WEEK OF APRIL 3, 2025
VOLUME 80 | ISSUE 24
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Salazar notches big win, claims Thornton Ward 1 seat Garcia, Mollendor finished second and third respectively
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people, and I know a lot of people anyway. And I love to knock on people’s doors.” All three were vying for the Ward 1 seat vacated by Kathy Henson. Henson left the council in November after she was elected to the Adams County Board of Commissioners. Thornton voters set up the March 25 election for the Ward 1 seat after they approved a ballot initiative requiring a special election in case a council member vacates the council with more than a year left on their term. All three candidates said they were the best choice to lead Ward 1, especially in efforts to revive south Thornton. Mollendor, an Air Force veteran who was born and raised in Thornton, said if he was elected, he would immediately tackle the blight in south Thornton’s streets and sidewalks.
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Redevelopment key
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Cherish Salazar is running for Ward 1 seat. BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Longtime community activist Cherish Salazar Tuesday easily eclipsed her two opponents to win the Ward 1 seat on the Thornton City Council. Salazar collected 959 votes, besting former
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COURTESY CHERISH SALAZAR
council member Eric Garcia who collected 646 votes and Thornton resident Thomas “Tom” Mollendor who finished with 223. Salazar said she has been to over 4,000 homes since January to encourage residents to vote for her. “I was averaging 200 homes a day, that’s what wins,” Salazar said. “I talked to a ton of
All three candidates said rebuilding old Thornton Shopping Center was key to waking up Ward 1. Garcia served on the Ward 1 seat from March 2022 to December 2023, after he was appointed to the post. He has worked as a youth pastor focusing on marginalized communities as well as bringing together churches, governments and nonprofit, according to his website. A former girl scout volunteer and a grandmother, Salazar said she has long fought for affordable housing in south Thornton as well as lobbying for small business growth. She is among those on the ground working on the shopping center redevelopment and pushed the city to address water contamination in Niver Creek, she said. Salazar was also endorsed by Adams County Commissioners Henson, State Rep. Jacque Phillips and current Thornton Mayor Pro Tem Karen Bigelow. “My campaign has worked very hard every single day since January 1,” said Salazar via email last week. SEE SALAZAR, P2
Food truck bill would cut licensee red tape
Bill could ease licensing, permitting requirements in different jurisdictions BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
2025
VOTE NOW March 1st - April 15th
David Sevcik knows all about the Mac ‘Noodles, Mile High Cheeseteak and Walking Tacos as well as other culinary delights he serves up in his 10 food trucks that circulate in the metro area. His menu aside, Sevcik also has to keep track of which city and county requires him to get new health and fire safety permits to allow his truck
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grills to operate. The new permits are necessary in many Colorado cities and counties, even though he may have already earned the same permit from a different jurisdiction. New fees for health and fire inspections for each truck can quickly add up, Sevcik said. The Westminster resident said last year he paid nearly $10,000 in fees to local jurisdictions to stay in local compliance. “I am not trying to fail, I want to stay in
business and make everyone safe,” Sevcik said. “But this can get expensive.” Sevcik Tuesday was prepared to testify in the State Legislature or HB25-1295, which would require local governments to grant reciprocal business licenses, health permits, and fire safety permits to food truck operators that hold active licenses and permits from another local jurisdiction. SEE FOOD TRUCK, P7
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