Former Councilwoman Sarah Parady endorsed attorney Whitney Traylor to take her seat on the Denver City Council in the at-large vacancy election this November.
The announcement, which comes in the final weeks of the election, could shake up a crowded race in which candidates have struggled to distinguish themselves.
Denver City Council At-Large vacancy candidate Q&A
Parady, who is a member of the Denver chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, described Traylor as “relentlessly curious, data-driven and willing to follow the facts wherever they lead,” and said he shares her belief that the council should be “easy on people and hard on systems.”
Traylor is unaffiliated with any political parties but has said he previously registered as both a Democrat and a Republican.
“I am endorsing Whitney Traylor because I trust him to challenge the systems that fail our communities, hold the city accountable to serve all of our people, and build the relationships needed to get things done without compromising the values he has proven he will stand by,” Parady said in a news release Friday.
Traylor and nine other candidates are running to replace Parady after she resigned from her position in August.
Outside of his work as an attorney, Traylor is also a professional mediator, a professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver and a legal analyst for 9News. He has said his top three priorities if elected are accountability for city spending, affordable housing and support for small businesses.
There have been several other endorsements in the race, including from current City Council members. Council members Jamie Torres, Amanda Sandoval and Darrell Watson all endorsed Monica Martinez. Councilwoman Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez endorsed Melissa Mejía.
Martinez and Mejía are front-runners in the race because of their leads in both fundraising and endorsements.
The other candidates are Jake Browne, Alfredo Reyes, Cynthia Diaz, Gabriel Koenkle, Raymon Doane, Julissa Soto and Jeff Walker.
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