DREW MORRIS

THORNTON CITY COUNCIL

Bald man in gray blazer with green shirt smiling

servant leadership for thornton

My life has been defined by service to my country and my community. as a Marine Officer deployed around the world, as a volunteer locally on boards and commissions for Thornton, and as a small business owner, I’ve always felt the call to serve those around me. It’s who I am.

As your thornton City Councilor, I will bring my experience as a leader and small business owner to serve our community. you can expect communication, transparency, and accountability from me. I will work together with you to create a stronger and more vibrant Thornton through practical and common sense solutions.

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Group of people talking and socializing in a modern indoor setting with industrial decor. Individuals are wearing casual attire, including sweaters and jackets. The room has exposed ducts and concrete columns.
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A soldier in desert uniform with a rifle, standing next to a military vehicle in a desert setting.
Three people standing behind a promotional table under a tent, featuring a blue tablecloth with logos for Alianza de Negocios, BTAC, and City of Thornton Economic Development. The table has blue bins with giveaway items. An American flag is visible in the background.
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people over politics

“My guiding principles have always been ‘Service above Self’ and ‘People over Politics’.”
— Drew Morris
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Proven leadership

demonstrated service

entrepreneurial spirit

a record of service to country & community. Learn more below

  • I was in the first class (class of 2006) to enter the Naval Academy after the terrorist attacks on 9/11. I earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree and a commission in the US Marine Corps.

  • After graduating from the US Naval Academy, I served as a Marine Corps Officer, deploying multiple times around the world, leading Marines of all backgrounds and beliefs in various operations from southwest Asia and the horn of Africa to the Helmand River Valley in Afghanistan. I lived leadership daily and learned what it meant to put service above self and people over politics.

  • After finishing my time in the Marine Corps, my first volunteer role serving our community was as Thornton’s representative on the Adams County Open Space Advisory Board. During my 4 years representing Thornton on this board, I helped secure over $8.85M in grants directly benefitting Thornton residents and our environment. These grants paid for improving parks, repairing trails, conserving open space, and completing special projects at Thornton schools like Stargate Charter School and Westgate Community School.

  • For 6 years, I worked with Thornton City Council and the Economic Development team, advocating for business-friendly policies while also supporting the reinvestment of city funds into improving local businesses. During my time as a commissioner, I helped reinvest $1.39M of city funds into Thornton businesses. That reinvestment also spurred an additional $4.1M in private investment into our businesses.

  • In 2024, I worked with Thornton residents, Thornton businesses, the city’s Economic Development team, and the non-profit Better Block, to create a street fair on the commercial corridor in original Eastlake - a first for the neighborhood. Our purpose was to activate this unique area (in which I’ve lived for 8 years) through “place-making” and gather local Thornton residents in a fun and engaging way. We also wanted to receive feedback from Thornton residents about what they’d like to see in Eastlake. The event featured live music, performances, a new street design, and various food and retail vendors. The Eastlake Street Fair was a huge success, bringing in thousands of people from the surrounding neighborhoods. Not only did the event spur resident connections and economic activity for our local businesses but also reinvigorated dreams for the future of the Eastlake commercial corridor.

  • Since leaving the Marine Corps, I have lived an entrepreneurial journey, owning and operating real estate and hospitality-focused businesses in two states. As a small business owner, I know what it means to work through regulations, to hire employees, to serve clients, to solve problems, and even to struggle to make ends meet. Through these experiences, I’ve learned that having an “entrepreneurial spirit” is critical to success in any endeavor. Thinking creatively, overcoming obstacles, working collaboratively, embracing innovation, taking bold action … I’ll bring this same entrepreneurial spirit that I’ve honed throughout my life to Thornton City Council.

Collaboration
empowerment
action

I love our community and believe in the future of thornton. as a leader, I hold to the values of collaboration, empowerment, and action. i know that leading through these values is how we’ll move ideas from just thoughts to reality.

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A man and a woman smiling and posing together indoors. The man is wearing a tropical patterned shirt and shorts, while the woman is dressed in a black top and holding a red handbag.
A group of nine people sitting and posing on outdoor steps, smiling and expressing playful gestures. They are casually dressed, enjoying a sunny day with a clear sky in the background.

I am committed to actively listening to and engaging with my neighbors and embracing the diversity of backgrounds and opinions to work together to solve problems that people care about.

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A bald man with a beard sitting on a chair, wearing a gray blazer and jeans. He is holding a smartphone in his left hand and gesturing with his right hand, in an indoor setting with framed pictures on the wall behind him.
Three men in formal attire posing for a photo at an event. The man in the center is wearing a military dress uniform with medals, while the other two are in suits with one holding a drink.

I will Empower our residents and our city staff to create the city we all want to see. i also understand that things get done with hard work and taking action. you can trust that i won’t just “say” things - i’ll TAKE action for our community EVERY DAY.

- Drew Morris

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