Margie Morris

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Margie Morris

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

April 4, 2023

Education

Bachelor's

University of Chicago, 1987

Personal

Birthplace

Maryland

Profession

Consulting

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Twitter

Personal LinkedIn

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Margie Morris ran for election to the Denver City Council to represent District 10 in Colorado. She lost in the general election on April 4, 2023.

Morris completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Margie Morris was born in Maryland. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Chicago in 1987. Her career experience includes working in consulting, nonprofit leadership, and finance.

Elections

2023

See also: City elections in Denver, Colorado (2023)

General runoff election

General runoff election for Denver City Council District 10

Incumbent Christopher Hinds defeated Shannon Hoffman in the general runoff election for Denver City Council District 10 on June 6, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Christopher Hinds (Nonpartisan)	55.4	9,162
		Shannon Hoffman (Nonpartisan)	44.6	7,390

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 16,552
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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General election

General election for Denver City Council District 10

Incumbent Christopher Hinds and Shannon Hoffman advanced to a runoff. They defeated Noah Kaplan and Margie Morris in the general election for Denver City Council District 10 on April 4, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Christopher Hinds (Nonpartisan)	35.6	6,045
✔		Shannon Hoffman (Nonpartisan)	27.1	4,599
		Noah Kaplan (Nonpartisan)	25.7	4,364
		Margie Morris (Nonpartisan)	11.7	1,989

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 16,997
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Matthew Watkajtys (Nonpartisan)

Campaign themes

2023

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Margie Morris completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Morris' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I live in Golden Triangle with my husband, Scott. My parents - a decorated Army officer and a tireless community volunteer – were my first role models in leadership. With a degree in economics from the University of Chicago, I worked in finance for 8 years, while raising three sons. I held multiple leadership roles in her community, including eight years chairing the board of a $15M social service agency. Finding my passion in social impact roles, I transitioned to non-profit work and recently led a statewide organization to advance educational achievement and healthy outcomes for marginalized kids. My advocacy resulted in two federal bills, including the Mentoring to Succeed Act. Leveraging my collaborative leadership experience, I am in this race with a plan to unite our city’s vast resources and solve Denver’s homelessness crisis using a data-driven, human-centered approach. This crisis is the most important issue facing our city’s social and economic viability. I will work diligently on behalf of residents to build consensus on City Council, while maintaining sound financial and planning principles - with full transparency and accountability.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Solving the unhoused crisis in Denver is why I am in this race, and it’s my #1 priority. It intersects with so many challenges that affect the economic and social health of our beloved city. Downtown Denver has been hardest hit, losing businesses, residents, and visitors. More dollars and resources have not reduced the number of unhoused residents, and the crisis persists. I will champion a fully integrated, coordinated, and data-driven system of care across Denver to make homelessness rare and brief. Great work is happening across our city, but it’s siloed. We need to work smarter, together.
• Affordable housing is a major driver of homelessness and also hinders our city's ability to recruit and retain our critical workforce when they are unable to live here. More than 1 in 3 Denverites are housing cost burdened. I will advance policies and efforts, such as fast-tracking new housing and adaptive re-use projects, to promote the building of affordable housing. We also need to continue using and expanding tax incentives like the Colorado Affordable Housing Tax Credit and consider a Denver LIHTC. Our city has a responsibility to provide affordable housing so low and middle income individuals and families can put down roots and participate fully in our beautiful city.
• As the only parent running for this seat, I want what's best for our city's youngest residents. Safe and supportive schools, where students are encouraged to learn without fear of violence, bullying, or discrimination. Safe streets that prioritize pedestrian and biker/roller safety. while enforcing moving violations to reduce accidents and deaths caused by drivers. Open spaces and opportunities to enjoy nature without smog or pollutants that reduce air quality and negatively impact health. I will ensure our policies work not just for today but for Denver's future generations.

Community Question Featured local question

Do you think the downtown area is healthy? What is your definition of a healthy downtown? What changes, if any, would you like to make?

No. My priority is solving Denver’s unhoused crisis, and that alone will benefit the recovery of Downtown Denver. If we don’t have an effective, evidence-based strategy to create sustainable progress, our city will struggle to thrive. Our businesses will struggle to retain employees and attract customers. Our downtown residents will continue to move away from the core or out of Denver altogether. And our city will see lower tax revenue that provides vital city services for residents.

I also want to make sure we are driving as much traffic to our Downtown stores as possible, to boost the local economy. As a small business owner, I understand the challenges and am committed to working with the business community to provide the support needed for a full recovery. As a candidate, my goal is making Denver the best place to live, work, and play. That requires a healthy, thriving Downtown Denver.

Community Question Featured local question

How important is it to involve residents in the government’s decision-making process? What plans do you have regarding resident involvement in this process?

Denver’s residents and RNOs are a vital part of participatory government, providing essential community input and guidance for city planning and service improvements. I envision residents and RNOs as key partners in making our city the best place to live, work and play – not only today, but well into the future.

Community Question Featured local question

How should record requests from the public be handled? Do you have any policies around transparency and accountability you want to enact?

I have publicly committed to promoting full transparency and accountability. FOIA should always be followed for record requests.

Community Question Featured local question

How would you address crime and public safety? Do you have a different stance than current city council policy?

I support the Denver Police Department as a key partner in creating safe communities and want to ensure we set them up for success. Toward that end, I also champion the alternative crisis response teams, such as STAR and co-responder units, that have diverted low level and mental health related incidents away from police, fire and emergency response units. Not only does this improve outcomes and levels of trust among those served, it also preserves police strength for higher crimes.

Community Question Featured local question

How would you set priorities and develop plans in a way that will reflect community values and goals?

It's important to lead with the intention of ensuring our city is future focused AND reflects the community values and goals. I will work diligently to represent the interests of District 10 residents and to be responsive with a commitment to a 48-turnaround to emails and phone calls from residents. As the voice of the people, I will ensure I bring your values to City Council every day.

Community Question Featured local question

What do you think about the city's current approach to public safety? Would you take any different positions?

Our current homelessness crisis has overtaxed our city's public safety resources. We need to work smarter, together to solve the crisis and restore a sense of public safety. We also have a growing gun violence crisis in our city and its schools. We know we have work to do to enforce gun laws and promote safety. In schools, We also know that the highest percentage of kids involved in gun violence on school property are students who feel disengaged School-based mentoring and other efforts to promote a calm, safe, and welcoming school climate are critical actions that have a big impact.

Community Question Featured local question

What do you think about the city's environmental health? Would you make any changes to current policy?

Yes. We have much work to do to meet our GHG targets and reduce the pervasive smog in Denver. This means actively supporting alternative/multi modal transportation. At the same time, lower snowfall and higher temps are an imminent threat to the water supply for our growing city. New strategies and incentives to reduce water usage and increase water reclamation are critical for sustainability.

Community Question Featured local question

What plans do you have regarding infrastructure?

Denver has experienced significant growth for decades, yet has not kept up with the infrastructure investments - particularly affordable housing - required to ensure longtime residents can remain in Denver, while new residents can put down roots. As stated previously, I am fully committed to promoting a fiscally sound and swift approach to building affordable housing for a wide spectrum of Denverites... from those on fixed incomes and minimum wage, to first responders, teachers and other critical workforces that keep out city running smoothly.

Community Question Featured local question

What plans do you have regarding the police department? Would you make any changes from current policy?

As stated previously, I support the Denver Police Department as a key partner in creating safe communities and want to ensure we set them up for success. Toward that end, I also champion the alternative crisis response teams, such as STAR and co-responder units, that have diverted low level and mental health related incidents away from police, fire and emergency response units. Not only does this improve outcomes and levels of trust among those served, it also preserves police strength for higher crimes.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am in this race to solve Denver's homelessness crisis. That will require a coordinated approach to housing, health (mental, behavioral, and physical), and employment policies. The crisis is complex and requires a full court press to effectively build a healthier Denver for all residents. I have decades of experience building stronger, healthier communities by leaning into evidence-based practices and cross-functional solutions. I'm ready to lead with real solutions to revitalize our city.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

Denver needs councilmembers who can bring people together and build bridges to a re-imagined city. Coalition builders and servant-leaders who lift up vulnerable populations and address their needs in a humane way, while ensuring residents are happy in a city that works for them, their families, and their businesses.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I stand on the shoulders of many amazing women who have fueled my personal journey, beginning with my mom, who was a Rosie the Riveter during WWII. And former U.S. Rep. Pat Schroeder, a true icon and trail blazer who demonstrated that women could confidently add value to any discussion, sit at the tables previously reserved for men, and hold our own. I am proud to continue the fight for women's equality and to use my voice and talent for good.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity, accountability, and a collaborative work ethic.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Integrity and accountability. I also bring a collaborative work ethic, an analytical, data-driven lens, and the determination to find workable solutions for the most challenging issues.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

In middle school, while friends were babysitting or mowing lawns for a few extra dollars, I created a business - the Orange Flag Service - to help neighbors and local residents with odd jobs. Depending on the scope of the job, I'd hire classmates to join me. For a bunch of kids, we were pretty successful. I opened my first bank account and kept the business going for 3 years, until I entered high school.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

No - though finance and/or economics are critical, given City Council's heavy role in approving the annual Mayoral budget.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Denver Metro Association of Realtors

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Note: Community Questions were submitted by the public and chosen for inclusion by a volunteer advisory board. The chosen questions were modified by staff to adhere to Ballotpedia’s neutrality standards. To learn more about Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection Expansion Project, click here.

See also

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Candidate

Denver City Council District 10

Website

Twitter

Personal

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