PUEBLO CITY COUNCIL ELECTION

Dianne Danti, in her own words

James Bartolo
Pueblo Chieftain USA TODAY NETWORK

Weeks ahead of Election Day, the Chieftain reached out to 13 candidates running this November to represent the city of Pueblo as a member of Pueblo City Council. Each candidate received an email questionnaire consisting of six questions. Answers from the candidates are being published in advance of the November elections to inform voters of candidates’ stances and priorities.

Dianne Danti is one of four candidates in Pueblo City Council District 1 race to represent neighborhoods on the northwest quadrant of Pueblo. She has received endorsements from the Southern Colorado Labor Union, National Association of Letter Carriers, Communication Workers of America, United Steelworkers, Pueblo’s Energy Future, Renewable Energy Owners Coalition of America (REOCA), and A Kindness A Day.

Additionally, Danti is on the REOCA board of directors, is a member of the NAACP, and is a member of Pueblo Indivisible.

Here are Danti’s responses to the Chieftain’s questionnaire.

How should the city address its budget shortfall? Are there specific cuts that you feel need to be made? What are they?

Pueblo doesn’t necessarily have a shortage of funds; it has a shortage of oversight. Millions of dollars remain unused from projects completed years ago, some dating back to 2002. Those funds should be returned to their original accounts and reinvested in our neighborhoods, where they can be used to fix streets, repair ADA ramps, and support essential city services.

Our stagnant financial position reflects years of poor planning and limited long-term vision. With a median wage of just $55,276, which is 27.4% lower than the national average, our financial choices must reflect the realities of working families.

We need responsible spending that prioritizes essential services and strengthens programs helping our most vulnerable residents, not cuts to nonprofits that fill critical community gaps. Accountability in city contracting is also necessary. Too often, companies inflate bids through costly change orders, leaving taxpayers to shoulder hidden expenses.

As someone with a background in accounting, I will bring strong financial oversight and transparency to every expenditure. Every taxpayer dollar should be traceable, accountable, and used for the public good. By eliminating waste, pursuing grants, and supporting small businesses, Pueblo can move from financial stagnation to long-term stability and sustainable growth.

Do you believe nonprofit organizations in the city of Pueblo to be underfunded, adequately funded, or overfunded? Why?

Nonprofit organizations in Pueblo are underfunded for the vital roles they play in supporting our community. Groups like Posada, the Mariposa Center, the Pueblo Zoo, the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center, and Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region fill critical gaps that city departments alone cannot meet. They provide essential services, education, shelter and cultural enrichment that improve the quality of life for all residents.

Instead of reducing their funding, the City Council should collaborate more closely with these organizations to maximize impact. Working in partnership rather than in isolation allows us to leverage shared resources, expand services and reach more residents in need.

By creating consistent and transparent funding and partnership opportunities, we can ensure that nonprofits have the stability to continue their vital work. A strong city supports those who serve its people.

When government and nonprofits work together toward common goals, every taxpayer dollar goes further and every community effort becomes more effective. Supporting our nonprofits means investing directly in Pueblo’s families, neighborhoods and future.

Would you prefer a mayor or city manager form of government in Pueblo?

I do not support Measure 2C. Pueblo needs more transparency and accountability, not less. Returning to a city manager form of government would take power away from voters and give it to the City Council by replacing an elected mayor with an appointed administrator. That shift would weaken direct accountability and make the city government less responsive to residents’ concerns.

Rather than restructuring the government, we should focus on strengthening communication, collaboration and efficiency within the existing system. Pueblo’s challenges will not be solved by changing titles; they’ll be solved through leadership that listens, engages the community and makes data-driven decisions.

Under our current mayor–council structure, voters choose who leads and can hold them accountable at the ballot box. Pueblo adopted this system to give residents a stronger voice in local government. Reverting to a city manager model would undo that progress and diminish voter power.

The solution isn’t to remove the mayor, it’s to elect leaders who are transparent, collaborative and dedicated to putting Pueblo’s people first.

Which qualities should an economic development partner for the city have? Has PEDCO demonstrated these qualities in recent years?

With PEDCO’s contract set to expire on December 31, 2025, Pueblo has a rare opportunity to redefine its approach to economic development. The city’s next economic development partner must demonstrate transparency, accountability and a long-term vision focused on sustainability rather than short-term incentives.

They should prioritize industries that align with Pueblo’s strengths, its abundant clean water, agricultural base, and renewable energy potential, while ensuring that new investments benefit local workers and small businesses.

Pueblo’s economic development partner must also engage the community, foster workforce training, and ensure that economic growth translates into higher wages and quality jobs. Recruitment should focus on companies that are environmentally responsible and committed to long-term stability in Pueblo.

PEDCO has helped attract important employers over the years, but Pueblo now needs a partner that goes beyond recruitment to cultivate innovation, research, training and clean energy investment.

With over 300 days of sunshine, Pueblo is uniquely positioned to expand on CS Wind’s success and attract solar and battery manufacturers to the St. Charles Industrial Park and Pueblo Memorial Industrial Park. A strong economic partner will help transform Pueblo’s potential into lasting prosperity, building a diverse, resilient economy that works for everyone.

What are your thoughts on homelessness in Pueblo?

Homelessness is a pressing issue in Pueblo, demanding compassion and practical solutions. With roughly 700 unhoused individuals and only 90 shelter beds, many face harsh conditions, untreated mental health issues and safety risks.

Recent policies, such as the 2024 no-camping ordinance with $1,000 fines and the 2025 loitering ban, have failed to improve lives or safety. Instead, they criminalize poverty and burden our understaffed police, diverting them from critical priorities.

Empathy and opportunity are essential. Stable housing, food and safety enable people to address mental health, addiction, or employment challenges. I propose creating temporary emergency campsites with amenities like portable toilets, dumpsters and needle disposal units.

Supported by local businesses and nonprofits, these sites would be monitored for safety and connected to services, including mobile soup kitchens, mental health support, addiction treatment and job programs. This fosters stability for the unhoused, reduces public health risks, eases strain on police and sanitation, and enhances community safety.

By blending empathy with action, Pueblo can effectively address homelessness, uplift unhoused neighbors and improve the quality of life for all, without straining the city’s budget.

Should changes be made to the city’s half-cent sales tax criteria for economic development?

Pueblo’s half-cent sales tax, administered by the Pueblo Economic Development Corporation (PEDCO), supports primary job-creating projects that generate external revenue, such as manufacturing. To bolster economic resilience, I propose expanding the criteria to include research and training initiatives, which attract innovative industries and skilled jobs.

However, funding retail or small businesses that recycle local dollars risks diluting the tax’s impact. I support including only small companies that generate outside revenue, such as tourism-driven enterprises, with a10-15% cap on uncommitted funds to maintain a focus on primary jobs.

The decision to place the tax criteria on the ballot was premature, given the mayor’s plan to cancel PEDCO’s contract by year-end, despite the tax extending to 2026. With a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) underway to select a new organization or renegotiate with PEDCO, the future remains uncertain.

Any criteria changes should be deferred until this process is clarified and put to a 2026 voter ballot for transparency. By strategically expanding the tax’s scope while preserving its core mission, Pueblo can foster sustainable growth, ensuring economic benefits for all residents without hasty decisions.

Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@ gannett.com.