturing almost threequarters of the vote. The measure to extend a sales and use tax and dedicate half the funding to arts, culture and heritage will guarantee a healthy investment in one of our community’s most valued assets: our artistic spirit. It also speaks to our continued dedication to supporting our principles. Ensuring that our community has cultural amenities is how we can keep Boulder vibrant.

Two other clear victories were the two Boulder County ballot measures, both of which, according to unofficial results, passed with more than 70% of the vote.

The passage of County Issue 1A, the Open Space Sales and Use Tax Extension and Revenue Change, speaks once again to our community’s commitment to preserving our local natural habitats. When it comes to open space, Boulder is always ready to put its money where its mouth is, and for good reason: Our open spaces are the crown jewels of the region.

Similarly, the passage of County Issue 1B, the Affordable Housing Tax Extension and Revenue Change, is a doubling down on an important communitywide priority. Issue 1B is set to provide the county with roughly $17 million annually to allocate to affordable and attainable housing initiatives.

Prior to the election, the Boulder County Commissioners told us that if the measure passed the county would collaborate with its municipal partners and with social agencies to allocate dollars to where they can make the most difference, which means the real work behind 1B is only now beginning. As this work begins, so too must our oversight.

This holds true for all the issues and candidates that succeeded this week. Our civic duty is not over. As taxes are collected and leaders are sworn in, it will be the duty of voters and engaged citizens and the media to make sure our money is well spent and that our elected officials lead with integrity.

Put simply, civic citizenship doesn’t end at the ballot box. The election is over, but our work isn’t.

This election, like all elections, was an attempt to plot a course for the future. The politics might get ugly. The tactics might be unsavory. The results might not go in our favor. But voting is an inherently optimistic act. It is a collective expression of hope for a brighter tomorrow. We put in the work this election season and we made our voices heard on Tuesday. Now, let’s keep up that momentum and keep working hard on our community today and tomorrow and the day after that.

Gary Garrison for the Editorial Board