Councilwoman Yolanda Avila will likely serve another term representing Colorado Springs’ District 4.
Unofficial election results from the city clerk s office Tuesday night showed incumbent Avila soundly defeating her challenger, business owner Regina English, 48, in the two-way race. Avila gained 3,164 votes 61.8% of ballots compared with English s 1,952 votes, or 38.2% of ballots.
The race was one of six district races on the April ballot that could determine the direction of council for the next four years. Only the three at-large seats were not facing re-election.
District 4 includes the southeast portion of Colorado Springs and is considered a more liberal area of the city. It has a higher percentage of minority residents and higher rate of poverty than other districts.
District 4 incumbent Yolanda Avilla, right, celebrates with her daughter Dulce Garcia Tuesday, April 6, 2021, during a watch party at the Club Tilt & Grill after early results showed Avilla leading Colorado Springs City Council candidate Regina English. Garcia and her family from Hunnington Beach, Calif., surprised Avilla Saturday to spend the weekend and election day with her. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)
Christian Murdock/The Gazette
Chancey Bush
Chancey Bush
Chancey Bush
More than 1,000 homes now can be built on a sliver of the massive Banning Lewis Ranch with a rezoning approved Tuesday by the Colorado Springs City Council.
The move, opposed by Councilwoman Yolanda Avila and Councilman Bill Murray, comes as the next major step for Denver-based Oakwood Homes, which owns a 2,600-acre section of the ranch.
Nor wood Development Group owns about 18,000 acres there. Oakwood s portion, broken into six sections dubbed Village 1-6, will have parks, trails and schools.
Village 1 is nearly complete, said Josh Rowland, a planner for Oakwood consultant LAI Design Group, and work on Village 2 is about half finished. Tuesday s council approval means work can start at Village 3, a 284-acre plot south of Dublin Boulevard and west of the as-yet-unbuilt Banning Lewis Ranch Parkway.
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Councilman James “Mike” Malley District 6, northeast Colorado Springs O’Malley, 60 and U.S. Department of Transportation advisor, moved to Colorado Springs in July 2019 and said his experience maintaining and operating ships, when he was a Navy Reserve Captain has prepared him to serve on council because they are “in essence cities at sea,” he said. He also brings experience as a long-time volunteer firefighter to the job. He would prioritize infrastructure, public safety and planning for the future of all city utilities, water, gas, electric, sewer and stormwater. O’Malley was appointed to his seat in January after Councilman Andy Pico was elected to the state legislature.