Voters in Arapahoe County will choose between progressive advocate Hashim Coates and state Sen. Rhonda Fields of Aurora in the Democratic primary for the District 5 Arapahoe County Commissioner seat. The seat is currently held by Commissioner Bill Holen, who is term-limited.
The winner of the District 5 primary race will go on to the general election ballot in November, which will feature three county commissioner races in all.
District 5 includes the northern portions of Aurora and unincorporated Arapahoe County.
Hashim Coates
Coates is a veteran of the U.S. Navy and spent over a decade advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, working with groups including One Colorado and Brothers Forever.
His top priorities as a county commissioner would be expanding affordable housing options, protecting the environment, promoting sustainable development and supporting holistic community safety, according to his website. This would include promoting access to mental health resources, housing, education and recovery.
“It’s time for something new,” Coates said. “I have no obligations to fulfill except for remaining honest and working for the people. I think this community deserves an advocate, a county commissioner, who will advocate for them boldly, proudly and unapologetically and is only responsible to the people.”
He said he is interested in pursuing innovative solutions, like a county bank to help meet the county’s funding challenges. He also said he would like the county to encourage developers to hire local individuals to bring more good-paying jobs. Better jobs, he said, allow people to have food, money and shelter, which could drop crime rates.
Coates served on Aurora’s Human Relations Commission and the Citizens’ Advisory Budget Committee and has worked on political campaigns for several Democratic leaders including Rep. Jason Crow, Attorney General Phil Weiser and more, according to reporting by Sentinel Colorado and Yellow Scene.
As reported by Sentinel Colorado, Coates announced his campaign for a seat on Aurora’s City Council in 2016, but his bid was put on hold in 2017 after he was charged in connection with an incident that ended with him firing a gun at a car.
Coates faced a felony charge of illegal discharge of a firearm, misdemeanor charges of patronizing and engaging in an act with a prostitute, a misdemeanor criminal mischief charge and a misdemeanor charge of reckless prohibited use of a gun, according to court records. Ultimately, Coates pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor gun charge and the other counts were dismissed.
Coates said the incident occurred when he went to retrieve his personal items from a person who had stolen them. Coates said he shot a gun at the car’s tire to stop the car from hitting him. He said he had asked the police for help retrieving his items three times before he tried to do so himself.
According to the police, Coates allegedly discharged a firearm into a motor vehicle occupied by four people, including a prostitute with whom he had allegedly engaged in sexual conduct.
Coates said his experience with the criminal justice system inspired him to be an advocate for others who also feel they have been failed by the system.
“I think (the incident) was a catalyst for me to be a more empathetic, in-touch advocate,” he said. “And it’s damn sure shown me where the holes are in the system … It was a hard, trying process, but I think it will actually make me a better county commissioner.”
Coates said he does not plan to attempt to seal his record because his race is about honesty and transparency.
Rhonda Fields
Fields, who is also running for District 5, has served in the state Senate since 2016 and is term-limited after her current term. Before serving in the Senate, Fields served in the Colorado House of Representatives for six years.
During her time in the state legislature, Fields has sponsored bills related to job retention, food accessibility for low-income families, victims’ rights, culturally relevant training for health providers and more.
Before serving in the Colorado legislature, Fields worked in United Airlines’ management, according to her campaign website. She started working in public service after her son and his fiancée were killed in a double homicide, her website says.
Fields is an advocate for crime victims and one of her campaign priorities is supporting the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office and Aurora Police Department, according to her website.
She is also focusing her campaign on advocacy for aging folks, supporting military families, and jobs and economic development. She also said she is focused on planting trees and investing in transportation as the county’s population grows.
Fields is hoping to invest in youth enrichment programs, including arts and community service opportunities, to “steer them away from gang activity and graffiti and support a positive trajectory to adulthood,” according to her website.
According to reporting by The Denver Post and Fox31, Fields was arrested in 1976 on a larceny charge and in 1991 on a shoplifting charge. She has commented publicly on the incidents, saying she is not proud of her actions and that she stole food to feed her kids.
Fields did not respond to the Littleton Independent’s request for comment by the time of publication.
Ballots for the primary will be mailed starting June 3, with the election to take place on June 25.
In the general election in November, voters will decide their representatives for Districts 1, 3 and 5.
