Stephan "Seku" Evans
Stephan Evans (Unity Party) (also known as Chairman SeKu) ran for election to the U.S. Senate to represent Colorado. He lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.
Evans completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Stephan "Seku" Evans was born in Denver, Colorado. He attended Northeastern Jr. College, the University of Denver, Metropolitan State College of Denver and the University of Colorado-Boulder/Denver Center.
His career experience includes working with Black Starz International Florist and Design Inc., and as a CEO with Da Black Starz International Actionz Movement-4-Self-Defenze.[1][2]
Elections
2020
See also: United States Senate election in Colorado, 2020
United States Senate election in Colorado, 2020 (June 30 Republican primary)
United States Senate election in Colorado, 2020 (June 30 Democratic primary)
General election
General election for U.S. Senate Colorado
The following candidates ran in the general election for U.S. Senate Colorado on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | John Hickenlooper (D) | 53.5 | 1,731,114 |
 | Cory Gardner (R) | 44.2 | 1,429,492 | |
 | Raymon Doane (L) | 1.7 | 56,262 | |
 | Daniel Doyle (Approval Voting Party) | 0.3 | 9,820 | |
 | Stephan Evans (Unity Party)  | 0.3 | 8,971 | |
| Bruce Lohmiller (G) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | |
 | Danny Skelly (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | |
| Michael Sanchez (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | |
| Total votes: 3,235,659 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Gary Swing (Other)
- Joseph Camp (Independent)
- Veronique Bellamy (Socialist Party)
- Martha Wolf (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Colorado
John Hickenlooper defeated Andrew Romanoff in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Colorado on June 30, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | John Hickenlooper | 58.7 | 585,826 |
 | Andrew Romanoff | 41.3 | 412,955 | |
| Total votes: 998,781 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Danielle Kombo (D)
- Erik Underwood (D)
- Denise Burgess (D)
- David Goldfischer (D)
- Lorena Garcia (D)
- Trish Zornio (D)
- Michael Johnston (D)
- Diana Bray (D)
- Stephany Rose Spaulding (D)
- Michelle Ferrigno Warren (D)
- Critter Milton (D)
- Keith Pottratz (D)
- John Walsh (D)
- Dan Baer (D)
- Ellen Burnes (D)
- Alice Madden (D)
- Angela Williams (D)
- Derrick Blanton (D)
- Dustin John Leitzel (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. Senate Colorado
Incumbent Cory Gardner advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Colorado on June 30, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Cory Gardner | 100.0 | 554,806 |
| Total votes: 554,806 | |||
| = 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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Margot Dupre (R)
Libertarian primary election
Libertarian primary for U.S. Senate Colorado
Raymon Doane defeated Gaylon Kent in the Libertarian primary for U.S. Senate Colorado on June 30, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Raymon Doane | 62.8 | 4,365 |
 | Gaylon Kent | 37.2 | 2,583 | |
| Total votes: 6,948 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Unity Party convention
Unity Party convention for U.S. Senate Colorado
Stephan Evans defeated Joshua Rodriguez in the Unity Party convention for U.S. Senate Colorado on April 4, 2020.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Stephan Evans (Unity Party) |
 | Joshua Rodriguez (Unity Party) | |
| ||||
| = 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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2019
See also: Mayoral election in Denver, Colorado (2019)
General runoff election
General runoff election for Mayor of Denver
Incumbent Michael Hancock defeated Jamie Giellis in the general runoff election for Mayor of Denver on June 4, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Michael Hancock (Nonpartisan) | 56.3 | 91,675 |
 | Jamie Giellis (Nonpartisan) | 43.7 | 71,069 | |
| Total votes: 162,744 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
General election
General election for Mayor of Denver
The following candidates ran in the general election for Mayor of Denver on May 7, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Michael Hancock (Nonpartisan) | 38.7 | 69,271 |
| ✔ | | Jamie Giellis (Nonpartisan) | 24.9 | 44,543 |
 | Lisa Calderón (Nonpartisan) | 18.5 | 33,100 | |
 | Penfield Tate (Nonpartisan) | 14.7 | 26,370 | |
| Kalyn Heffernan (Nonpartisan) | 2.5 | 4,481 | |
| Stephan Evans (Nonpartisan) | 0.7 | 1,325 | |
 | Marcus Giavanni (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 83 | |
| Kenneth Simpson (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 23 | |
 | Paul Fiorino (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 7 | |
| Leatha Scott (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 4 | |
| Total votes: 179,207 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2015
The city of Denver, Colorado, held elections for mayor and city council on May 5, 2015. The filing deadline for candidates who wished to run in this election was March 11, 2015. In the mayoral race, incumbent Michael B. Hancock defeated Seku, Paul Noel Fiorino and Marcus Giavanni.[3][4]
| Mayor of Denver, 2015 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
 Michael B. Hancock Incumbent |
80.2% | 75,774 | |
| Marcus Giavanni | 8.5% | 8,033 | |
| Paul Noel Fiorino | 5.7% | 5,379 | |
| Seku | 3.1% | 2,973 | |
| Write-in | 2.5% | 2,366 | |
| Total Votes | 94,525 | ||
| Source: City of Denver, "Official general election results," accessed May 19, 2015 | |||
Campaign themes
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Stephan Evans completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Evans' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
| Collapse all
Chairman Seku was born and raised in Denver, attending Manual High before attending college on both basketball and academic scholarships (he led the Manual team to three city championships) and starting a family with his high school sweetheart. In the late 60's he joined the Denver chapter of the Black Panther Party, and went on to 25 years as a successful florist and small business owner before twice running for Mayor of Denver. His campaign website is http://committeetoelectseku.com/ and his Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/Chairman-Seku-317487221794758/.
It take teamwork to make the dream.
Ready for the revolution.
- All power to the people.
Anti Homelessness
Stokely "Kwame Ture" because he was a trusted servant for the people.
Shattering the Myths by Dr. Paul Hamilton.
Listening is the most important characteristic of any candidate. Equity, justice and democracy requires it.
I am connected to the ground.
Support the people.
If more people get involved in poltics, change will be more universal.
At 17 years old. The National Guard came to the University of Denver because of an anti-war demonstration.
Retired accountant
Shattering the Mythes because there is so much truth.
Black Panther of Wakanda.
Jill Scott, the revolution will not be televised.
Balancing family and work is difficult and it is a regular struggle.
Reparations.
The US Senate supports the state finance decisions and national policy.
No, if they have a will to serve the people, that is enough.
Filibuster is a useful tool but alternatives should exhausted first.
Willingness to listen to the people should be the first criteria a candidate should possess.
Absolutely. We should work as one nation in solidarity and cause.
Commerce Science and education
Yes, speaker if the house.
Barbara Jordan was a coragous US Senator.
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.
Campaign website
Evans' campaign website stated the following:
| " |
Candidate Stephan “Chairman Seku” Evans advocates and supports:
|
” |
| —Stephan Evens' 2020 campaign website[6] | ||
2019
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Stephan Evans completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Evans' responses.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Anti Homelessness
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
Stokely "Kwame Ture" because he was a trusted servant for the people.
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
Shattering the Myths by Dr. Paul Hamilton.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Listening is the most important characteristic of any candidate. Equity, justice and democracy requires it.
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
I am connected to the ground.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
Support the people.
What legacy would you like to leave?
If more people get involved in poltics, change will be more universal.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
At 17 years old. The National Guard came to the University of Denver because of an anti-war demonstration.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
Retired accountant
What is your favorite book? Why?
Shattering the Mythes because there is so much truth.
If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?
Black Panther of Wakanda.
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
Jill Scott, the revolution will not be televised.
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
Balancing family and work is difficult and it is a regular struggle.
What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?
Reparations.
What qualities does the U.S. Senate possess that makes it unique as an institution?
The US Senate supports the state finance decisions and national policy.
Do you believe that it’s beneficial for senators to have previous experience in government or politics?
No, if they have a will to serve the people, that is enough.
What do you think of the filibuster?
Filibuster is a useful tool but alternatives should exhausted first.
What criteria would you apply when deciding whether to confirm presidential appointees?
Willingness to listen to the people should be the first criteria a candidate should possess.
Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other senators?
Absolutely. We should work as one nation in solidarity and cause.
If you are a current senator, why did you join your current committees?
Commerce Science and education
If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the U.S. Senate, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?
Yes, speaker if the house.
Is there a particular senator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?
Barbara Jordan was a coragous US Senator.
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.
Campaign website
Evans' campaign website stated the following:
| " |
Gentrification impacts Denver Metro making affordable housing for middle and low income folks a requirement.
Open Carry in Denver
|
” |
| —Chairman Seku"[7] | ||
2015
On his 2015 mayoral campaign website, Seku highlighted the following issues:[8]
Worker Cooperatives
- Excerpt: "As your next Mayor I will create quality, empowering jobs for community members throughout Denver. My administration will wave all permit and licensing fees for worker owned cooperatives. Worker-owned cooperatives are more likely than other businesses to employ sustainable business practices that do not harm the local environment since most workers are community residents and profits are more likely to remain and circulate throughout the community."
The Housing First Initiative
- Excerpt: "Instead of moving HomeLess people through different levels of housing, The Housing First Initiative will move homeless individuals and families immediately from the streets or homeless shelters into their own apartments. The homeless have a primary need for stable housing and all other issues that may be affecting the household(e.g. child-care, social services, medical care, etc...) can and should be addressed once housing is obtained...Choosing compassion over incarceration is not only the right thing to do, it makes common-sense to save the tax-payer's monies that can be used in a more effective manner; other than wasting it on creating unnecessary administrative overhead costs that tends to add-to-the social problem of HomeLessNess...This has been proven time and again, including a 2006 study in Denver, Colorado and a Seattle, Washington study that showed a savings of approximately $2,500 per month a person; in the area of additional health and social services costs..."
Allow Open Carry In Denver
- Excerpt: "I believe that having an armed citzenry reduces crime. Having grew up in the Five Points area of Denver I understand that criminals(politicians, business folk, and police) are less likely to commit crimes if they know the locals are armed."
Legal Policy
- Excerpt: "When people who have paid their debt's to society aren't allowed to participate in that society it creates a vicious cycle of high recidivism rates. As your next mayor I will ban the felony box on all applications throughout Denver so that those who may have made a mistake will not have to suffer indefinitely after they have paid their debt to society."
De-centralize Education
- Excerpt: "Community control and implementation of Denver Public School and Charter School community projects and educational programs financed by the City of Denver."
Economic Development
- Excerpt: "Implement the blending of all economic development projects designated for underserved area's throughout Denver."
Police Brutality
- Excerpt: "I support any money paid to victims of police brutality to be taken from the police departments budget so that taxpayers aren't on the hook for inappropriate officer behaviour."
See also
2020 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Democracy.com, "Biography," accessed April 21, 2015
- ↑ Information submitted on Ballotpedia’s candidate survey submission form on November 5, 2019
- ↑ City of Denver, "2015 Unofficial Election Results," accessed May 5, 2015
- ↑ City of Denver, "Municipal Candidate Information Packet," accessed December 4, 2014
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Stephan Evans' 2020 campaign website, “Chairman Seku Evans Candidate Campaign Platform,” accessed Nov. 2, 2020
- ↑ Committee to Elect Seku, "Home," accessed April 23, 2019
- ↑ Democracy.com, "Issues," accessed April 21, 2015
