1. How long have you lived in Northglenn?
33-year resident in total: 18 years as a child of the 70s and 80s; 6 years post 9-11; and 9 years from 2016 to present. My parents were original owners of a Perl Mack house when Northglenn was formed. My wife, Hiromi and I live in the same home. Grandpa was a local Japanese sharecropper from 1920s ~ 1950s.
2. Best way for voters to contact you.
Cell: 303-246-3031 | Email: richkondo4ngward3@gmail.com or rkondo@northglenn.org
3. Websites and/or social media
https://www.northglenn.org/2025%20Candidate%20Profiles.pdf?t=202510171426180 (New, Candidate Profiles)
https://youtu.be/SD1sjmIvaYU?si=wrke89MpH89a4CVV (New, Candidate Videos)
www.westminsterwindow.com/archives/news/article_4fbf5f1f-b84e-5229-8efc-e38c70b5e75a.html
www.alumni.hbs.edu/stories/Pages/story-bulletin.aspx?num=4707
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100081772480116
www.northmetrofire.org/27/About-Us
4. What background information would you like to share?
My life started and currently brings me back to Northglenn - a place I have always considered home. Attending the US Naval Academy and 10 years of active duty took me far & wide around the world. This has given me a unique experience of seeing the US through a different lens. As the Academy laid a great foundation for a successful navy career, Harvard Business School did the same for me as a marketing & business development professional. Years later, the arc of my life would set me on an unforeseen and unforgettable path.
In 2011, as a Japanese-speaking Nuclear-trained Submarine officer, I was recalled to Fukushima to advise the Japan Ministry of Defense on the response to the reactor disaster. After that, I took a 5-year sabbatical to serve in the US Government as an Emergency Planning Chief of Staff to bring back lessons learned to help the navy better anticipate and prepare for potential shipboard nuclear incidents - a very low probability given a flawless safety record since 1948. I never had any political ambition and it was only upon my mom’s passing , did the idea of civic duty enter the picture. I was privileged to answer that call when council picked me to fill the seat vacated by my predecessor, Julie Duran-Mullica - current Adams County Commissioner in 2022.
5. Why would you be a good council member?
The honor to serve Northglenn for 3 years has given me the skills & knowledge to work with council as a team to set the vision & direction for city staff. Reliable, community-centric core services such as public safety, roads, utilities & recreation programs are successes I’m proud to have played a role. My executive board secretary duties at Denver Region Council (DRCOG) postures Northglenn to receive monies & support for transportation, affordable housing, senior services & environmental sustainability programs.
6. Top issues facing Northglenn now or in the near-term? How would you address them?
a. A slowing national economy will impact city revenues, Federal cuts to Medicaid will lead to higher healthcare costs & cost of living for everyone. I will work with council & staff to:
· Advance a budget prioritizing key services, namely police, public utility infrastructure & initiatives that conserve funds
· Create future development plans & zoning policies that will revive aged retail and residential areas thereby setting the foundation to attract businesses that can lift local economic conditions and create jobs
· Secure grant monies from the state, county & DRCOG to support local programs for senior and disadvantaged people
b. Northglenn has been working with District Attorney, Brian Mason to address the Domestic Violence, Youth Violence & Homelessness epidemic. I will work with council, nearby cities, Adam’s County & partners to:
· Support the adoption of Northglenn’s Crisis Response Unit (CRU) concept throughout the region
· Advocate the use of new tech like FLOCK cameras, speed cameras and 1st responder drones to level the playing field when it comes to street racing and retail theft
· Stand-up the new Family Justice Center (FJC) to provide safe harbor for Domestic Violence survivors and family members
c. Our Water Treatment & Sewage systems are over 40 years old & needs upgrades to safeguard quality water and guarantee capacity for future growth. I will work with council & staff to:
· Push life-cycle budgeting to cover these costs while keeping user fees the lowest possible in the North Denver Metro region
· Support initiatives such as the aquifer water storage and sewage plant solar conversion projects to future-proof the city for: 1) less predictable water sources and 2) rising electricity & water costs
7. Political affiliation?
Unaffiliated. I am not registered with either Republican or Democrat parties. Elected Officials in small/mid-sized municipal governments strive to be non-partisan. This fosters a healthy, respectful & highly functional team dynamic between dais-members. On council, we have rich conversations across a wide spectrum of views to fully understand issues while making well-informed decisions.