Old, new faces on Fountain council

Two longtime residents won seats on the Fountain City Council in a special election Tuesday night.

Gabriel Ortega, who was born and raised in the southern El Paso County city, was elected to the Ward 1 seat, while Mary DeGroot, an avid council watcher, received the highest number of votes in Ward 2. Both seats were vacated earlier this year when two council members resigned.

Seven percent of registered voters in the two wards cast their votes in the election, a turnout City Clerk Sharon Mosley called average.

Ortega received 123 votes, while Judy Christian came in second with 75 votes and Sam Provenza received 27.

This was Ortega’s second try for a seat on the council; he also ran, but lost, in 2005.

“I think they’re looking for some young ideas,” said Ortega, a teacher in the Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8.

He advocates “responsible development” and attracting more revenue-generating businesses to the city.

Currently a member of the planning commission, he will leave that position this week.

In Ward 2, DeGroot received 96 votes, while Jim Coke garnered 41 votes. Louis Porsia was in third place with 39 votes and Ratu Solanki received 28.

Appointed by the council in January, DeGroot then had to run for the seat when a second vacancy on the council prompted the election.

“I think because I’ve been around too long, they knew me,” DeGroot said.

“I state what I feel and am honest,” she said, adding she derives satisfaction in “trying to do what I can for the city.”

DeGroot says her goals are ensuring affordable housing and attracting more businesses.

Her term expires in November, while Ortega’s expires in 2009. Both will be sworn into office next week.