The second Colorado Springs City Council election forum was a one-on-one interview with District 2 candidate Tom Bailey, who discussed his support for recent annexation projects and the Ford Amphitheater. 

The interview was the latest in a series of televised candidate forums hosted in partnership with The Gazette and KOAA. Reporter Alasyn Zimmerman with KOAA hosted the live interview. Frank Chrisinger, the other candidate currently on the District 2 ballot, did not respond to an invitation to attend. 

Donelson and Lehmkuhl face off in first candidate forum for Colorado Springs City Council

Bailey, the current chair of the El Paso County Planning Commission, is running for the City Council district for north Colorado Springs bordering the Air Force Academy. Council President Randy Helms is not running for reelection for the district. 

Bailey disclosed in candidate documents that he bought a fire-pit suite at the Ford Amphitheater, a venue that has proved controversial among neighboring residents due to accusations that sound from events exceeded noise ordinances. 

Calling opponents of the venue a “small but vocal minority,” Bailey said he felt the most recent agreement between the amphitheater and the city was reasonable. 

“The good news, I think, is that the solutions are in place,” he said. 

Ford Amphitheater developer, officials announce new sound measures — but there could be a wait

Bailey said that as a councilmember, he would need to consult with the city attorney on whether he should recuse himself from future votes related to the amphitheater, calling the possibility likely due to his investment. 

The candidate also weighed in on two major annexation requests considered by the city in recent months.

Amara, a 9,500-home development proposed for county land southeast of the city, failed at a second vote before the council last summer. Bailey said he would have supported the project. 

“Amara makes perfect sense to me as a potential area of growth,” he said. 

A second large annexation request to the east called Karman Line has found success with the council, though a signature campaign has emerged in recent weeks to put a question overturning the annexation on the ballot. Bailey said he felt the public should accept the decision of the council. 

Controversial Karman Line annexation affirmed, residents vow a fight at the ballot box

Bailey also supports the 6,500-home Karman Line, saying he would prefer developers to shoulder the infrastructure costs of expanding the city. 

“Annexation is good, because it allows us to control our own destiny,” he said. 

The next candidate forum will livestream on Tuesday, Feb. 25 and cover the District 3 race between Brandy Williams, Maryah Lauer, Richard Gillit, Greg Thornton and Christopher Metzgar.