Opinion: Trump's snub: Ignoring Aurora's GOP mayor and some council members

Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman bows his head before a City Council meeting.Photo byAurora 8/City of Aurora

AURORA, Colo. -- When former President Trump came to visit Aurora Friday, one might have thought the Republican-controlled City Council would welcome him with open arms. But that was not the case.

In fact, Trump did not acknowledge Republican Mayor Mike Coffman, a former member of Congress, in his remarks. Trump only gave nods to council members Danielle Jurinsky and Stephanie Hancock, making no mention of the other GOP representatives on the Aurora dais, such as Francoise Bergan, Angela Lawson, Curtis Gardner, Mayor Pro Tem Dustin Zvonek, and Steve Sundberg. Democratic council members Alison Coombs, Crystal Murillo and Ruben Medina also weren’t recognized. Jurinsky said only she and Hancock were invited, but Hancock could not make it in due to the long line.

Jurinsky spoke at the rally and gave a rousing speech, albeit with a hoarse voice. She described how police officers began telling her several months ago about Venezuelan gangs infiltrating the city and taking over apartment buildings. She said police asked for her help. Jurinsky, chair of the council's public safety committee, began to state their claims on social media. Other officials and police brass finally acknowledged the presence of the gang. Jurinsky, meawhile, started to help moving families out of the apartment complexes.

Coffman has longstanding feud with Trump

Coffman has had a longstanding feud with Trump, Jurinsky said. Coffman distanced himself from Trump in 2018 because he thought the billionaire would hurt his chances for re-election to his Congressional seat, Jurinsky said. Coffman did lose the Congressional election to Jason Crowe.

Coffman declined to discuss his relationship with Trump or whether the two even would speak while Trump was in town. Some Aurora residents have criticized the mayor for allegedly downplaying the Venezuelan gang problem. They also have taken shots at the news media. But others claim Jurinsky and Coffman advanced the narrative that gangs have taken over the city.

Trump detractors, Coffman supporters

Those painting Coffman in a favorable light are the same people who say they do not believe a word Trump says. This is not the Republican base that has traditionally supported Coffman. But kudos should be given to Coffman for not simply agreeing with Trump that Aurora had been “taken over” by Venezuelan gangs. Some mayors would have fallen in line with the claims their party’s presidential candidate made. Coffman had the courage to put the statements into proper context. Coffman has not denied the presence of the Tren de Aragua gang but stressed its presence is limited to “several” apartment buildings.

Despite a statement by Coffman, Jurinsky, and the Aurora Police Department that Trump’s claims had been exaggerated, the candidate repeated false claims about the city again Friday. He talked tough and said he would root undocumented immigrants out of Aurora. “They make our criminals look like nice people,” he said of the Venezuelan gang.

Aurora: Ever a ‘relatively crime free’ city?

He also referred to Aurora as a “once relatively crime free city.” Aurora has had problems with crime for many years, like all big cities. Some crimes in Aurora, such as vehicle thefts and shoplifting, are down, according to police. The GOP-led Aurora council has adopted a tough on crime approach. But Trump did not mention that Friday.

Instead, he told the crowd that “I could be in Monte Carlo” but came to put the spotlight on Aurora. On the other side of town from the tony Gaylord Rockies Resort, where Trump hosted his rally, council member Crystal Murillo spoke to residents of an apartment building allegedly affected by the gangs. She said Aurora is safe and described growing up there. She said her family never even locked their doors, and many people still don’t, although she said she does not advise that.

President Trump could have used his speech to highlight what Aurora has done to combat crime under Coffman’s leadership. Instead, the presidential hopeful “trumped up” problems as bigger than they are.