2023 election: Pete Madrid, Pueblo City Council District 2 candidate in his own words
Puebloans will vote on some of the city’s leaders in the upcoming election Nov. 7, including selecting the city’s mayor for the second time in recent memory.
The Pueblo Chieftain has surveyed all 18 candidates for mayor and council about the key topics and critical issues facing the city, featuring some questions submitted directly by readers.
Check your voter registration here to make sure you’re registered to vote. The mayoral election is city-wide, while council members are elected by district. Check which city council district you live in here.
Fifteen of the 18 candidates for mayor and council responded to the Chieftain's questionnaire. Their answers have been edited for clarity and brevity.
Pete Madrid is one of four candidates running to represent city council District 2, which includes the East Side and Belmont.
Introduce yourself and tell us why you're qualified to be on city council.
Hello, my name is Gerald “Pete” Madrid. I have lived in District 2 for over 45 years. I’m a U.S. Army veteran, 1989-1994. I've been the president of Board of Directors for La Gente Youth Sports from 2003-present. I care about this city and its future. I have been an educator for over 19 years. Since 2016 I have been employed with Global Ed Solutions, a Colorado online high school and have helped over 350 students earn a Colorado high school diploma. This is my first time running for a political office.
Describe how you would approach your job as city councilor.
The job of a city councilor is to make Pueblo a better place to live and work and work together with their fellow council members. I'd communicate and collaborate with both the mayor and other city officials. I would always hold community meetings in District 2.
What are three ideas for ordinances or initiatives you would like to introduce.
We can work together to:
Increase the parks and recreation budget.
The city council and the mayor can work together to sweep Fountain Creek of trash and the people camping down on the creek.
Work with other city officials to bring in a couple of grocery stores east of Fountain Creek.
Compensation for city councilors has stayed the same since 1997. Do you think it should go up?
Yes, but all should be paid $900 per month, not just the president.
What role should the city have in addressing homelessness?
The city of Pueblo should play a major role in the homeless crisis we are facing at the present time.
What are your ideas to make Pueblo a safe city for all?
We need to listen to our police officers in the streets and get feedback from the officers who work the streets of Pueblo on how we can make Pueblo a safer place to live and work. In District 2, work with community leaders to educate the youth about the dangers of illegal drug use and the illegal use of firearms.
How would you approach improving transportation infrastructure within the city?
The city of Pueblo should offer free bus rides to any kids 17 and under. Currently, the city of Pueblo is doing the best they can to pave the streets and other public transportation. We can use a bike trail connecting CSU Pueblo and Fountain Creek east of Troy Ave through Dry Creek.
Editor's note: Youth can ride for free on Pueblo Transit at least through spring 2024, funded by a $65,000 grant from the Pueblo Area Council of Governments.
Do you support ballot measure 2A, which would raise the city's lodging tax to help pay for childcare?
Yes, this will help the working class in our city of Pueblo.
If you received a $1 million grant to use for the city in any way, what would you do with it and why?
We would use the grant for our Parks and Recreation Department to help improve all of our parks within the city of Pueblo.
Describe your vision for Pueblo in 2050.
Madrid did not provide an answer to this question.
Anna Lynn Winfrey covers politics for the Pueblo Chieftain. She can be reached at awinfrey@gannett.com. Please support local news at subscribe.chieftain.com.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Pete Madrid, Pueblo City Council District 2 candidate in his own words
