LOVELAND — Jeremy Jersvig, the chairman of the Loveland Planning Commission, has become the latest candidate to launch a bid for the City Council.
The Ward I resident is hoping to fill the seat being vacated by Troy Krenning, whose campaign he worked on four years ago.
Ward I resident Lenard Larkin, who has picked up a candidate packet from the City Clerk’s Office, hasn’t completed an affidavit of candidacy, according to acting clerk Beverly Walker, and he wasn’t available for comment Monday afternoon.
In an interview Monday, Jersvig said two of his top issues are public safety and economic development.
“I’d like to see a safe community — safer than it is now,” he said. “In the five years I’ve lived here, there’s a lot more sirens going through the streets, and we hear a lot more in the news about bad crimes.”
Although not sure about serious-crime statistics, Jersvig said he hears from residents that there’s a perception of a worsening problem.
A City Council member can make a difference in that area by working with the police chief and police department. He said Loveland has a “wonderful” police department.
In the arena of economic development, Jersvig said the city should be focusing more on bringing in primary employers and less on retail development.
“I think that would be a better benefit for the city overall,” he said.
Jersvig said the city needs to be careful with economic incentives.
“For the most part, I believe in free markets and that the government shouldn’t be interfering too much with that,” he said, adding, “I’m not totally against incentives as long as it involves a benefit for Loveland as a whole.”
Jersvig recently was reappointed to a second three-year term on the Planning Commission. He’s a veteran of the Navy and works in the Larimer County Assessor’s Office.
Election update
Tuesday marks the first day that City Council candidates can start circulating nominating petitions, Walker said. A candidate must have lived in his or her ward for one year before the Nov. 7 election and turn in by Aug. 28 the signatures of 25 registered voters who live in the ward.
Campaign signs can start going up Wednesday, and they must be down 10 days after the election, she said.
Walker said the city charter requires a candidate to fill out an affidavit of candidacy within 10 days of making a public announcement of his or her candidacy.
Since Thursday, one more candidate has filed an affidavit, Walker said, and one person has picked up a candidate packet, which doesn’t necessarily mean the person will end up running. Jacki Marsh filed her affidavit and Kathi Wright picked up a packet, both for Ward II, Walker said.
Here’s an updated picture of Loveland’s mayoral and City Council election situation:
Mayor
City Council member John Fogle and former councilor Larry Heckel have officially announced their candidacies to fill the job being vacated by four-term mayor Cecil Gutierrez.
Ward II
Current member Joan Shaffer has said she will not seek re-election. Jacki Marsh completed her affidavit of candidacy Friday, and Kathi Wright has picked up a packet but hasn’t taken the next step, Walker said.
Ward III
Member Steve Olson, who won a special election in April to fill a seat left vacant by Hugh McKean after his election to the Colorado House, has filed his candidacy papers, Walker said.
John Keil, who lost to Olson in April, also has completed an affidavit of candidacy.
Ward IV
Incumbent Dave Clark has picked up a candidate packet but hasn’t filed an affidavit indicating his intention to run, according to the clerk’s office.
Craig Young: 970-635-3634, cyoung@reporter-herald.com, www.twitter.com/CraigYoungRH.
