What’s going on with the establishment in the Ward 4 race? This is the year they finally get rid of that pain in their side – David Wiechman. It’s also a chance to restore their dominance on Council. Currently they have a bare majority of 6 to 5. If they pick up the Wiechman Ward 4 seat and nothing else changes their majority would be 7 to 4. A larger majority would enhance chances for major developments in 2018.
The conventional wisdom was the establishment candidate for the Ward 4 race would be Jon Ludwigson, the son of former establishment Council member Carol Kesselman. A long-time favorite of the establishment, Ludwigson has been appointed as a citizen member of the City’s Budget and Audit Committee for several years. He is also the President of the Tamarisk Homeowners Association. A middle-ranking federal government employee, his family’s wealth means he can afford to run for office. For the past several years he has considered running for Council but always backed out.
It seemed like 2017 was going to be Ludwigson’s year. At a recent town hall meeting he was advancing the establishment party line that if Lakewood doesn’t annex southern Rooney Valley then we will have no control over what goes on there and ergo, bad things could happen.
However, realtor and long-time Adam Paul supporter Ladawn Sperling has officially thrown her hat in the ring. She will be opposed by local attorney David Skilling for the Ward 4 race. Although her unwavering support of Paul certainly makes her a logical choice for establishment candidate it nevertheless raises the question of what happened to Ludwigson?
Since we don’t know how the establishment picks its’ candidates, we can only speculate. To justify the establishment’s line that bad things could happen if Lakewood doesn’t control the Rooney Valley, Ludwigson made the absurd claim that ethanol plant could be built there. His logic was since the developer of the property has “ethanol” in its name therefore it would be an ethanol plant. This despite the fact that the owner of the property has the word “motels” in its name. The ethanol claim was soundly discredited by all knowledgeable parties including the mayor at a city council meeting. This damage to his credibility may have been enough for the establishment to pull the rug out from Ludgwigson and put in a backup candidate.
Great column. People need know about this well summarized info. BTW, Correct name for Ward 4 candidate is David Skilling.
The establishment must be pretty confident & presumptive of stupidity in ward 4 citizens, given their candidate LaDawn is not only a known supporter of the mayor/development, but makes her income from the deveopment of the Rooney Valley, as a realtor who specializes in Solterra and stands to benefit from every upzone & additional unit packed into the valley. Maybe they picked her because her last name of Sperling is a confusion to the last name of independent candidate Skilling.
And yes, absolutely ask the same question you asked. Where have all these establishment candidates been this past year, a most intense time in Lakewood in all Wards? Clearly they have other motives than representing the citizens of Lakewood as they have not made it a priority to be involved in any of the varied issues to date.
Lastly, there needs be a change in residency requirements for candidacy –5 years minimum. Who thinks someone who moves into Lakewood in May is qualified to represent their ward or Lakewood a few months later? The arrogance of such is stupifying.