Special Meeting to Appoint 2nd District City Council Member – April 6, 2026

On Monday, April 6, 2026, at 9:00 AM, the Colorado Springs City Council held a special meeting in Council Chambers to fill the unexpired term for the District 2 City Council vacancy. The meeting lasted approximately 2 hours and 26 minutes, adjourning at 11:26 AM. Five finalists were interviewed: Polly Cambron, Anita Miller, Dan Spohn, Cindy Carter, and Ken Casey. After a roll call vote, Ken Casey was appointed with a 5-3 vote, effective immediately. The meeting included a procedural debate over question limits and public testimony from several individuals.

Public Comments & Testimony

• M.J. Benatti (Director, Government Affairs, Colorado Springs Chamber EDC) stated the Chamber is not endorsing any candidate but emphasized that the appointee should understand job creation, believe in prudent, well-managed growth, and be a critical thinker grounded in evidence.
• David Robbins (District 2 resident) spoke in support of Ken Casey, citing his thorough preparation and sharpness.
• Robert Blaha (businessman, lives near District 2) spoke in support of Anita Miller, describing her as smart, collaborative, and a team player focused on service.
• Taylor Gray (District 5 resident) spoke in support of Anita Miller, emphasizing the need for a councilmember beholden only to constituents and urging protection of the Constitution.
• Adrian Nah (District 2 resident, teacher) spoke in support of Anita Miller, highlighting her consistent community involvement, guidance, and ability to rebuild trust.
• Mark Bronlich (District 2 resident, retired attorney) spoke in support of Anita Miller, citing her professionalism, dedication as a teacher, and ability to build relationships.
• Bill Murray (former City Councilmember, District 2 resident) spoke in support of Anita Miller, noting her focus, commitment, and independence from a full-time employer, and warned against overextending councilmembers with full-time jobs based on past experience.

Discussion Items

• Candidate Interviews: The five finalists were interviewed in order of least to most councilmember recommendations: Polly Cambron, Anita Miller, Dan Spohn, Cindy Carter, and Ken Casey. Each candidate gave a five-minute opening statement, followed by councilmember questions. The council had pre-agreed to ask a single question per candidate, but a procedural dispute arose.
• Procedural Debate on Question Limits: After Anita Miller’s interview, Councilmember Williams moved to enforce the pre-agreed rule of one question per candidate, asking the same question of all candidates. The motion passed 5-3 (Ayes: Crow-Iverson, Leinweber, Rainey, Risley, Williams; Noes: Donelson, Gold, Henjum). Councilmembers Gold, Donelson, and Henjum were warned they would be called to order if they asked more than one question. The remainder of interviews proceeded with single questions per councilmember.
• Key Candidate Responses:
  • Polly Cambron: Emphasized hospitality experience, community meetings, and support for arts and culture. She expressed concern about losing mountain bikers to other cities and said she would seek re-election if she performed well.
  • Anita Miller: Highlighted 21 years in District 2, volunteer work, and rebuilding trust through regular meetings and respectful communication. She is an unaffiliated voter, plans to make the position full-time, and supports TABOR but would rarely consider raising taxes.
  • Dan Spohn: Retired business leader, stressed responsible growth, small business support, and workforce pathways. He would seek re-election for continuity and said he could dedicate time as a retiree.
  • Cindy Carter: Independent consultant with 40-hour work flexibility, emphasized public safety, technology for police, and creative revenue streams. She would seek re-election and plans to exceed minimum meeting requirements.
  • Ken Casey: Chair of the Colorado Springs Planning Commission, former Army officer, cited 17 years in District 2. He provided detailed statistics on outdoor recreation economic impact ($200M equipment, $270M tourism, $1B home valuation increase, $4M property tax revenue). He works full-time with a flexible schedule and would seek re-election for continuity.

Key Outcomes

• Appointment of Ken Casey: After nominations (Donelson nominated Miller, Henjum nominated Carter, Gold nominated Spohn, Williams nominated Casey), a roll call vote was conducted. Ken Casey received 5 votes (Crow-Iverson, Leinweber, Rainey, Risley, Williams), Anita Miller received 1 vote (Donelson), Cindy Carter received 1 vote (Henjum), and Dan Spohn received 1 vote (Gold). The motion to appoint Ken Casey passed 5-3, with Donelson, Gold, and Henjum voting no.
• Concerns About Full-Time Work: Councilmembers Henjum and Donelson expressed concern that Ken Casey’s full-time role as Chief of Staff for the federal government would limit his availability, citing past experience with a councilmember who had excessive absences. Councilmembers Leinweber, Risley, and Rainey argued that time management and preparation demonstrated by Casey justified his ability to serve effectively.
• Next Steps: The appointment is effective immediately. The regular meeting schedule and utility board responsibilities remain unchanged.