Not long ago, we caught up with former state lawmaker and all-around political presence Bob Hagedorn via our Q&A feature. Hagedorn — a Democrat who spent 16 years representing Aurora in both chambers of Colorado’s General Assembly, from 1992 to 2008 — brought us up to speed on his latest endeavors: advancing Aurora’s budding arts scene and helping reinvigorate the city’s urban corridor along its stretch of Colfax Avenue.

You now can add to that list a run for Aurora City Council. He announced his candidacy via Facebook Wednesday:

Tuesday afternoon I filed my affidavit to be a candidate for Ward II in this fall’s city council election. After 12 years of dedicated commitment and service to her Ward II constituents, Councilmember Renie Peterson is term-limited, and is not able to run again.

I’m a former newspaper reporter, government administrator, urban public policy analyst, and college instructor who has also had the privilege of serving 16-years as a state legislator. My philosophy is that elected officials should represent all of their constituents to the best of their ability.

Aurora became my hometown when my father retired from the U. S. Navy in 1965 and we moved to a community where we could finally call our home. My roots run deep in a place that I’ve seen grow from a quiet Denver suburb to the state’s third largest city with all of the challenges and rewards that a large, diverse city has to offer.

I have knowledge, experiences and skills that I’d like to offer in service to the residents of Ward II, where I’ve lived 20 years now, to provide them a conscientious and effective voice in the government decisions that most directly affect themselves and their families.

(The campaign email address is Bob4Ward2@gmail.com)

As noted in our Q&A with Hagedorn, he was regarded as something of a maverick, especially on education issues, during his years in the legislature, and he didn’t hesitate to cross the aisle to work with Republicans on assorted legislation. He also was known for an unusual legislative milestone — designating a new state song; it was folk-pop tunesmith John Denver’s “Rocky Mountain High.” From our Q&A:

Q: You are credited — by the New York Times, no less — with having led the push in the legislature in 2007 to designate the late John Denver’s “Rocky Mountain High” as Colorado’s official state song alongside the traditional, “Where the Columbines Grow.” The Times actually did a story on it at the time quoting you about how the “high” John Denver sang of wasn’t necessarily drug-induced. So, what do you think Denver really had in mind? And isn’t that concern kind of ironic now, given Colorado’s legalization of recreational marijuana?

A: Colorado is the most beautiful state in America, with a lot of real estate well-above sea level. And yes, not too many states have an anthem dedicated to a tax-revenue stream.