[CSG PRINT]Springs Councilman David Leinweber announces run for El Paso County Commissioner
David Leinweber is looking to take his fight for regionwide improved mental health from the Colorado Springs City Council to the El Paso Board of County Commissioners.
Less than a year after he was elected to the City Council in early April, Leinweber on Monday evening announced his candidacy for the county board to a crowd of about 35 to 40 supporters at his business Angler’s Covey, a fly-fishing shop on the city’s west side.
He will run as a Republican for the El Paso County District 3 seat currently held by Stan VanderWerf, who cannot run again for the office because of term limits. VanderWerf is making a bid this year for Senate District 12, a seat currently held by term-limited Republican Sen. Bob Gardner of Colorado Springs.
El Paso County’s District 3 includes central and western El Paso County, including Green Mountain Falls, Manitou Springs, Palmer Lake and Monument; the west side and downtown areas of Colorado Springs; and unincorporated western areas of El Paso County including Ute Pass and areas south of Cheyenne Mountain State Park.
Leinweber, who has lived in Colorado Springs for 33 years, said mental health remains one of his top priorities as a candidate for county commissioner, the same issue he prioritized during his campaign for City Council.
The councilman, longtime business owner and founder of the Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance, said he believes he can better advocate for mental health and outdoor recreation as a member of the county’s leadership than he can as a member of City Council, and that’s driving his potential move.
“These issues are just a mountain that has to get climbed in government,” he said.
In 2022, the nonprofit Mental Health America ranked Colorado 51st among all 50 states and Washington, D.C., for adult mental health. That year, the nonprofit also ranked Colorado 37th in overall prevalence of mental illness and access to care for both adults and youth.
Deaths by suicide, which had flattened during the COVID-19 pandemic, are also on the rise again. In his annual report released in July, El Paso County Coroner Dr. Leon Kelly found El Paso County experienced a 10% increase in total suicides in 2022 over 2021. In July, Kelly said 2023’s statistics were already tracking ahead of 2022.
Leinweber said Monday more collaboration is needed between the city and county to identify and address the root causes of mental illness.
“We need to figure out what that animal is and how can we do better? … Then we’re going to partner together and really get after this as a city-county initiative, bring that collaboration together more. That’s a promise right here, right now,” he said.
Leinweber said he would focus on education and awareness, collaborative partnerships, community engagement, infrastructure and planning, social support systems, policy development, leadership training and data collection to improve mental health across the Pikes Peak region.
He has put forth a citywide goal to hold 1,000 block parties, starting in May, he said. Leinweber is partnering with Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade on the initiative and is also working with Mobolade’s wife, Abbey Mobolade, to advance a “Mental Health COS” campaign.
“They say if you get to know six neighbors, you will reduce the likelihood of suicide or mental health issues by almost 50%,” Leinweber said.
The candidate said he would also continue advocating for outdoor recreation as well as smart growth as a county commissioner.
He said to grow responsibly El Paso County and Colorado Springs, whose governments already work closely together, need to do more to address water availability. This could include more collaboration between the county and the city-owned Colorado Springs Utilities, he said.
His campaign website also says Leinweber wants to increase awareness of mental illness, improve access to mental health services, reduce stigma, focus on early intervention and create stronger support systems. He will ensure the region is “growing responsibly” by addressing attainable housing, public safety, economic development, smart planning, inclusiveness and collaboration; and will create a safe and economically prosperous community by promoting economic development and job creation, addressing homelessness, finding opportunities for affordable housing, reducing crime and providing safe schools.
El Paso County voters in November will elect candidates for three open county commissioners seats in districts 2, 3 and 4.
Leinweber is among five candidates running for the District 3 seat. They include educator and community advocate Naomi Lopez, the only Democrat in the race to date, and Republicans Brandy Williams, a former city councilwoman; Don Wilson, the representative for House District 20 and former Monument mayor; and James Dunkley, who does not have an online presence.
City councilman David Leinweber announced his candidacy for El Paso County Commissioner at his business, Angler’s Covey, on Monday.
Colorado Springs Councilman David Leinweber announced on Monday he is running for the Board of El Paso County Commissioners in District 3 this November.
