Aurora city councilmembers will interview three top candidates for an open council seat on Monday, a process that will take about two-and-a-half hours and will be open to the public via livestream.

Dustin Zvonek, the city’s previous mayor pro tem, announced his early departure from his position on the council in October, opening up a seat on the 11-person body.

The council received a total of 34 applications for the position and, at the last council meeting, chose three final candidates: Amsalu Kassaw, Danielle Lammon and Jonathan McMillan.

Councilmembers will interview Kassaw, Lammon and McMillan Monday starting at 2:30 p.m. The public can listen to the interviews live at AuroraTV.org or Youtube.com/TheAuroraChannel as well as on cable channels 8 and 880 in Aurora.

Amsalu Kassaw

A lieutenant at GEO Group Inc.’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing center in Aurora, Kassaw is a “community organizer, human rights advocator, and public servant from Aurora,” according to his application.

Kassaw won the Aurora City Community Service 2024 award, according to his application. He is also the public relations director of the Ethiopian American Civic Council.

He wants to be a member of the council because he has “come to believe that public service is essential for the city to serve the people that you love and will help you understand the issues so you can solve their concerns wisely,” he wrote in his application.

He has an associate degree from Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia.

Danielle Lammon

Lammon is the agency owner of Danielle Shannon Insurance Agency. She is chair of the Citizens Advisory Budget Committee and has been on the committee for five years.

She is also the founder and CEO of Buddy Publishing and Foundation and a member of the Rotary Club of Aurora

In her application, Lammon said she applied for the council position because she is “passionate about serving my community.” Her priority is enhancing public safety through supporting fire and police departments, she said.

She has bachelor’s degree in biology from Metro State University of Denver and an advanced certification in project management from Colorado Technical University of Colorado Springs.

Jonathan McMillan

McMillan is the director of firearm-related harm and violence prevention at Trailhead Institute.

He has more than 30 years of experience in violence prevention, public health and community leadership, according to his application. He previously worked in gun violence prevention with the state of Colorado and in youth violence prevention for the city of Denver.

McMillan wants to join the council to “bring data-driven, community-focused, and servant leadership to Aurora,” he wrote in his application. His priorities are safety, affordable housing and “opportunities for all.”

McMillan did not have an educational background listed on his application.

At the council’s regular meeting, starting at 6:30 p.m., councilmembers will vote on an ordinance to repeal the city’s pit bull ban.

The item was sent to the November ballot to be decided on by residents after a Colorado court overturned a 2021 council decision to repeal the breed ban. 

Ballot item 3A, which asked voters if they wanted to repeal the breed ban officially, passed, allowing the council to approve the ban repeal. 

Also Monday night, councilmembers will vote to appoint a new mayor pro tem, a position formerly held by resigned councilmember Zvonek. The mayor pro tem’s role includes, but is not limited to, performing the duties and responsibilities of the mayor in the mayor’s absence. 

Councilmembers interested in serving in the role were asked to submit written notification to other councilmembers by Nov. 15. On Monday, councilmembers will appoint the position in a majority vote.

The council’s study session normally begins at 5:15 p.m., but will begin Monday at 2:30 p.m. to make time for candidate interviews. 

The council’s regular meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. in the Paul Tauer Aurora City Council Chamber, 15151 E. Alameda Parkway.

Both meetings will also be live streamed at auroraTV.org and Youtube.com/TheAuroraChannel. They will also stream live on cable channels 8 and 880 in Aurora.

Those who want to speak during the public comment period must submit a speaker slip by 6:30 p.m. Monday, the day of the meeting. Anyone who wants to comment on an agenda item must submit a speaker slip before the city clerk reads the title of the item.