Childcare recap: That work has helped drive one of the most ambitious childcare affordability efforts pursued by any municipality in Colorado. We have already recognized childcare as essential infrastructure, established zoning by-right for childcare providers, and embedded affordability into Westminster’s Strategic Plan. I’m advancing additional policy ideas and the community hopes these ideas are prioritized at our Budget Workshop on May 9, including:

1) exempting infant formula from grocery sales tax

2) creating a Westminster Property Tax Incentive Program

3) including childcare providers in future mixed use developments, and

4) exploring donation of vacant city owned land to childcare providers.

Read my previous “Childcare Crisis in Westminster” update here.

But today let’s focus on the housing crisis in Westminster and what we’re doing about it. Like I said, this is a long one, so grab a coffee.

Linda (67 years old), from Kings Mill neighborhood, told me she is living on a fixed income and choosing between groceries and utilities when Xcel raises rates. Last week, representatives from Xcel came before City Council and I directly challenged them on Westminster’s growing energy constraints, rising costs, and the reality that developers are increasingly struggling to build housing and economic projects because our substations are already at maximum capacity. Read this Denver Gazette article with my quotes from that consequential exchange with Xcel.

My challenge to Xcel was important because of the current housing crisis in Westminster.

Mark (34 years old), from the Sheridan Green neighborhood, told me he and his wife are considering leaving Westminster because they cannot find housing large enough for their growing family without doubling their monthly payment. Daniel (29 years old), from Westminster Station, told me he earns too much to qualify for assistance but still cannot realistically afford to buy his first home in the city where he works.

Westminster has a housing shortage and the numbers are becoming increasingly difficult for working families, young professionals, and older adults to navigate. Nearly 33% of Westminster households are housing cost-burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing. An additional 10% of Westminster households are “severely-burdened” spending 50% of their income on housing. Westminster has a 3,000-unit deficit for rental units that serve Area Median Income (AMI) levels between 30 to 50%. First-time home buyers with 120% AMI or below face significant affordability challenges. As a result, many residents are being pushed into increasingly unaffordable rents, overcrowded living situations, deferred homeownership, or housing conditions that do not match the dignity and stability they deserve.

During my re-election (over 100 days ago), I pledged to lower costs in childcare, housing, groceries, and utilities, and regarding housing, I am fighting for inclusive, income-diverse, and income-aligned options that serve people from all walks of life and life stages.

Big Housing wins so far at Westminster City Council:

We have the best staff in the state and they have already worked in partnership to already deliver major wins:

✅ Created a Housing Trust Fund to provide gap financing for the development of income-aligned housing and housing-related programs.

✅ Approved $375,000 for targeted housing stability funding to prevent evictions and keep residents housed. Up to $20,000 per household delivered through fast, accountable payments via the Community Economic Defense Project. In Westminster, ~50% of those in experiencing homelessness are newly unhoused, so the only way to reduce it is to move upstream with preventative solutions like this.

✅ Approved Blossom Commons, a $26 million senior affordable housing project that will add 50 homes for older adults earning 30%–70% AMI, and will be deed restricted for 60 years.

✅ Updated Comprehensive Plan that allows for more diversity of housing types like missing middle and Senior and special needs housing

✅ Standardized Development Assistance to include a predictable sliding scale of rebates for developers who include income-aligned units in their housing projects and establish a sliding scale of rebates for fees such as Public Land Dedication (PLD)

✅ An expedited review process for income-aligned housing projects (almost finalized)

✅ Tiny Homes are now allowed (stay tuned!!)

✅ Accessory Dwelling Units are now allowed and grant funding ($300,000) has been secured for a pilot program

✅ Discontinued Mandatory Official Development Plan (ODP) Reviews of multi-family projects by City Council to save time and money for projects

✅ Discontinued Concept Plan Reviews (CPR) for all housing projects to save time and money

✅ Implemented Right of First Refusal to purchase existing income restricted units in the city to preserve affordable housing stock

✅ Sustained and expanded the Westminster’s affordable housing preservation programs (322 units preserved with $458,000 investment)

✅ Condo defects protection (in our limited capacity vs what the state could do): Westminster is building lots of condos and we recently had one of the first condo projects in the state in at least the last 10-15 years

✅ Removed “Residential Service Commitment Competition” before the State made it illegal

✅ Opted in to Prop 123 expediting intent (CO’s push for affordable housing)

And I have continued to push for even more advancements to support Westminster families during this housing crisis. In Westminster, our Strategic Plan is a formal document that guides everything we do. In the new Strategic Plan that was finalized last month, I successfully prioritized the following housing objective:

I am also embedding affordability into our current budget planning process:

I’m pushing for these Housing-specific Ideas (Pending prioritization at May 9 Budget Workshop):

1. Create a Westminster Downpayment Assistance Program for first-time and moderate income homebuyers (Status: TBD):

   1. The test: I’m formally requesting we partner with CHFA as program administrator to pilot a new Westminster-specific down payment assistance program for first-time and moderate income homebuyers using City funds and external grants through revolving loan structures to expand homeownership and reduce displacement risk. CHFA would administer underwriting, compliance, and repayment, while Westminster contributes capital earmarked for Westminster homebuyers within the existing CHFA framework.

   2. The data: TBD prioritization May 9

   3. The decision: TBD

2. Increase income-aligned and mixed housing supply (Status: TBD):

   1. The test: increase senior affordable housing and address unique needs of an aging population, predictable development assistance programs, reducing development fees and timelines, strategic use of city owned land for donation or discounted resale (to childcare providers, affordable housing providers, grocers) and mixed income neighborhood development strategies

   2. The data: TBD prioritization May 9

   3. The decision: TBD

3. Evaluate policy reforms to limit short-term rentals, including increased short term rental fees (Status: TBD):

   1. The test: Amend Ordinance No. 4199 to increase license fee to $500 and increase enforcement to minimize impact on local housing.

   2. The data: TBD prioritization May 9

   3. The decision: TBD

4. Strengthen renter stability and rental housing quality:

   1. The test: Rental inspection expansion, rental housing standards awareness and displacement prevention strategies

   2. The data: TBD prioritization May 9

   3. The decision: TBD

5. Are corporations pricing families out of housing in Westminster? (Status: Analysis Complete; Further Action Pending Prioritization):

   1. The test: In cities and suburbs across America, out-of-state corporations are purchasing housing stock at-scale and crowding out families and first-time buyers. In Dec 2025 I asked City staff to analyze the share of Westminster housing owned by non-individual investors (e.g. Corporations), including rental properties, out-of-state ownership, and owner-occupant purchases.

   2. The data: Staff contracted with a research firm (University of Colorado Boulder) and submitted the results:

      

   3. The decision: I’m formally requesting that we update the existing “Westminster Housing Needs Assessment” every 3 years to include ownership structure analysis quantifying non-individual investor ownership, out-of-state ownership, and investor participation in short-term rentals to inform affordability strategy, geographic targeting, and program design. Housing affordability is not just about supply and prices, it is also about who owns the housing. Across the country, non-individual and out-of-state investors are buying homes at scale and crowding out families and first time buyers. We cannot design effective affordability tools without knowing if that dynamic is happening here, where it is happening, and at what price points. Updating the Housing Needs Assessment every 3 years to include ownership structure data gives us an evidence based way to target down payment assistance, assess short term rental impacts, and protect owner occupancy without over regulating or guessing.

About Obi Ezeadi

Obi Ezeadi is a first-generation American, first responder (EMT) and City Councilor who champions economic, democratic, and personal freedoms for all of Westminster. He was recently re-elected to Westminster City Council with a record-breaking vote total and is prioritizing affordability in this final term. Obi came in as an outsider and delivered:

• Expanded open space and parks

• Expanded housing options (condos, townhomes, housing people can afford)

• Made water more affordable and secured clean water for generations

• Increased Mental health support

• First-ever gun violence proclamation

• First-ever Collective Bargaining Agreement for Police

• Led best-in-class Firefighter Collective Bargaining Resolution and Enhanced Firefighter Collective Bargaining Agreement

• Led the establishment of free transport service for seniors & disabled residents

• Drove police vacancies down from a region-worst 13% to an area-leading 1%

• Cut car thefts by 50%

• Invested to solve unhoused crisis

• Elevated transparency and accountability with our residents

Sarah is not alone.

Families have shared countless similar stories with me, and across Westminster many are being forced to delay children, leave the workforce, or rethink their future because childcare has become unaffordable.

Also, a growing share of Westminster residents are older adults, and building a strong childcare system helps create the economic stability that allows families to support loved ones while preserving independence and dignity. Many adults in Westminster are part of the sandwich generation, caring for both young children and aging parents, and unaffordable childcare reduces their ability to support older family members. Affordable childcare helps families stay in the workforce, build retirement savings, and better care for both children and aging parents.

During my re-election, I pledged to lower costs in childcare, housing, groceries, and utilities, and I am doing the uncommon thing in government by testing and building those solutions in-public, sharing updates, naming tradeoffs even when the answer is no, hopefully inspiring other municipal leaders across the state through the transparency.

Today, let’s focus on childcare.

Westminster has a childcare crisis and I’ve been fighting hard for years to address it. When we say childcare, what we mean are children between 6 weeks and 36 months, which is where the greatest need exists and also the most costly care to provide. Westminster currently has a shortage of 922 infant slots and 546 toddler slots.

A family with two children needs to make about $216,000 a year to afford childcare and other basic needs.

The official recommendation is that childcare should cost no more than 7% of household income, but in Westminster that number is 13% and climbs to 23% for low-income families.

These costs are not just impacting families, they are constraining our local economy, as the lack of affordable childcare for infants and toddlers costs Colorado nearly $3 billion annually in lost earnings, productivity, and tax revenue while pushing parents out of the workforce. A strong childcare system boosts economic growth by enabling more parents to work, and one analysis found that returning just 10,200 sidelined mothers to the workforce in Colorado could generate $3.8 billion in GDP and 29,000 jobs statewide.

Big wins so far: It has been 100 days since my re-election and we adopted a landmark 2040 Comprehensive Plan amendment recognizing childcare as essential infrastructure and established zoning by right by opening all safe zoning types to childcare providers.

And I have continued to push for even more advancements to support Westminster families during this childcare crisis. In Westminster, our Strategic Plan is a formal document that guides everything we do. In the new Strategic Plan that will be finalized this month, I successfully prioritized childcare affordability to a level we have never seen before in Westminster and one that surpasses any other municipality in Colorado. Our goal is simple: success going forward should be measured by how much we actually improve the lives of Westminster residents.

I have also embedded affordability into our current budget planning process:

Childcare-specific Ideas In Progress

1. Exempt infant formula from grocery sales tax (Status: TBD prioritization on May 9th):

   1. The test: Infant formula is not a luxury item, yet families in Westminster still pay grocery sales tax on this critical expense. I want us to exempt infant formula to help provide immediate some relief for families.

   2. The data: City Council has not had an opportunity to decide on this (or any other new idea) yet. The discussion will occur at the 2027 Budget Workshop on May 9. If a majority approves, staff will review constraints, impacts, and implementation options within our tax structure.

   3. The decision: TBD

      Get ongoing policy updates from Westminster Councilmember Obi Ezeadi

2. Create a Westminster Property Tax Incentive Program (Status: TBD prioritization on May 9th):

   1. The test: I would like to create a Westminster Property Tax Incentive Program to reduce startup and operating costs that make it difficult for childcare providers to expand, especially for infant and toddler care where the need is greatest. With Adams County recently approving a countywide incentive, my goal is to mirror their approach so providers in Westminster within Adams County could benefit from both programs, while providers in Westminster within Jefferson County would still receive meaningful local support.

   2. The data: The discussion will occur at the 2027 Budget Workshop on May 9. If a majority approves, staff will review constraints, impacts, and implementation.

   3. The decision: TBD

3. Include childcare providers in future mixed use developments (Status: TBD prioritization on May 9th):

   1. The test: As Westminster grows, we have an opportunity to embed childcare directly into new developments so families can live, work, and access childcare in the same areas. We are exploring policy mechanisms to encourage or prioritize childcare providers in mixed use developments.

   2. The data: The discussion will occur at the 2027 Budget Workshop on May 9. If a majority approves, staff will evaluate zoning flexibility, developer incentives, and best practices from other municipalities that have successfully integrated childcare into new developments.

   3. The decision: TBD

4. Explore donation of vacant city owned land to childcare providers (Status: TBD prioritization on May 9th):

   1. The test: Land costs are one of the largest barriers to expanding childcare capacity. I am exploring whether Westminster could donate or lease vacant city owned land to childcare providers to accelerate expansion and reduce startup costs.

   2. The data: The discussion will occur at the 2027 Budget Workshop on May 9. If a majority approves, staff will identifying eligible parcels, reviewing legal constraints, and assessing long term fiscal and operational considerations.

   3. The decision: TBD

Don’t forget to submit your ideas here: Westminster Affordability Survey

About Obi Ezeadi

Obi Ezeadi is a first-generation American, first responder (EMT) and City Councilor who champions economic, democratic, and personal freedoms for all of Westminster. He was recently re-elected to Westminster City Council with a record-breaking vote total and is prioritizing affordability in this final term. Obi came in as an outsider and delivered:

• Expanded open space and parks

• Expanded housing options (condos, townhomes, housing people can afford)

• Made water more affordable and secured clean water for generations

• Increased Mental health support

• First-ever gun violence proclamation

• First-ever Collective Bargaining Agreement for Police

• Led best-in-class Firefighter Collective Bargaining Resolution and Enhanced Firefighter Collective Bargaining Agreement

• Led the establishment of free transport service for seniors & disabled residents

• Drove police vacancies down from a region-worst 13% to an area-leading 1%

• Cut car thefts by 50%

• Invested to solve unhoused crisis

• Elevated transparency and accountability with our residents

We are leading by example in Westminster by voluntarily reducing water use across Westminster parks, facilities, and operations, and I am asking our community to join us.

Due to a historically dry winter and record low snowpack, Westminster will enact a voluntary Drought Watch beginning Wednesday, April 15 to protect Westminster’s water supply and avoid mandatory restrictions later.

This is the first step of our Westminster drought plan. While voluntary, we are asking Westminster residents and businesses to limit outdoor watering to 3 days per week and water only before 10AM or after 6PM.

How you can help:

- Limit watering to 3 days per week

- Water before 10 AM or after 6 PM

- Save money by checking for indoor leaks

- Stay informed about Westminster drought updates

- Register for Westminster conservation programs

Learn more: westy.news/drought ‼️

Don’t forget to submit your ideas here: Westminster Affordability Survey

About Obi Ezeadi

Obi Ezeadi is a first-generation American, first responder (EMT) and City Councilor who champions economic, democratic, and personal freedoms for all of Westminster. He was recently re-elected to Westminster City Council with a record-breaking vote total and is prioritizing affordability in this final term. In his first 4 years, Obi came in as an outsider and delivered:

• Expanded open space and parks

• Expanded housing options (condos, townhomes, housing people can afford)

• Made water more affordable and secured clean water for generations

• Increased Mental health support

• First-ever gun violence proclamation

• First-ever Collective Bargaining Agreements for Police

• Enhanced Collective Bargaining Agreement for Fire

• Led the establishment of free transport service for seniors & disabled residents

• Drove police vacancies down from a region-worst 13% to an area-leading 1%

• Cut car thefts by 50%

• Invested to solve unhoused crisis

• Elevated transparency and accountability with our residents

I am heading out of the country on a long overdue family vacation, but I wanted to share a few endorsements for those who have been asking for guidance. Because many affordability decisions are made across levels of government, the county assemblies happening this week in Jefferson and Adams Counties matter for Westminster families. Childcare costs, housing supply, grocery prices, utility bills, and transportation access are shaped by the leaders who advance through this process. That is why I am making these endorsements for assembly-participating statewide and county candidates who are serious about lowering the cost of living and expanding opportunity for working families:

Congressional District 7: Brittany Pettersen

Congressional District 8: Manny Rutinel

Secretary of State: Jessie Danielson

Attorney General: Jena Griswold

Adams County Commissioner: Emma Pinter

Adams County Commissioner: Tyler Quick

Jefferson County Clerk: Nicole Hensel

Jefferson County Assessor: Andy Kerr

Update on my Affordability Agenda

I promised to lower costs across childcare, housing, groceries, and utilities, and I’m choosing to do the uncommon thing in government by building this work in public via sharing updates as I test and advance each idea. Sometimes the answer will be no, but transparency about the tradeoffs is how trust is built. I also hope sharing this publicly may help inspire other electeds from municipalities across the state.

We held our Strategic Planning Workshop on February 28, 2026, and there are significant updates. My next email will give you a deep-dive into the amazing changes we are bringing to Westminster. Stay tuned!

Please click here to provide me your ideas about affordability.

About Obi Ezeadi

Obi Ezeadi is a first-generation American, first responder (EMT) and City Councilor who champions economic, democratic, and personal freedoms for all of Westminster. He was recently re-elected to Westminster City Council with a record-breaking vote total and is prioritizing affordability in this final term. In his first 4 years, Obi came in as an outsider and delivered:

• Expanded open space and parks

• Expanded housing options (condos, townhomes, housing people can afford)

• Made water more affordable and secured clean water for generations

• Increased Mental health support

• First-ever gun violence proclamation

• First-ever Collective Bargaining Agreements for Fire and Police

• Led the establishment of free transport service for seniors & disabled residents

• Drove police vacancies down from a region-worst 13% to an area-leading 1%

• Cut car thefts by 50%

• Invested to solve unhoused crisis

• Elevated transparency and accountability with our residents

Below are the updates I published so far before I sent you this email.

1:36PM update:

If you have not done so yet, make sure you sign up for emergency alerts through Lookout Alert (www.LookoutAlert.co) and Genasys Protect (www.GenasysProtect.com) to stay informed and prepared for this emergency and future ones!

1:23PM update:

Here is reporting from 9News referencing the evacuation orders: https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/wildfire/fire-thornton/73-040d1974-167e-4baf-9b08-c9abd3ad44be?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_9NEWS_(KUSA)

1:06PM update:

Below is an email from our Westminster Fire Chief to City Council: “Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, and City Councillors, There is a significant fire in Thornton near 84th and Huron. There are limited details at this time, as this is an active and rapidly growing incident. Reports indicate that the fire has involved multiple vehicles and structures, and Pinnacle High School and nearby businesses are being evacuated. Westminster Fire is on scene and assisting Thornton with fire suppression efforts.

With today’s Red Flag Warning, Westminster Fire increased staffing levels to provide for enhanced response capabilities. Westminster Fire resources are in Westminster and maintaining coverage for our community.“

Don’t forget to submit your ideas here: Westminster Affordability Survey

About Obi Ezeadi

Obi Ezeadi is a first-generation American, first responder (EMT) and City Councilor who champions economic, democratic, and personal freedoms for all of Westminster. He was recently re-elected to Westminster City Council with a record-breaking vote total and is prioritizing affordability in this final term. In his first 4 years, Obi came in as an outsider and delivered:

• Expanded open space and parks

• Expanded housing options (condos, townhomes, housing people can afford)

• Made water more affordable and secured clean water for generations

• Increased Mental health support

• First-ever gun violence proclamation

• First-ever Collective Bargaining Agreements for Police

• Enhanced Collective Bargaining Agreement for Fire

• Led the establishment of free transport service for seniors & disabled residents

• Drove police vacancies down from a region-worst 13% to an area-leading 1%

• Cut car thefts by 50%

• Invested to solve unhoused crisis

• Elevated transparency and accountability with our residents

• Westminster Resident Spotlight

• Update: Results (so far) from my Westminster Affordability Survey

Westminster Resident Spotlight

Westminster has the most talented residents in the country. OK, I’m biased. But I’m going to believe that to be true. I’d like to introduce you Westminster resident Lindsay M. She has a very special talent. See below and enjoy!

And here she is playing at her own wedding!

Update: Westminster Affordability Survey

During my re-election, I pledged to lower costs in childcare, housing, groceries, and utilities, and I am doing the uncommon thing in government by testing and building those solutions in-public, sharing updates, naming tradeoffs even when the answer is no, hopefully inspiring other municipal leaders across the state through the transparency.

I launched a “Westminster Affordability Survey” a couple months ago to ground this work in real lived data from our community before advancing policy solutions.

So far, we have received almost 300 responses. ~80% from Westminster residents.

I want to share a few of the ideas residents offered, because the best solutions often start with the people living the problem every day.

Several residents are requesting universal childcare, like this mom:

“We pay 2K a month for full-time childcare for my 2 year old. The cost of childcare is the biggest discussion as my husband and I are deciding if we want to have more kids. While a lot of education lies in the hands of the state, perhaps some sort of city sponsored credit for child care? thinking similar to what the state of Colorado is doing for prek. There their opportunity to have city-run childcare?”

Many residents love my idea of finding out the levels of corporate ownership of housing in Westminster; such as this commuter:

“I am only a part time resident and I work in Westminster. I have no solutions to suggest but I wanted to applaud you for tackling these very pressing issues. Although the high cost of housing does not directly impact me, I can see what direction it is taking with corporations buying up most of the residential property. This has very negative implications and I beleive that if nothing is done to combat this, it will greatly hurt the middle and lower income buyers and possibly keep them from owning their own homes, ever. To my mind, this would work much like monopolies and should not be tolerated in a free country.”

The need for affordable senior housing was also a common theme:

“The cooperation between the city and private investors that allowed Vistas at Panorama Point to be built and allowed affordable housing for Seniors is a life saver for my husband and me. Can more of that become available for seniors and for families? I don't know where we could afford to live if this wasn't available.”

Westminster residents are so smart they even explored supply-side economics and loved my ideas of cutting red tape:

“I think there are a lot of interesting ideas you mention in your email. I would also humbly suggest exploring some potential ways to responsibly cut some red tape, especially around housing creation and business redevelopment. In my opinion, most of the ideas you suggested would work more on the demand side to increase affordability, which is an important part of affordability. I also think it is important to look at the supply side of goods and items too, similar to how you worked to open zoning to childcare. There are likely to be similar things that could be done for housing and business development (in a responsible way that doesn't compromise other important considerations like environment and such) that could increase the supply of houses (lowering costs) and businesses (increasing competition to lower prices). Thanks for all the work you do.”

And hundreds more ideas. Keep submitting. I will provide a more detailed update soon on all the ideas in progress. Our Westminster Strategic Planning meeting is February 28.

Don’t forget to submit your ideas here: Westminster Affordability Survey

About Obi Ezeadi

Obi Ezeadi is a first-generation American, first responder (EMT) and City Councilor who champions economic, democratic, and personal freedoms for all of Westminster. He was recently re-elected to Westminster City Council with a record-breaking vote total and is prioritizing affordability in this final term. In his first 4 years, Obi came in as an outsider and delivered:

• Expanded open space and parks

• Expanded housing options (condos, townhomes, housing people can afford)

• Made water more affordable and secured clean water for generations

• Increased Mental health support

• First-ever gun violence proclamation

• First-ever Collective Bargaining Agreements for Police

• Enhanced Collective Bargaining Agreement for Fire

• Led the establishment of free transport service for seniors & disabled residents

• Drove police vacancies down from a region-worst 13% to an area-leading 1%

• Cut car thefts by 50%

• Invested to solve unhoused crisis

• Elevated transparency and accountability with our residents

Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen’s “Westminster Resource Fair”

As someone who has served on multiple nonprofit boards, stewarding strategy, budgets, and community partnerships, I have seen firsthand the structural fragility of the sector and the daily realities of the families it serves.

Colorado’s nonprofits are in crisis, operating in survival mode, underfunded and overstretched, quietly subsidizing public systems without the stable capital and policy alignment required to meet rising demand, even as the cost of survival for my constituents continues to rise.

Which is why I attended Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen’s “Westminster Resource Fair” and interviewed every single organization there so you can hear directly from the people doing the work, watch the video below.

Inside the Westminster City Park Recreation Center, dozens of frontline agencies were gathered in one room, giving families immediate access to healthcare, food, legal guidance, workforce support, and public benefits without having to navigate a fragmented system alone.

The event featured:

• AARP: https://www.aarp.org

• AARP Colorado: https://states.aarp.org/colorado

• Connect for Health Colorado: https://connectforhealthco.com

• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: https://www.cms.gov

• Community Table: https://communitytable.org

• Broomfield FISH: https://broomfieldfish.org

• 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office: https://www.da17.state.co.us

• Hunger Free Colorado: https://www.hungerfreecolorado.org

• Elevations Credit Union: https://www.elevationscu.com

• Jefferson County Business & Workforce Center: https://www.jeffco.us/1316/Business-Workforce-Center

• Colorado Attorney General’s Office: https://coag.gov

• STRIDE Community Health Center: https://stridechc.org

• University of Denver Low Income Taxpayer Clinic: https://www.du.edu/law/low-income-taxpayer-clinic

• Jefferson County Public Health: https://www.jeffco.us/1422/Public-Health

• Benefits in Action: https://benefitsinaction.org

• Veterans Benefits Administration: https://www.benefits.va.gov

• Westminster Public Library: https://www.westminsterco.gov/library

Watch the full video here:

Don’t forget to submit your ideas here: Westminster Affordability Survey

About Obi Ezeadi

Obi Ezeadi is a first-generation American, first responder (EMT) and City Councilor who champions economic, democratic, and personal freedoms for all of Westminster. He was recently re-elected to Westminster City Council with a record-breaking vote total and is prioritizing affordability in this final term. In his first 4 years, Obi came in as an outsider and delivered:

• Expanded open space and parks

• Expanded housing options (condos, townhomes, housing people can afford)

• Made water more affordable and secured clean water for generations

• Increased Mental health support

• First-ever gun violence proclamation

• First-ever Collective Bargaining Agreements for Police

• Enhanced Collective Bargaining Agreement for Fire

• Led the establishment of free transport service for seniors & disabled residents

• Drove police vacancies down from a region-worst 13% to an area-leading 1%

• Cut car thefts by 50%

• Invested to solve unhoused crisis

• Elevated transparency and accountability with our residents

Last weekend, Donald Trump shared a video depicting former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama as apes. Drawing widespread (bipartisan) criticism, he refused to apologize and the White House immediately labeled the criticism as “fake outrage”.

The ape comparison has been used to dehumanize Black and Brown people from 18th century colonial propaganda to 19th and 20th century Jim Crow imagery and into 21st century extremist violence, all to rationalize slavery, segregation, and imperial domination. In recent years, we have seen local and national coordinated efforts to undermine and discredit changemakers with attacks designed to remove and keep Black leadership out of decision-making roles.

In 2026, most Americans feel helpless watching elected officials allow Trump to systematically weaken our democracy by undermining the rule of law, separation of powers, equal protection, and civil liberties against Black and Brown people.

As efforts intensify to discredit diversity, equity, and inclusion, remember this: diversity asks who is in the room, equity asks who cannot get in, and inclusion asks whose voice is actually heard. DEI is why we have parental leave, family restrooms, captions on TV, flexible schedules, breastfeeding accommodations, ramps and curb cuts, pay transparency, workplace protections, size-inclusive medical equipment, floating holidays, disability-friendly workspaces, and even belt extenders on planes.

Action: If you’re worried about the direction of our government and want to take meaningful action today, then focus on local and donate to BIPAC, Colorado’s first fund solely dedicated to electing People of Color to office (also backing LGBTQ+ candidates). Since launching in 2023, we’ve helped elect 10 winning candidates at the city and state level.

Help us elect the next generation of diverse leaders in Colorado: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bipac

Donate here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bipac

• Update on Affordability Agenda: Childcare, Groceries, Housing, Utilities

Update on Affordability Agenda

I promised to lower costs across childcare, housing, groceries, and utilities, and I’m choosing to do the uncommon thing in government by building this work in public via sharing updates as I test and advance each idea. Sometimes the answer will be no, but transparency about the tradeoffs is how trust is built. I also hope sharing this publicly may help inspire other electeds from municipalities across the state.

Before you continue, please click here to provide me your ideas about affordability.

It’s been 2 months since my re-election, and I’ve gotten straight to work.

Housing

1. Are corporations pricing families out of housing in Westminster? (Status: In Progress):

   1. The test: In cities and suburbs across America, out-of-state corporations are purchasing housing stock at-scale and crowding out families and first-time buyers. In Dec 2025 I asked City staff to analyze the share of Westminster housing owned by non-individual investors (e.g. Corporations), including rental properties, out-of-state ownership, and owner-occupant purchases.

   2. The data: Staff advised that such a detailed analysis requires contracting with a research firm, so on January 5 City Council approved my request for staff to source a vendor and prepare a contract for near-term Council review.

   3. The decision: TBD

2. Other Ideas I’m still actively brainstorming: streamlining permitting and red tape; smaller lots; Tiny homes; state/county collaboration on legal aid and coordinated rental and utility assistance.

Groceries

1. Exempt groceries from sale tax (Status: Tested and ruled out):

   1. The test: In Nov 2025, I asked City staff to analyze whether Westminster could exempt groceries from the City sales tax.

   2. The data: Staff found this would reduce City revenue by roughly $24 million per year, about ~80% of our entire Fire budget. It would also risk our ability to meet debt obligations, disrupt intergovernmental agreements and revenue sharing tied to taxable sales, and more.

   3. The decision: Because of the scale of the impact, this is not a responsible option to pursue. The fight for affordability continues.

2. Other ideas I’m still actively brainstorming: ways to lower grocery prices by reducing fixed costs and barriers to entry, including supporting grocery stores as anchors in mixed use developments to spread costs across housing and commercial uses.

Give Obi your ideas on affordability

Utilities

1. Water rate discounts for xeriscaping (Status: In Progress)

   1. The test: In Jan 2025, I asked City staff to evaluate the feasibility and fiscal impact of offering water rate discounts for residential conservation measures, including xeriscaping and other landscape conversions, turf removal, or measurable reductions in outdoor water use.

   2. The data: TBD

   3. The decision: TBD

2. Other Ideas I’m still actively brainstorming: state-level advocacy on energy bill affordability; explore ways to lower Westminster water rates without undermining the financial stability of the system that delivers them. This may include: water tier reform, cutting capital costs faster than revenue needs to grow, and identifying alternative supplemental funding to enable water rate decreases.

Childcare

1. Childcare as Infrastructure (Status: Complete). Oct 2025 amendment to Westminster’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan that has opened all safe zoning types to childcare providers, removing one of the biggest barriers to supply and cost.

2. Other ideas I’m still actively brainstorming: Ways to activate public land or vacant buildings to lower operating costs, support providers to stabilize prices, and expand access to essential goods and resources for new parents.

Beyond City Hall

1. Finally, because many affordability decisions are made at the State Capitol, part of delivering on childcare, housing, groceries, and utilities means supporting leaders and policies beyond city limits that directly shape costs and funding for Westminster. I have endorsed several 2026 candidates who share this priority and more will be announced soon.

2. At City Council on January 5, 2026, Council approved a broad set of updates to Westminster’s Legislative Policy Statement, which directly guides the priorities of our state and federal lobbyists. Within those updates, Council approved several new affordability-focused policy principles that I proposed:

   1. “Supports and advocates for funding to expand cost, quality and access of childcare”

   2. “Supports and advocates for legislation that promotes affordable utilities”

   3. “Supports and advocates for legislation that promotes affordable groceries”

Don’t forget to submit your ideas here: Westminster Affordability Survey

About Obi Ezeadi

Obi Ezeadi is a first-generation American, first responder (EMT) and City Councilor who champions economic, democratic, and personal freedoms for all of Westminster. He was recently re-elected to Westminster City Council with a record-breaking vote total and is prioritizing affordability in this final term. In his first 4 years, Obi came in as an outsider and delivered:

• Expanded open space and parks

• Expanded housing options (condos, townhomes, housing people can afford)

• Made water more affordable and secured clean water for generations

• Increased Mental health support

• First-ever gun violence proclamation

• First-ever Collective Bargaining Agreements for Fire and Police

• Led the establishment of free transport service for seniors & disabled residents

• Drove police vacancies down from a region-worst 13% to an area-leading 1%

• Cut car thefts by 50%

• Invested to solve unhoused crisis

• Elevated transparency and accountability with our residents

Congregation B’nai Torah Chanukah dinner

Last night, I was so grateful to join Congregation B’nai Torah for their Chanukah dinner and share a night of community, faith, and light. I learned so much tonight. Westminster is a tapestry of cultures, religions, and traditions, and our strength comes from honoring every thread that makes our community whole.

Historic Westminster Christmas Tree Lighting

Covenant Living Christmas Concert

Hmong New Year

About Obi Ezeadi

Obi Ezeadi is a first-generation American, first responder (EMT) and City Councilor who champions economic, democratic, and personal freedoms for all of Westminster. He was recently re-elected to Westminster City Council with a record-breaking vote total and is prioritizing affordability in this final term. In his first 4 years, Obi came in as an outsider and delivered:

• Expanded open space and parks

• Expanded housing options (condos, townhomes, housing people can afford)

• Made water more affordable and secured clean water for generations

• Increased Mental health support

• First-ever gun violence proclamation

• First-ever Collective Bargaining Agreements for Fire and Police

• Led the establishment of free transport service for seniors & disabled residents

• Drove police vacancies down from a region-worst 13% to an area-leading 1%

• Cut car thefts by 50%

• Invested to solve unhoused crisis

• Elevated transparency and accountability with our residents

This holiday season you can help BIPAC - Colorado’s first political action committee solely focused on financing Black, Brown and LGBTQ+ candidates for office.

Donate here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bipac

• City Council vacancy update

• Other Important Updates

Westminster City Council appoints Adam Barajas to fill vacancy

After weeks of us operating with only 6 members, Westminster City Council finally filled its vacant 7th seat last Saturday, December 13. On a 4-2 vote, community servant Adam Barajas was appointed through the charter-mandated appointment process and Council Rules 7.23, which dictate vacancies must be filled within 30 days by a majority vote (4 or more) of the remaining council members using a structured interview and roll call voting process.

We reviewed applications from 20 applicants and interviewed 7 of them Saturday morning. They were all spectacular in different ways. After public interviews, council voted in rounds with candidates receiving no votes eliminated and the pool resetting after 5 rounds if no majority was reached. Each councilor had the opportunity to ask 2 questions for each candidate. The two questions that I asked every candidate were:

1. Westminster residents sent a clear mandate in the recent election to make affordability our top priority. What concrete steps would you take on Council to advance affordability, and how will you work collaboratively with Council and the community to deliver visible results for residents?

2. Tell us about a time you helped a divided group find common ground. What specific strategies did you use, and how would you apply those strategies on this Council to rebuild trust among its members moving forward?

As you all know, I will use every avenue at my disposal to tackle the affordability crisis, and this City Council vacancy process was the first step in delivering on that promise. All 7 finalists offered thoughtful responses to my affordability question, reflecting the depth of talent in our community. Two candidates stood out in particular with amazing answers: Kat Mullane and Adam Barajas.

Adam earned my support based on his clear focus on lowering costs with ideas around increasing competition for goods and services, third use and free cost opportunities, investing in public transit and walkability, expanding multi-use zoning, and a commitment to steering away from regressive taxation. He ultimately earned the required majority and was appointed to serve the remainder of the unexpired 2-year term.

I am extremely proud of Adam, because he is a dear friend and longtime community servant. His background spans education and finance, including work as a classroom teacher, financial analyst, and graduate of the University of Notre Dame’s Master of Education program. Adam brings an analytical, empathetic, and people centered approach to governance, along with essential representation for our Adams County Latino community, which makes up roughly a quarter of Westminster’s population.

Adam will be sworn-in tonight at 7PM at Westminster City Hall. With Council now whole, we are positioned to deliver serious, people focused policy in 2026.

Other Important Updates

• Shannon Bird has resigned as State Representative for House District 29 (HD29) so we will soon convene a meeting of the HD29 Central Committee to fill the vacancy for the remaining portion of her term (i.e. the 2026 legislative session). As Chair of HD29 I plan on running a very transparent and fair process. Dates for the vacancy vote are not yet finalized (it will likely be on Jan 11) but will be shared very soon! We will need 50% quorum, so make sure you stay attentive. Reply to this email if you don’t think I have yours yet: obiezeadi@gmail.com. The official call for the vacancy with details will be sent by email to the HD29 distribution list soon. There will be no proxies allowed.

• Who can run for the HD29 vacancy? To qualify, you must be at least 25 years old, a US citizen, a Colorado resident, and have lived in House District 29 for at least 12 months. As Chair of HD29, if you are considering running for this State Rep vacancy, please reply to this email so I can include you in the official call when it is issued. Only one candidate has stepped forward so far, and I encourage anyone else who meets the requirements and is ready to serve in the 2026 legislative session to do the same so the committee can fairly evaluate all qualified applicants.

• My statement about self-care for the Holiday season: “This holiday, remember the people around your table matter more than winning an argument, doom scrolling is not the same as being informed, and slowing down to be present is how we protect our peace so we can fix what is broken and build what comes next.”

• Faith Winter: 💔On December 1, City Council approved my request to draft and present a Proclamation honoring the life and legacy of Faith Winter. It will be read after the holidays once her close ones are ready to be in attendance. On December 5, the political world attended Faith’s memorial at the State Capitol. Her Celebration of Life was held the following day at the Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster. If you missed the memorial you can watch it here: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17JSXartHY/?mibextid=wwXIfr

  

• Community engagement the last couple of weeks:

About Obi Ezeadi

Obi Ezeadi is a first-generation American, first responder (EMT) and City Councilor who champions economic, democratic, and personal freedoms for all of Westminster. He was recently re-elected to Westminster City Council with a record-breaking vote total and is prioritizing affordability in this final term. In his first 4 years, Obi came in as an outsider and delivered:

• Expanded open space and parks

• Expanded housing options (condos, townhomes, housing people can afford)

• Made water more affordable and secured clean water for generations

• Increased Mental health support

• First-ever gun violence proclamation

• First-ever Collective Bargaining Agreements for Fire and Police

• Led the establishment of free transport service for seniors & disabled residents

• Drove police vacancies down from a region-worst 13% to an area-leading 1%

• Cut car thefts by 50%

• Invested to solve unhoused crisis

• Elevated transparency and accountability with our residents

“I ran on lowering the costs of childcare, utilities, housing, and groceries, and voters have given me a clear mandate to deliver,” said Ezeadi. “The frustration we saw in this election comes from real pain. Families are struggling to keep up, and my focus these next 4 years will be to lead this council in easing those financial burdens and building lasting stability for everyone in our city.”

Ezeadi’s first term was marked by tangible progress on Westminster’s most pressing challenges. He helped expand open space and parks, initiate free transport for seniors and residents with disabilities, cut car thefts by 50%, lowered police vacancies to a region leading 1%, secured clean water infrastructure for future generations, and expanded mental health and housing programs. Most recently, Ezeadi led the unanimous passage of the first city-level action to treat childcare as infrastructure, a landmark amendment to Westminster’s Comprehensive Plan.

Beyond policy, Ezeadi’s leadership in his first term was defined by his engagement efforts that reignited civic participation in local government. Through food drives, office hours, community forums, and a sophisticated data-driven multi-platform communications strategy, he built one of the most engaged resident networks in the state, making him one of the top 3 most followed elected officials across social media in Colorado.

Voters also approved Ballot Issue 3H, a measure Ezeadi championed to repair Westminster’s deteriorating streets and expand fire service capacity through the construction of new fire stations. The measure’s passage ensures faster emergency response times and safer roads citywide, especially for seniors and vulnerable residents. “This would have never happened without the leadership of Mayor Nancy McNally,” Ezeadi said, “We shall forever be indebted to her.”

“This moment is about more than winning an election,” Ezeadi said. “Our next chapter will focus on keeping Westminster safe and affordable for everyone.”

For more information, please contact press@voteobi.com

Full Release: https://www.voteobi.com/obi-ezeadi-breaks-city-voting-record

Here in Westminster, mayoral candidate Bruce Baker has just self-funded yet another illegal mailer on behalf of Jeremy Nuanes and Kathy Stroud, secretly spending tens of thousands without properly reporting it as required by campaign finance law. Bruce Baker is now under investigation for more than 30 different violations. Though I’m not running for Mayor, his extremist slate has made attacking me the centerpiece of their campaign. Just before Election Day, their mailers are spreading lies to hide Bruce’s plan to lay off city staff and slash police, fire, and essential services.

If you can help, this is your final chance to. We urgently need support to fund last-minute outreach and stop this deceit before voters head to the polls.

$1,025 more will power our final days of outreach before the election:

Chip in $25

Chip in $100

Chip in $400

If you’ve saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately.

Welcome back to my election mini-series, where I share clear updates to keep you informed and empowered. Over 10,000 people now subscribe to this newsletter. I know not everyone here lives in Westminster, so thank you for tuning in and sharing how these updates help you wherever you may live.

As of 10/22:

• Out of 334,467 registered voters in all of Adams County, 17,626 ballots are completed.

  • Westminster has 49,904 registered Adams voters. 3,591 Westminster (Adams) Ballots are completed:

    • 1,438 Unaffiliated

    • 1,300 Democrats

    • 802 Republicans

    • 51 Other

• Out of 439,000 registered voters in all of Jefferson County, 40,103 ballots are completed.

  • Westminster has 34,906 registered JeffCo voters. 2,623 Westminster (JeffCo) ballots are completed:

    • 1,095 Unaffiliated

    • 940 Democrats

    • 562 Republicans

    • 26 Other

My vision for Westminster

While doorknocking I spoke with Pauline, a wise 72YO resident who told me she is tired of politicians who only fight against without offering a vision to fight for. That conversation moved me to share my vision for Westminster’s future and invite you into it.

I have heard from Westminster families about how hard it is to make ends meet. And what they deserve is a leader who takes affordability seriously, understands how city budgets, rates, and infrastructure really work, not one who weaponizes the word ‘taxes’ as a scare tactic to score political points in an election.

I am not here to sell you fear. I see you, and I understand your hardships. I am running with a vision for Westminster’s future, one that grows out of today’s challenges rather than the empty promise of passing the costs of today onto the next generation.

A vision to strengthen our public services and put working people and small business economics at the center of our politics.

A vision built on four years of conversations with parents, seniors, teachers, small business owners, first responders, and neighbors who simply want to live and work in a safe and affordable city.

A vision that celebrates the beauty and breadth of our multicultural community; its food, traditions, and shared spirit.

A vision rooted in joy and possibility, not struggle and fight. Because our working families deserve more than survival; there must be room for rest, peace, and joy.

The central question of Westminster’s 2025 municipal election is not what we are against but rather: what are we fighting for?

In the last four years, I’ve expanded parks and open space, expanded the water assistance program, boosted mental health, enhanced our fire mitigation plan, reduced police vacancies from 13% to a region-leading 1%, cut car thefts by 50%, secured clean water for generations, strengthened fire and police with the first-ever collective bargaining agreements, created free transit for seniors and disabled residents, invested in solutions to the unhoused crisis, innovated communication with our community, and expanded missing-middle housing choices like condos and townhomes so seniors, young families, and longtime residents can all find a place to call home.

In the next four years, what I am fighting for is a safer, more affordable Westminster by lowering the cost of utilities, groceries, childcare, and housing. That will be my top priority.

I want to improve our fire infrastructure, strengthen support for our police officers, and eliminate dangerous speeding in our neighborhoods so every child can play outside, every senior can cross the street safely, and every driver knows that in Westminster we value life over rushing.

I want to bring back the spirit of neighbors, with block parties, rotating food trucks, and spaces that spark conversation, camaraderie, and a true sense of community again.

I want to make it easier for families to connect across our city through micromobility: safer sidewalks, bike paths, and trails that let kids ride to school, parents walk to local shops, and neighbors meet each other without always needing a car.

I want taxpayers to know that every dollar will be managed with transparency and accountability, because delivering on affordability requires pairing lower costs with a government that works smarter and more responsibly. I want to strengthen our local economy by making it easier to start and grow a business in Westminster, cutting red tape and ensuring city dollars are invested wisely in the people and places that keep our community vibrant.

Finally, I want our young people to see Westminster as a city of opportunity, with safe after-school spaces, jobs that build skills, and recreation programs that inspire. I want every child and teenager to feel supported and valued, with outlets for creativity, sports, and leadership so they grow up knowing this city believes in their future.

But to deliver on all of this, we must first deliver on affordability, because this is not my vision, it is your vision shaped by our conversations and what you and I are collectively fighting for.

See you at the next update! Don’t forget to vote early and get 5 neighbors to vote.

Yours in service and hope,

Obi

How To Vote

You have options for how to vote. Mail it in, drop it off, or vote in person. See the image below for Westminster locations. Mail your ballot back by October 27 to make sure it’s received by 7PM on Election Day, or be in line at a VSPC or dropbox by 7PM.

• It’s never too late to register to vote in Colorado. Register or update your address by October 27 to receive a ballot in the mail. After that, you’ll need to go into your closest Voter Service and Polling Center.

• Check your ballot status by enrolling in Ballot Trax! Have the peace of mind that your ballot has been mailed to you, received, and counted.

2025 Westminster Ballot Recommendations

Other votes on your ballot:

• Proposition LL: Yes

• Proposition MM: Yes

• Mayor of Westminster: I don’t endorse anyone for Mayor in this election.

Why I support Westminster Ballot Issue 3H

The repair and maintenance of Westminster’s streets has declined due to the rapidly rising cost of concrete, asphalt, and other materials. At our current rate, the quality of our streets will continue to drop over the next 10 years.

Additionally, we need to build new fire stations in order to close service gaps. Without the necessary investments, Firefighters and paramedics cannot reach a victim within 6 minutes which can be the difference between life and death.

No one likes raising taxes, but this measure is a critical and necessary part of a larger plan to shift more city resources towards our roads and Fire infrastructure. We have already reallocated millions of dollars towards these needs but inflation has tied our hands, so we need your help to accept a few extra cents of every dollar of cost that will ensure the safety of our entire city, especially our aging population.

About Obi Ezeadi

Obi Ezeadi is a first-generation American, first responder (EMT) and City Councilor who champions economic, democratic, and personal freedoms for all of Westminster. In his first 4 years, he came in as an outsider and delivered:

• Expanded open space and parks

• Expanded housing options (condos, townhomes, housing people can afford)

• Made water more affordable and secured clean water for generations

• Increased Mental health support

• First Collective Bargaining Agreements for Fire and Police

• Led the establishment of free transport service for seniors & disabled residents

• Drove police vacancies down from a region-worst 13% to an area-leading 1%

• Cut car thefts by 50%

• Invested to solve unhoused crisis

• Elevated transparency and accountability with our residents

Welcome back to my election mini-series, where I share clear updates to keep you informed and empowered. Over 10,000 people now subscribe to this newsletter. I know not everyone here lives in Westminster, so thank you for tuning in and sharing how these updates help you wherever you may live.

As of 10/19:

• Out of 333,590 registered voters in all of Adams County, 8,269 ballots are completed.

  • Westminster has 49,775 registered Adams voters. 1,670 Westminster (Adams) Ballots are completed:

    • 667 Unaffiliated

    • 581 Democrats

    • 391 Republicans

    • 31 Other

• Out of 438,799 registered voters in all of Jefferson County, 18,961 ballots are completed.

  • Westminster has 34,872 registered JeffCo voters. 1,166 Westminster (JeffCo) ballots are completed:

    • 484 Unaffiliated

    • 406 Democrats

    • 265 Republicans

    • 11 Other

Campaign trail

Last Saturday’s Westy Fest drew thousands of neighbors together. I joined Westminster Firefighters Local 4889 at their table and had the privilege of speaking with residents about why voting Yes on 3H and supporting my re-election matter for our city’s future. I’m grateful to my volunteers who spread the word throughout the festival and kept the energy high all day.

Campaign Finance transparency:

Residents just received another illegal and false propaganda mailer from Bruce Baker, Jeremy Nuanes and Kathy Stroud just a couple days ago on 10/18/25. If you receive one, throw it away or report it to the City Clerk.

Here is the full story of the illegal activity from Westminster Window:

Westminster Window Article (published Oct 10):

“Westminster’s City Clerk is investigating a resident’s complaint that mayoral candidate Bruce Baker violated campaign law by paying for campaign flyers and failing to report them as a political contribution/expenditure.

Alyson Nutter lodged the complaint this week after she received a piece of mail on or around Oct. 6, advocating for the election of Baker, Jeremy Nuanes and Kathy Stroud for city council. The piece of mail indicated it was paid for by Baker, according to Nutter’s complaint.

Based on Colorado election and campaign finance laws, this piece of mail advocating for the election of Baker constitutes a contribution/expenditure on behalf of the payer, which is Baker, the complaint states.

Baker failed to report this contribution/expenditure made by himself on behalf of his own campaign in his first publicly disclosed finance report – covering Dec. 6, 2024 through Aug. 31, 2025 – or his second report – covering Sept. 1 through Sept. 30 – which covers all the possible periods this contribution has occurred, Nutter said in her complaint.

“This failure to report is a violation of Constitution Article XXVIII, the Fair Campaign Practices Act, or the Secretary of State’s rules concerning Campaign and Political Finance,” the complaint states.

The flyers have been distributed by both mail and front door drops. At least one flyer with the PRSRT STD stamp on it came through USPS’ Presorted Standard Mail, which means that at minimum 200 of those were mailed to Westminster residents, Nutter said via email. The handout titled “One Community, One Future!” was put on people’s doors, Nutter said.

Nutter asked the Westminster City Clerk Abby Fitch to investigate, and she also copied the Colorado Secretary of State “because an immediate injunction against Bruce Baker and the imposition of fines may be required to stop this serious violation of the law,” the complaint states.

Baker responds

Baker – former city council member and harsh critic of the city’s spending practices - said Thursday via email that the complaint, and its resulting publicity, could be part of a political smear campaign. He also said that a similar complaint was filed against him in 2023 during a city election campaign but was dismissed by Fitch.

Nutter’s complaint lacks any solid evidence against him, Baker said.

“Ms. Nutter’s complaint provides no documentation for the claims she asserts,” Baker said. “Does she know when and by who the postcards were made, (or) if the contract times falls into the reporting periods she references?”

“Ms. Nutter provides no documentation for any arrangement that shows this is a contribution to the Bruce Baker campaign,” he adds.

Fitch said in a letter to Nutter that the people named in the complaint have 15 days after notification to respond. Both Baker and Nuanes said they have already been notified. After the response period ends, the investigation into the allegations begins, Fitch said.”

See you at the next update! Don’t forget to vote early and get 5 neighbors to vote.

Yours in service and hope,

Obi

How To Vote

You have options for how to vote. Mail it in, drop it off, or vote in person. See the image below for Westminster locations. Mail your ballot back by October 27 to make sure it’s received by 7PM on Election Day, or be in line at a VSPC or dropbox by 7PM.

• It’s never too late to register to vote in Colorado. Register or update your address by October 27 to receive a ballot in the mail. After that, you’ll need to go into your closest Voter Service and Polling Center.

• Check your ballot status by enrolling in Ballot Trax! Have the peace of mind that your ballot has been mailed to you, received, and counted.

2025 Westminster Ballot Recommendations

Other votes on your ballot:

• Proposition LL: Yes

• Proposition MM: Yes

• Mayor of Westminster: I don’t endorse anyone for Mayor in this election.

Why I support Westminster Ballot Issue 3H

The repair and maintenance of Westminster’s streets has declined due to the rapidly rising cost of concrete, asphalt, and other materials. At our current rate, the quality of our streets will continue to drop over the next 10 years.

Additionally, we need to build new fire stations in order to close service gaps. Without the necessary investments, Firefighters and paramedics cannot reach a victim within 6 minutes which can be the difference between life and death.

No one likes raising taxes, but this measure is a critical and necessary part of a larger plan to shift more city resources towards our roads and Fire infrastructure. We have already reallocated millions of dollars towards these needs but inflation has tied our hands, so we need your help to accept a few extra cents of every dollar of cost that will ensure the safety of our entire city, especially our aging population.

About Obi Ezeadi

Obi Ezeadi is a first-generation American, first responder (EMT) and City Councilor who champions economic, democratic, and personal freedoms for all of Westminster. In his first 4 years, he came in as an outsider and delivered:

• Expanded open space and parks

• Expanded housing options (condos, townhomes, housing people can afford)

• Made water more affordable and secured clean water for generations

• Increased Mental health support

• First Collective Bargaining Agreements for Fire and Police

• Led the establishment of free transport service for seniors & disabled residents

• Drove police vacancies down from a region-worst 13% to an area-leading 1%

• Cut car thefts by 50%

• Invested to solve unhoused crisis

• Elevated transparency and accountability with our residents

Welcome back to my election mini-series, where I share clear updates to keep you informed and empowered. Over 10,000 people now subscribe to this newsletter. I know not everyone here lives in Westminster, so thank you for tuning in and sharing how these updates help you wherever you may live.

• Westminster-specific Ballot Return Data: Westminster sits in both Adams and Jefferson Counties. To provide this first-time view of Westminster-specific ballot return data, I dug into the raw SCORE county (Adams and JeffCo) public exports (SCORE is Colorado’s statewide voter registration and election system) and I built a query to break down ballot returns by party and confirm the numbers.

As of 10/16:

• Out of 333,408 registered voters in all of Adams County, 6,010 ballots are completed.

  • Westminster has 49,727 registered Adams voters. 1,197 Westminster (Adams) Ballots are completed:

    • 486 Unaffiliated

    • 419 Democrats

    • 275 Republicans

    • 17 Other

• Out of 439,084 registered voters in all of Jefferson County, 13,262 ballots are completed.

  • Westminster has 34,900 registered JeffCo voters. 812 Westminster (JeffCo) ballots are completed:

    • 328 Unaffiliated

    • 294 Democrats

    • 182 Republicans

    • 8 Other

Campaign Finance transparency:

News coverage begun about the below story:

Westminster Window Article (published Oct 10):

“Westminster’s City Clerk is investigating a resident’s complaint that mayoral candidate Bruce Baker violated campaign law by paying for campaign flyers and failing to report them as a political contribution/expenditure.

Alyson Nutter lodged the complaint this week after she received a piece of mail on or around Oct. 6, advocating for the election of Baker, Jeremy Nuanes and Kathy Stroud for city council. The piece of mail indicated it was paid for by Baker, according to Nutter’s complaint.

Based on Colorado election and campaign finance laws, this piece of mail advocating for the election of Baker constitutes a contribution/expenditure on behalf of the payer, which is Baker, the complaint states.

Baker failed to report this contribution/expenditure made by himself on behalf of his own campaign in his first publicly disclosed finance report – covering Dec. 6, 2024 through Aug. 31, 2025 – or his second report – covering Sept. 1 through Sept. 30 – which covers all the possible periods this contribution has occurred, Nutter said in her complaint.

“This failure to report is a violation of Constitution Article XXVIII, the Fair Campaign Practices Act, or the Secretary of State’s rules concerning Campaign and Political Finance,” the complaint states.

The flyers have been distributed by both mail and front door drops. At least one flyer with the PRSRT STD stamp on it came through USPS’ Presorted Standard Mail, which means that at minimum 200 of those were mailed to Westminster residents, Nutter said via email. The handout titled “One Community, One Future!” was put on people’s doors, Nutter said.

Nutter asked the Westminster City Clerk Abby Fitch to investigate, and she also copied the Colorado Secretary of State “because an immediate injunction against Bruce Baker and the imposition of fines may be required to stop this serious violation of the law,” the complaint states.

Baker responds

Baker – former city council member and harsh critic of the city’s spending practices - said Thursday via email that the complaint, and its resulting publicity, could be part of a political smear campaign. He also said that a similar complaint was filed against him in 2023 during a city election campaign but was dismissed by Fitch.

Nutter’s complaint lacks any solid evidence against him, Baker said.

“Ms. Nutter’s complaint provides no documentation for the claims she asserts,” Baker said. “Does she know when and by who the postcards were made, (or) if the contract times falls into the reporting periods she references?”

“Ms. Nutter provides no documentation for any arrangement that shows this is a contribution to the Bruce Baker campaign,” he adds.

Fitch said in a letter to Nutter that the people named in the complaint have 15 days after notification to respond. Both Baker and Nuanes said they have already been notified. After the response period ends, the investigation into the allegations begins, Fitch said.”

See you at the next update! Don’t forget to vote early and get 5 neighbors to vote.

Yours in service and hope,

Obi

How To Vote

You have options for how to vote. Mail it in, drop it off, or vote in person. See the image below for Westminster locations. Mail your ballot back by October 27 to make sure it’s received by 7PM on Election Day, or be in line at a VSPC or dropbox by 7PM.

• It’s never too late to register to vote in Colorado. Register or update your address by October 27 to receive a ballot in the mail. After that, you’ll need to go into your closest Voter Service and Polling Center.

• Check your ballot status by enrolling in Ballot Trax! Have the peace of mind that your ballot has been mailed to you, received, and counted.

2025 Westminster Ballot Recommendations

Other votes on your ballot:

• Proposition LL: Yes

• Proposition MM: Yes

• Mayor of Westminster: I don’t endorse anyone for Mayor in this election.

Why I support Westminster Ballot Issue 3H

The repair and maintenance of Westminster’s streets has declined due to the rapidly rising cost of concrete, asphalt, and other materials. At our current rate, the quality of our streets will continue to drop over the next 10 years.

Additionally, we need to build new fire stations in order to close service gaps. Without the necessary investments, Firefighters and paramedics cannot reach a victim within 6 minutes which can be the difference between life and death.

No one likes raising taxes, but this measure is a critical and necessary part of a larger plan to shift more city resources towards our roads and Fire infrastructure. We have already reallocated millions of dollars towards these needs but inflation has tied our hands, so we need your help to accept a few extra cents of every dollar of cost that will ensure the safety of our entire city, especially our aging population.

About Obi Ezeadi

Obi Ezeadi is a first-generation American, first responder (EMT) and City Councilor who champions economic, democratic, and personal freedoms for all of Westminster. In his first 4 years, he came in as an outsider and delivered:

• Expanded open space and parks

• Expanded housing options (condos, townhomes, housing people can afford)

• Made water more affordable and secured clean water for generations

• Increased Mental health support

• First Collective Bargaining Agreements for Fire and Police

• Led the establishment of free transport service for seniors & disabled residents

• Drove police vacancies down from a region-worst 13% to an area-leading 1%

• Cut car thefts by 50%

• Invested to solve unhoused crisis

• Elevated transparency and accountability with our residents

I meant to share this update this morning but I had a big announcement to share.

Welcome back to my election mini-series, where I share clear updates to keep you informed and empowered. Over 10,000 people now subscribe to this newsletter, and while the response to this series has been overwhelmingly positive, I still take the occasional criticism seriously because it helps make this a better product of democracy for you. I also know not everyone here lives in Westminster, so thank you for tuning in and sharing how these updates help you wherever you may live.

• Ballots began arriving on Oct 10, but with no USPS delivery on Oct 13 for the holiday, not everyone has received theirs yet and even people in the same household may see different arrival days.

• Westminster-specific Ballot Return Data: Westminster sits in both Adams and Jefferson Counties. To provide this first-time view of Westminster-specific ballot return data, I dug into the raw SCORE county (Adams and JeffCo) public exports (SCORE is Colorado’s statewide voter registration and election system) and I built a query to break down ballot returns by party and confirm the numbers.

As of 10/14:

• Out of 332,899 registered voters in all of Adams County, 2,189 ballots are completed.

  • Westminster has 49,663 registered Adams voters. 436 Westminster (Adams) Ballots are completed:

    • 192 Unaffiliated

    • 147 Democrats

    • 93 Republicans

    • 4 Other

• Out of 438,665 registered voters in all of Jefferson County, 4,787 ballots are completed.

  • Westminster has 34,843 registered JeffCo voters. 297 Westminster (JeffCo) ballots are completed:

    • 132 Democrats

    • 106 Unaffiliated

    • 57 Republicans

    • 2 Other

• Some Feedback received about my first mailer that hit mailboxes last weekend:

  • “I have many friends that work for the city. Thank you for protecting them”

  • “It’s beautiful! I feel so inspired. We don’t need DC chaos in Westminster.”

  • “Other candidates have made their entire campaigns about saying NO to 3H in a strange argument about affordability. But clearly, you and Jack are actually trying to make our city affordable. I’m saying YES to 3H and voting for you.”

    

• Ballot selfies: Did you know in Colorado ballot selfies are legal (since HB17-1014 passed in 2017), as long as they’re voluntary and not part of any coercion, intimidation, or vote-buying scheme. I’ll still blur out your actual votes, anyway, so feel free to send me your selfies!

Campaign Finance transparency:

In my previous Westminster Election Update #3, I included a contributions chart and I received over 100 notes of gratitude alongside about 8 criticisms (mostly electeds). The criticisms came from folks in 3 categories: A) people who misunderstood my intent and didn’t believe the info was true, B) people who believed the info but didn’t like the transparency and/or C) people who thought I was “shaming” candidates Claire Carmelia and Sarah Nurmela for being endorsed by One Main Street.

Some feedback about the chart before I explain my intent more fully.

• “This is wildly transparent. Nobody else is giving voters this level of context.”

• “Obi, I appreciate you always for breaking things down so clearly and honestly.”

• “Thank you for calling out Baker and his crew. Baker has 50 million gazillion mailers/yard signs/door lit and he is reporting none of it. And his council slate are clearly violating all kinds of finance transparency laws too.”

• “Thank you for calling this out. How is it possible that Baker can put 3 city council candidate names on all of his expensive mail but they don’t need to report it as a contribution? I hope you win your election because without you nobody would even know”

• “It is amazing how many signs/mailers Baker was able to fund with less than $2k. When I ordered signs for the Class of 2020 (five years ago and over 300 signs) they were $8 a piece. Makes one wonder.”

My intent: of sharing the contributions chart was not about Claire or Sarah or the “dark money” column at all. It is about the candidates (now marked in red on the chart below) that appear to be likely illegally under-reporting their contributions and expenses. That is it. Those candidates (not Claire or Sarah) already have multiple financial complaints filed and being filed by various residents and reporters who keep reaching out to me.

Dark money: The dark money column simply shows candidates endorsed by any dark money orgs, of which the only one filed in this Westminster election so far is One Main Street as an IEC for $12,000 (see their Independent Expenditure Committee filing here). The definition of dark money is based on lack of donor disclosure, not on intent or values. I and many others have personally benefited somewhat from soft-side spending in past races, and I agree that supportive outside spending is not necessarily bad since many good organizations operate IECs that legally spend on races without coordinating with candidates. Many bad orgs also have IECs and many of the bad ones are funded by MAGA, big corporations and anti-public school entities. But when an org chooses not to disclose their funding that is when it becomes “dark”.

Your personal judgment of whether or not you like the word “dark” or whether you like any particular dark-money organization’s values, doesn’t change the fact that it still considered “dark”. OMS does not disclose their funding, which is why I mark them as dark money. If I receive dark money from any org in this election, I will put the org next to my name on the chart, too. And if I am truly proud of that endorsement, I would not feel “shamed” by the simple fact of the association being shown.

Full transparency is the point of these election updates.

See you at the next update! Don’t forget to vote early and get 5 neighbors to vote.

Yours in service and hope,

Obi

How To Vote

You have options for how to vote. Mail it in, drop it off, or vote in person. See the image below for Westminster locations. Mail your ballot back by October 27 to make sure it’s received by 7PM on Election Day, or be in line at a VSPC or dropbox by 7PM.

• It’s never too late to register to vote in Colorado. Register or update your address by October 27 to receive a ballot in the mail. After that, you’ll need to go into your closest Voter Service and Polling Center.

• Check your ballot status by enrolling in Ballot Trax! Have the peace of mind that your ballot has been mailed to you, received, and counted.

2025 Westminster Ballot Recommendations

Ballots mail tomorrow. Here is a very small but important example of why your vote matters. Last Monday night, City Council had an opportunity to take an official position of “support” for the many measures that will be on Westminster residents’ 2025 ballot. Unfortunately the below state ballot measure (Proposition LL) only received 3 yes votes (from me, Amber Hott and Claire Carmelia) so it failed, meaning the official City position is not “support”. And for that, I am so sorry to all the proponents and to all the residents that may see this as a rejection of the benefits this Proposition hopes to achieve.

For some background, a “YES” vote on Proposition LL protects $12.4 million already collected for Healthy School Meals for All, keeping kids fed at school every year and giving families one less cost to worry about. A “NO” vote sends that money back to households making over $300,000, while pulling resources away from classrooms and the children who depend on these meals.

Some might dismiss this Council vote as “no big deal,” but it matters to me. It’s a reminder that your vote shapes whose values guide decisions. We won’t agree on everything and that’s actually a really good thing that often leads to better legislation. However, it’s also true that not everyone belongs in office because leadership without values can lead to outcomes that hurt people.

That’s why I endorse Jack Johnson because he will bring the kind of values and courage we need at the table. I have barely had the time to “campaign” this year and there is a good chance I may not win my re-election. But that makes it even more important to me that leaders like Jack are at the table, carrying forward the values our community deserves.

Other votes on your ballot:

• I don’t endorse anyone for Mayor in this election.

• I recommend voting YES on State Ballot Measures: Proposition LL and Proposition MM.

Why I support Westminster Ballot Issue 3H

The repair and maintenance of Westminster’s streets has declined due to the rapidly rising cost of concrete, asphalt, and other materials. At our current rate, the quality of our streets will continue to drop over the next 10 years.

Additionally, we need to build new fire stations in order to close service gaps. Without the necessary investments, Firefighters and paramedics cannot reach a victim within 6 minutes which can be the difference between life and death.

No one likes raising taxes, but this measure is a critical and necessary part of a larger plan to shift more city resources towards our roads and Fire infrastructure. We have already reallocated millions of dollars towards these needs but inflation has tied our hands, so we need your help to accept a few extra cents of every dollar of cost that will ensure the safety of our entire city, especially our aging population.

About Obi Ezeadi

Obi Ezeadi is a first-generation American, first responder (EMT) and City Councilor who champions economic, democratic, and personal freedoms for all of Westminster. In his first 4 years, he came in as an outsider and delivered:

• Expanded open space and parks

• Expanded housing options (condos, townhomes, housing people can afford)

• Made water more affordable and secured clean water for generations

• Increased Mental health support

• First Collective Bargaining Agreements for Fire and Police

• Led the establishment of free transport service for seniors & disabled residents

• Drove police vacancies down from a region-worst 13% to an area-leading 1%

• Cut car thefts by 50%

• Invested to solve unhoused crisis

• Elevated transparency and accountability with our residents

Monday’s successful amendment of the Comprehensive Plan positions Westminster as one of the first municipalities in Colorado to formally recognize childcare as infrastructure. “Localized policy action can create expedited forces for childcare development in ways the federal government cannot,” said Ezeadi.

Ezeadi emphasized the urgency of addressing childcare barriers in the face of shifting demographics and workforce needs. “Colorado’s economy is heavily dependent on industries requiring full-time, in-person work,” Ezeadi said. “With half a million retirees leaving the workforce soon, we are staring at a childcare gap that will weaken our economy if we do nothing. With CCAP requirements and no federal funding, our working families could be left without access to childcare for the next four to five years. That is unacceptable.”

The initiative is cost-neutral and within the City’s authority, making it a model for local action. Ezeadi noted that this amendment is only the beginning of a broader vision.

Westminster city staff are compiling more potential solutions as part of a broader package focused on access, quality, and cost of childcare. “This is just part one of many more steps we’ll take as a city that are both fiscally responsible and revolutionary for a municipality to take on,” Ezeadi said.

For more information, please contact press@voteobi.com

Full Release: https://www.voteobi.com/childcare-amendment-passes-in-westminster

• Ballots started arriving yesterday, and since delivery isn’t by address, even people in the same household may get them on different days.

• I don’t have data from Adams County yet. But, in Jefferson County, out of 438,612 voters, they have already received back 156 completed ballots:

  • 85 Democrats

  • 61 Unaffiliated

  • 10 Republicans

• My first mailer may be in your mailbox. Let me know if you’ve received it and what you think! If you like it, send me a picture with your ballot and I’ll share in a future update.

• Here’s a summary of contributions reported so far in the Westminster election, though it appears that some of the candidates that are reporting fewer contributions may be under-reporting donations and expenses with rumors of formal financial complaints being filed, which makes transparency essential for residents:

See you at the next update! Don’t forget to vote early and get 5 neighbors to vote.

Yours in service and hope,

Obi

How To Vote

You have options for how to vote. Mail it in, drop it off, or vote in person. See the image below for Westminster locations. Mail your ballot back by October 27 to make sure it’s received by 7PM on Election Day, or be in line at a VSPC or dropbox by 7PM.

• It’s never too late to register to vote in Colorado. Register or update your address by October 27 to receive a ballot in the mail. After that, you’ll need to go into your closest Voter Service and Polling Center.

• Check your ballot status by enrolling in Ballot Trax! Have the peace of mind that your ballot has been mailed to you, received, and counted.

2025 Westminster Ballot Recommendations

Ballots mail tomorrow. Here is a very small but important example of why your vote matters. Last Monday night, City Council had an opportunity to take an official position of “support” for the many measures that will be on Westminster residents’ 2025 ballot. Unfortunately the below state ballot measure (Proposition LL) only received 3 yes votes (from me, Amber Hott and Claire Carmelia) so it failed, meaning the official City position is not “support”. And for that, I am so sorry to all the proponents and to all the residents that may see this as a rejection of the benefits this Proposition hopes to achieve.

For some background, a “YES” vote on Proposition LL protects $12.4 million already collected for Healthy School Meals for All, keeping kids fed at school every year and giving families one less cost to worry about. A “NO” vote sends that money back to households making over $300,000, while pulling resources away from classrooms and the children who depend on these meals.

Some might dismiss this Council vote as “no big deal,” but it matters to me. It’s a reminder that your vote shapes whose values guide decisions. We won’t agree on everything and that’s actually a really good thing that often leads to better legislation. However, it’s also true that not everyone belongs in office because leadership without values can lead to outcomes that hurt people.

That’s why I endorse Jack Johnson because he will bring the kind of values and courage we need at the table. I have barely had the time to “campaign” this year and there is a good chance I may not win my re-election. But that makes it even more important to me that leaders like Jack are at the table, carrying forward the values our community deserves.

Other votes on your ballot:

• I don’t endorse anyone for Mayor in this election.

• I recommend voting YES on State Ballot Measures: Proposition LL and Proposition MM.

Why I support Westminster Ballot Issue 3H

The repair and maintenance of Westminster’s streets has declined due to the rapidly rising cost of concrete, asphalt, and other materials. At our current rate, the quality of our streets will continue to drop over the next 10 years.

Additionally, we need to build new fire stations in order to close service gaps. Without the necessary investments, Firefighters and paramedics cannot reach a victim within 6 minutes which can be the difference between life and death.

No one likes raising taxes, but this measure is a critical and necessary part of a larger plan to shift more city resources towards our roads and Fire infrastructure. We have already reallocated millions of dollars towards these needs but inflation has tied our hands, so we need your help to accept a few extra cents of every dollar of cost that will ensure the safety of our entire city, especially our aging population.

About Obi Ezeadi

Obi Ezeadi is a first-generation American, first responder (EMT) and City Councilor who champions economic, democratic, and personal freedoms for all of Westminster. In his first 4 years, he came in as an outsider and delivered:

• Expanded open space and parks

• Expanded housing options (condos, townhomes, housing people can afford)

• Made water more affordable and secured clean water for generations

• Increased Mental health support

• First Collective Bargaining Agreements for Fire and Police

• Led the establishment of free transport service for seniors & disabled residents

• Drove police vacancies down from a region-worst 13% to an area-leading 1%

• Cut car thefts by 50%

• Invested to solve unhoused crisis

• Elevated transparency and accountability with our residents