By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice
Around Aurora, some just call him the “one with the beard.”
Steve Sundberg is a soft-spoken member of the Aurora City Council and serves as mayor pro-tem. He’s known to shun the limelight, but more than the beard is a reason he’s an easily recognized figure around town.
“Having operated a restaurant in Aurora for 28 years and, as the owner the past few, you learn
quickly about listening to people and investing in your customers,” Sundberg said. “That’s really what drove my business and my interest in serving these same individuals and families on City Council.”
Sundberg has announced his intention to seek another four-year term in City Council Ward 2.
His priorities have been two-fold: unifying the diverse population of Aurora, and public safety. He merged the two in initiating basketball tournaments with local high-schoolers and Aurora police officers, and he also held “Lunch with a Cop” sessions to provide a dialogue between law enforcement and the community.
“I always enjoyed connecting with people, and now on Council I get to connect with more and be their voice at City Hall,” he said.
While he may not be the most vocal member of the City Council he has carved a name for himself by being a strong member of the community across the growing sector of the city.
“I take my non-partisan elected official role seriously, because it helps to remove the labels and the different camps to bring people together and focus on how we can solve challenges,” Sundberg explains. “These community meetings help to get people out of their camps and get to know people on a personal level.”
The Ward 2 district encompasses the northeast corner of Aurora with Chambers Road on the western edge and Hampden Road as the southern portion. The ward is split by Interstate 70 with lands in both Arapahoe and Adams counties and touches three separate airfields, including Denver International Airport, Spaceport and Buckley. The district is growing and still has even more room to grow.
“Eastern Aurora represents the full [compliment] of the city, from original residents to brand new families who have found their dream homes or their first starter homes,” Sundberg said. “There is something for everyone in Ward 2 and my focus remains to be their voice to deliver safe neighborhoods and new and increasing opportunities for residents to realize their full potential.”
Sundberg not only values the diversity of Aurora, he lives it. He met his wife in the Congo after volunteering to build homes with Habitat for Humanity in Uganda. His wife, a naturalized citizen from Rwanda, and Sundberg now have two adult children.
“Getting into politics is unlike any other experience I’ve had, but fighting for our people and kids, like my own, has been important work,” Sundberg said. “During my first term, we fought to get over the hump of the pandemic and get us back onto the right footing. But I’m seeing that same uncertainty sink in with our families today, which is why I’m running. We can’t let that uncertainty divide us as a city or as a people and my focus largely remains the same of being responsive to our citizens and our taxpayers to ensure their voices are heard and we deliver on their priorities.”
To learn more about Sundberg’s campaign, visit www.ReElectSundberg.com