Young people in Colorado Springs host picnic to show they’re here

Dozens of people gathered outside city hall for a picnic Thursday, to show there are young people in Colorado Springs.

“People have an appetite for more than just a picnic,” organizer Angela Seals said. “They have an appetite to have a conversation about representation.”

The “Under-60 Picnic to Show That There are People Here Under 60,” was organized after Tuesday’s municipal election. Many noticed that an older crowd of candidates was elected into office. The two new city council members, Tom Strand and Bill Murray, are in their 60’s. All but one of the current members are at least 50.

“One quote I heard was that wisdom and experience beat out in the city council race, and I really thought that undervalued the wisdom and experience that was represented by all of the candidates,” Seals said.

“We had a great swath of candidates from a range of ages and backgrounds, and then you look at who was elected, and we don’t have that same representation right now,” picnic attendee Jake Eichengreen said.

Murray, Strand, other city council members and mayoral runoff candidate Mary Lou Makepeace were also at the picnic.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for us to come out and talk to the folks who are younger than ourselves,” Murray said.

“I think you need to have a community that is diverse, and they need to be represented properly,” Strand said. “I think this group can do that, but maybe in the next election we can find some candidates that meet some of these other needs and have different life experiences.”

During the picnic, attendees of all ages mingled and talked about the issues that matter to them. Seals said despite age, many share the same concerns about the city.

“We all have life experience that we bring and that diversity makes our city stronger,” she said.