Meet Drew
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.
Now, I’m running to represent Ward 4 on Thornton City Council. My mission is simple: to serve you and help make Thornton a place where our families—and future generations—can thrive.
For the past 15 years, I’ve lived right here in Thornton, raising my family and working alongside neighbors to build a stronger, more connected community.
I believe in putting people over politics, and that local government works best when it’s accountable, transparent, and focused on real-world solutions. Thornton is growing fast—and with that growth comes both opportunity and challenge. We need steady, practical leadership to ensure our city remains safe, sustainable, and vibrant.
One of my top priorities is to expand our parks, trails, local attractions, and dining options—because when we invest in quality-of-life amenities, we support not just our economy, but also the health, happiness, and connectedness of the people who live here.
I’m proud to call Thornton home. With your support, I’ll bring energy, experience, and a service-first mindset to City Council—and I’ll work every day to put our residents first.
Drew’s Experience in Action
Leadership You Can Trust.
Service That Delivers.
Drew brings a unique combination of military leadership, civic engagement, and entrepreneurial drive to the table. His track record isn’t about titles—it’s about results. Explore the sections below to learn how his experience has prepared him to lead Thornton forward. He’s ready to bring a servant leadership mindset to Thornton City Council.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
