By Kyla Pearce | Colorado Politics via the Denver Gazette
Aurora’s councilmembers on Monday night picked a leader of the Ethiopian community for the council’s at-large seat.
The council split, 6-4, in appointing Amsalu Kassaw to the seat. The discussion at times delved into issues of race.
Kassaw is the public relations director of the Ethiopian American Civic Council. He is also a lieutenant at GEO Group Inc.’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing center in Aurora, according to his application for the seat. Mayor Mike Coffman has worked with Kassaw when he served on his congressional advisory committee.