Two organizations missed out on “great candidates” by making mayoral and City Council endorsements in the April 7 election without interviewing all contenders, some candidates say.

Indeed, all candidates hadn’t been identified when Colorado Springs Forward endorsed John Suthers for mayor Feb. 4. The candidate-filing deadline was Feb. 11.

The organization waited till Feb. 17 to endorse council candidates but didn’t interview most of them.

Likewise, the Housing and Building Association of Colorado Springs (HBA) didn’t interview all competitors before endorsing the same slate of candidates Feb. 12.

Both groups endorsed Suthers, at-large candidates Tom Strand, Jariah Walker and incumbent Councilman Merv Bennett and District 4 candidate Larry Bagley.

“I was told I wasn’t interviewed because I wouldn’t promise to change the governance of Colorado Springs Utilities or not allow a vote on the downtown stadium,” said at-large council candidate Bill Murray, declining to identify his source.

John Cassiani, director and president of Colorado Springs Forward, denied that allegation. He said his group was recruiting candidates months ago, but many had family or work commitments that precluded them from seeking office.

“We are not the (Grover) Norquist of Congress or the Jeff Crank of Colorado Springs,” requiring candidates to sign pledges in advance, Cassiani said.

“We did ask if they’d support having a discussion about a different (Utilities) governance model. Yes, if they’re not interested in a discussion at all, that didn’t fit our goals.”

As for the stadium proposal, he said, “It’s got to work economically. But let’s give the thing a chance.”

He said all the candidates endorsed said they would support the stadium if it proved to be economically viable.

“It will go to a vote of the people if any taxpayer dollars are going to be used,” Cassiani said.

HBA Political Action Committee Chairman Kyle Campbell also disputed claims that candidates were asked to make promises.

“That’s totally false,” Campbell said. “We were certainly interested in finding out the candidates’ stance on the governance board and stadium. We want to make sure it (Utilities governance) is examined. We’ve never taken a position. On the downtown stadium, we’re waiting for more information to come out about it.”

The early endorsements were at least partly due to the “tight time frame between the applications deadline and actual election,” he said.

Having studied the early candidates, he said, “We didn’t feel it was appropriate to wait any longer.”

Murray, however, remained unconvinced.

“All I can say with absolute authority is that they (both organizations) didn’t bother to interview me. You can read between the lines,” he said. “This stuff is all going to be subterranean. This is typical of some of our politics here. There are those who feel the community should be involved, and there are those who don’t.”

Said Cassiani, “It’s unfortunate people think we’re doing something secretive.” He said every interview was attended by 12 to 20 people representing citizens, the Pikes Peak Association of Realtors, the HBA, the Colorado Springs Regional Business Alliance and others.

Murray wasn’t the only candidate disappointed to have been excluded from the interview process.

At-large candidate Glenn Carlson noted that Colorado Springs Forward “started the vetting process months ago. They were trying to handpick people they thought would be good for the community.”

Still, he said, “I was surprised I wasn’t contacted at all, since I’d run for the state House in November. I was a little disappointed they made the decision so quickly without finding out who the candidates are. But on the whole, I’m not broken-hearted about it.”

“It’s interesting they didn’t take the time to interview everybody,” said Longinos Gonzalez Jr., also an at-large council candidate. “I was the first official candidate as identified by the city . the first at-large candidate to get all my signatures and be certified by the city Jan. 16.

“I think they missed a chance on identifying great candidates, and I think I’m one of those.”

Nick Lee, another at-large council candidate, took a philosophical view.

“I was not interviewed,” Lee said. “The real truth is, of course I’m disappointed. But we live in a time our democracy is not democratic at all. All too often, money and power decide elections, not who’s the best candidate.

“Kudos to them (Colorado Springs Forward and the HBA) for making changes in the city that they know how and are able to do.”