| LovelandPolitics.com |
| Clark Now Running For Mayor Mayor Pro Tem David Clark makes his run for Loveland's Mayor official as the incumbent mayor, Gene Pielin, announces he will not try and seek a second term |
Loveland - July 17, 2009
Loveland Mayor Gene Pielin announced today he will not seek a second term as Loveland's
mayor thus opening the door for Mayor Pro Tem Clark to seek the position.
Clark, a longtime Loveland resident, was first elected to Loveland's City Council in 2004 when
a special election was held to fill the Ward 4 seat left vacant by the election of then councilman
Larry Walsh to the position of mayor.
Pielin's Public Service
Pielin, who works for Gulley's Nursery, had complained this past year to colleagues about the
downturn in the economy and the strain his city obligations were putting on his paid job.
During the building boom Pielin's position on city council aided him in meeting new clients and
establishing relationships with developers to whom he could sell trees and landscaping services.
Key among Pielin's other considerations may also be Loveland's new campaign finance limits
which will apply for the first time in the November 2009 election. In 2003, when Pielin first
ran for Loveland's council, his single largest contributor was the McWhinney organization
which provided multiple contributions under various names of McWhinney owned companies
to apparently hide their influence in the race. Pielin continued to rely on McWhinney and
Loveland Commercial contributions to fund his future races for local office. Pielin campaigned
hard against Measure 2C (campaign finance limits for Loveland in 2007) claiming it would
prevent "good" people from running for office. He also said in 2007 regarding the limit, "100
dollars? Who picked that? I think most people haven't read it and don't understand it."
Pielin was once called "sleepy Gene" while serving as Mayor Pro Tem for cat napping during
official city council meetings. Despite his public denials of this accusation, LovelandPolitics
produced a video clip of his many episodes of snoozing on the dais. Since becoming Mayor,
Pielin was wide awake during the meetings.
Clark's Potential Problems
Unlike Pielin, Clark is soft spoken and modest about his considerable experience and
knowledge in the building trades. Pielin's style of verbalizing every stream of consciousness
contrasts considerably from Clark who chooses his words carefully and doesn't speak unless
he has something substantive to contribute.
One potential issue for Clark will be his company's poor performance when contracting for the
City of Loveland. A little known controversy brewing inside Loveland's Fire Department has
been the continuing problems of Fire Station Number 5. Clark's construction company, Clark
Construction, contracted with the City of Loveland to build the station. The building has been
plagued by foundation issues and other construction defects the city has been unable to fully
resolve.
A common complaint by city employees to LovelandPolitics has been the fact an outside
contractor would have been heavily penalized for such defects while Clark's position as the
Mayor Pro Tem allowed him to remedy these issues in secret meetings with Loveland City
Manager Don Williams. Not surprisingly, the taxpayers didn't fare well in these secret
discussions as the city has shouldered the brunt of the repair costs.
Clark's Community Connections
Unlike previous Mayor's Walsh and Pielin who depended heavily on contributions from
Loveland Commercial or McWhinney to fund their campaigns, Clark has other places he can
now go for a large number of smaller contributors necessary under Loveland's new campaign
finance limits.
Clark and his family are influential in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
(Mormon Church) Ward where he resides and can pull resources together unlike other
candidates. According to a census of Larimer County, Mormons make-up 6.4% of the county
population but the percentage within Loveland's city limits is closer to 10%.
In addition, Clark has long been active in Boy Scouts and other community organizations
where his construction firm has also provided financial support. Barring a credible rival Clark's
chances are very good.
It was rumored last month that Clark notified McWhinney of his inability to support their
abandonment of the I-25 and U.S. 34 improvements thus causing them to withdraw their
request to council. Apparently, Clark is concerned about his longtime support of McWhinney
and its impact on his run for Mayor as Loveland residents have tired of McWhinney's
considerable influence over city hall.
As medium home values in Loveland have declined from a high in 2005 of $220,000 to less
than $180,000 today, home owners are becoming even more leery of city attempts to further
subsidize sprawl in east Loveland while cutting back on traditional services offered to current
residents.
Clark now joins Alexi Grewal as the only two announced candidates for Mayor.
Loveland Mayor Gene Pielin announced today he will not seek a second term as Loveland's
mayor thus opening the door for Mayor Pro Tem Clark to seek the position.
Clark, a longtime Loveland resident, was first elected to Loveland's City Council in 2004 when
a special election was held to fill the Ward 4 seat left vacant by the election of then councilman
Larry Walsh to the position of mayor.
Pielin's Public Service
Pielin, who works for Gulley's Nursery, had complained this past year to colleagues about the
downturn in the economy and the strain his city obligations were putting on his paid job.
During the building boom Pielin's position on city council aided him in meeting new clients and
establishing relationships with developers to whom he could sell trees and landscaping services.
Key among Pielin's other considerations may also be Loveland's new campaign finance limits
which will apply for the first time in the November 2009 election. In 2003, when Pielin first
ran for Loveland's council, his single largest contributor was the McWhinney organization
which provided multiple contributions under various names of McWhinney owned companies
to apparently hide their influence in the race. Pielin continued to rely on McWhinney and
Loveland Commercial contributions to fund his future races for local office. Pielin campaigned
hard against Measure 2C (campaign finance limits for Loveland in 2007) claiming it would
prevent "good" people from running for office. He also said in 2007 regarding the limit, "100
dollars? Who picked that? I think most people haven't read it and don't understand it."
Pielin was once called "sleepy Gene" while serving as Mayor Pro Tem for cat napping during
official city council meetings. Despite his public denials of this accusation, LovelandPolitics
produced a video clip of his many episodes of snoozing on the dais. Since becoming Mayor,
Pielin was wide awake during the meetings.
Clark's Potential Problems
Unlike Pielin, Clark is soft spoken and modest about his considerable experience and
knowledge in the building trades. Pielin's style of verbalizing every stream of consciousness
contrasts considerably from Clark who chooses his words carefully and doesn't speak unless
he has something substantive to contribute.
One potential issue for Clark will be his company's poor performance when contracting for the
City of Loveland. A little known controversy brewing inside Loveland's Fire Department has
been the continuing problems of Fire Station Number 5. Clark's construction company, Clark
Construction, contracted with the City of Loveland to build the station. The building has been
plagued by foundation issues and other construction defects the city has been unable to fully
resolve.
A common complaint by city employees to LovelandPolitics has been the fact an outside
contractor would have been heavily penalized for such defects while Clark's position as the
Mayor Pro Tem allowed him to remedy these issues in secret meetings with Loveland City
Manager Don Williams. Not surprisingly, the taxpayers didn't fare well in these secret
discussions as the city has shouldered the brunt of the repair costs.
Clark's Community Connections
Unlike previous Mayor's Walsh and Pielin who depended heavily on contributions from
Loveland Commercial or McWhinney to fund their campaigns, Clark has other places he can
now go for a large number of smaller contributors necessary under Loveland's new campaign
finance limits.
Clark and his family are influential in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
(Mormon Church) Ward where he resides and can pull resources together unlike other
candidates. According to a census of Larimer County, Mormons make-up 6.4% of the county
population but the percentage within Loveland's city limits is closer to 10%.
In addition, Clark has long been active in Boy Scouts and other community organizations
where his construction firm has also provided financial support. Barring a credible rival Clark's
chances are very good.
It was rumored last month that Clark notified McWhinney of his inability to support their
abandonment of the I-25 and U.S. 34 improvements thus causing them to withdraw their
request to council. Apparently, Clark is concerned about his longtime support of McWhinney
and its impact on his run for Mayor as Loveland residents have tired of McWhinney's
considerable influence over city hall.
As medium home values in Loveland have declined from a high in 2005 of $220,000 to less
than $180,000 today, home owners are becoming even more leery of city attempts to further
subsidize sprawl in east Loveland while cutting back on traditional services offered to current
residents.
Clark now joins Alexi Grewal as the only two announced candidates for Mayor.
| New City Charter Campaign Contribution Limits Candidates running in November's election will need to comply with new campaign contribution limits added to Loveland's City Charter as a result of ballot Measure 2C. Below is an excerpt from Loveland's charter: SECTION 17-5 -- CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS (a) Limits. No person may make contributions and/or contributions in kind totaling more than one hundred dollars ($100.00) to the candidate committee of any candidate for the office of Mayor or for any position on the City Council. No person shall make a contribution or contribution in kind in the name of another person or knowingly permit one's name to be used by another person to effect such a contribution or contribution in kind. These limitations shall apply to all contributions or contributions in kind, whether made directly to a candidate committee or indirectly via earmarked gifts passed through an intermediary, except that these limitations shall not apply to: (1) Contributions or contributions in kind made by a candidate to his or her own candidate committee; (2) Independent expenditures; or (3) Monetary loans that are: (a) personally guaranteed in writing by the candidate or the candidate's immediate family, or (b) secured by real or personal property owned by the candidate or the candidate's immediate family. |
| LovelandPolitics Exclusive Story |
| David J. Clark Loveland Mayor Pro Tem |