Age: 30
Occupation: Not Applicable
Years lived in Commerce City: 17
Years lived in Colorado: 30
Phone: +1 720-982-7286
Campaign Website: alejandrodeleon.com
Email: mail@alejandrodeleon.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alejandro-deleon
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deleonale1
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@deleonale2
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@deleonale3
Why are you running for council?
I believe Commerce City deserves thoughtful leadership that prioritizes community engagement, smart growth, and transparency. Our city has tremendous potential, but we need leaders who are committed to solving real issues like affordable housing, traffic congestion, and supporting local businesses. As a resident, I'm focused on creating a safer, more sustainable city, while ensuring that all voices are heard and respected. My goal is to work with you to foster a community where families thrive, businesses grow, and we continue to build a "Quality Community for a Lifetime."
What do you see as the three biggest opportunities for Commerce City?
Commerce City has incredible potential to grow into a model community that balances economic development, quality of life, and sustainability. The three biggest opportunities I see are:
Strategic Economic Development
Our city's location is one of our greatest assets, close to DIA, major highways like I-76, I-270 and E-470, and the Denver metro area. This creates unique opportunities to attract businesses that provide well-paying jobs, support local entrepreneurs, and diversify our economy. By encouraging industries like technology, logistics, and professional services, we can ensure residents have access to employment close to home, reducing commute times and keeping economic activity within the community.
Thoughtful Community Growth and Housing
Commerce City is at a pivotal moment where we can guide development in ways that benefit current and future residents. We have opportunities to expand housing options that are both affordable and attainable, while also adding amenities such as grocery stores, restaurants, parks, and recreational spaces. Smart, inclusive growth can help maintain our community's identity while providing the services and conveniences residents expect, creating neighborhoods where families can thrive for generations.
Investing in People and Quality of Life
Beyond buildings and businesses, our strongest opportunity lies in investing in our residents. This includes expanding youth programs and recreation, improving public safety through modern policing and fire services, and enhancing infrastructure like roads, sidewalks, and public transit. Additionally, we have a chance to create a more connected, walkable, and sustainable city that promotes community engagement, environmental stewardship, and a healthy, vibrant lifestyle for everyone.
By leveraging these opportunities thoughtfully, Commerce City can grow as an economically robust, socially inclusive, and environmentally responsible city, one that truly reflects its motto of a "Quality Community for a Lifetime."
What do you see as the three biggest challenges facing the city?
Commerce City is growing and with that growth comes both promise and pressure.
The three biggest challenges I see are:
Affordable and Attainable Housing
As our population increases, housing costs have risen sharply, putting a strain on working families, seniors, and young people just starting out. We need to ensure that growth includes a range of housing options, from affordable rentals to attainable starter homes, while also protecting long-term residents from being priced out. Partnering with responsible developers, leveraging state and federal programs, and setting clear standards for affordability can help us strike a balance between growth and equity.
Infrastructure and Transportation
Many of our roads, sidewalks, and drainage systems are aging, and as new developments expand across the city, the demand on our infrastructure continues to rise. Residents deserve safe, well-maintained roads, reliable public transit connections, and accessible pedestrian and bike pathways that link all parts of Commerce City. Without strategic investment and planning, congestion and safety concerns will only grow. Pursuing regional partnerships and state/federal funding will be key to addressing these needs.
Public Safety and Community Wellbeing
Like many cities across Colorado, Commerce City faces challenges related to crime, emergency response, and mental health. As we grow, it's critical that our police, fire, and EMS have the staffing, training, and resources they need to keep our neighborhoods safe. But safety also means prevention, investing in youth programs, mental health co-responders, and community engagement efforts that reduce the root causes of crime. A holistic approach will allow residents to feel secure in their homes, workplaces, and public spaces.
Ultimately, these challenges are deeply connected. If we can provide attainable housing, invest in strong infrastructure, and keep our community safe, we can ensure that Commerce City remains a place where families want to stay and where future generations can thrive.
What does a "Quality Community for a Lifetime" mean to you?
To me, a "Quality Community for a Lifetime" is more than a slogan. It's a promise that Commerce City should be a place where every resident, regardless of age, background, or circumstance, has the opportunity to build a good life and feel proud to call this community home. It means a city where families can find safe, attainable housing, where children have access to excellent schools and recreational programs, and where young adults can pursue careers without needing to leave the city they grew up in. It means creating an environment where businesses, both small and large, can thrive, bringing jobs, services, and amenities that keep our economy strong and diverse. It also means honoring and supporting our older residents, ensuring that seniors have access to healthcare, transportation, and safe, welcoming spaces to age with dignity and connection. A quality community doesn't just invest in one generation, it builds the foundation for every generation to succeed, but quality of life also extends beyond services and amenities. It means safety, inclusivity, and a sense of belonging. It's about having clean parks and open spaces to enjoy Colorado's natural beauty, reliable infrastructure to keep our city moving, and community events that bring people together. It's about building trust in local government through transparency, collaboration, and a shared vision for the future. Ultimately, a "Quality Community for a Lifetime" is about balance, between growth and sustainability, between tradition and innovation, and between the needs of today and the promise of tomorrow. Commerce City has the opportunity to be not just a place where people live, but a place where people truly thrive at every stage of life.
What is your favorite aspect of the city?
My favorite aspect of Commerce City is the balance between our diversity, our sense of community, and our connection to the land around us. We are a city where people from many different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences come together with a shared determination to build a better future. That diversity makes our community stronger, more resilient, and more vibrant. At the same time, Commerce City has kept something very special, its working-class roots and the neighbor-to-neighbor spirit that makes this a place where people still look out for one another. Whether it's through local events, school activities, or simply lending a hand to a neighbor, there's a genuine sense of connection here that makes you feel at home. Then there's the land itself, we have unique access to natural treasures like the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge and the Sand Creek Greenway, along with parks and open spaces that give families the chance to connect with nature right in our backyard. That blend of community and environment is something rare, and it's worth protecting as our city continues to grow. What I love most is that Commerce City isn't just a place to live; it's a place where people can dream, work hard, and truly belong. That's what inspires me to serve.
Alejandro De Leon(PDF, 257KB)