District 2 City Council Candidate Savala Press Release and Candidate Question Form

Disabled Colorado Springs Firefighter Jake Savala has officially announced his candidacy for City Council District 2.

Jake has spent the entirety of his adult life serving others. In 2024, his life changed forever when a criminal behind the wheel of a 5,000-pound vehicle struck both him and his Service K9 HALO while they were walking home in D2.

Despite their life-altering injuries, Jake and HALO emerged from this tragedy and now spend their days advocating for disability rights across Colorado. They are working with federal and state legislators to ensure real-world issues are represented in public policies. His experiences have afforded him a unique perspective on public safety, accessibility, and the issues impacting Colorado Springs.

Jake’s commitment to service has prepared him to continue making the best choices for citizens. “I am the only candidate who has a real-deal city employee perspective, let alone a first responder who has witnessed firsthand the issues facing my fellow citizens,” said Savala.

“I have worked tirelessly to resolve those issues, but my work is far from over.”

Jake will ensure that all citizens of Colorado Springs have a voice, regardless of district. As Jake said, “It has been my honor to spend the last eight years serving in uniform, and now, I look forward to continuing my life of service to my city and nation at City Hall.” 

Candidate Questions:

1. What are you hoping to achieve as a city council member?

We are at the most crucial time in the history of Colorado Springs. There is distrust between the government and its people—the very people it is required to serve. I will bring public trust back to the government. For years, my fellow citizens trusted my peers and I as firemen to show up for them on their worst days. I will hold folks accountable, just as I was accountable to this city as a public servant; I know how important accountability to one’s citizens is.

2. Where do you sit on annexations? What situation would you approve an annexation of county land?

Annexations require “entire community” engagement, most importantly in the areas of our region where impacts will be felt the most. I demand and will oversee that accountability is maintained between all stakeholders in any annexation process. I will ensure that all applicable codes, charters, rules, regulations, laws, and ordinances are followed.

I would approve the annexation of county land only if appropriate, real-life data is taken into account after listening to citizens and unbiased stakeholders. This would also require all stakeholders to engage the community throughout the process, provide easy-to-understand impact studies, and implement reasonable changes to their plans based on community feedback, while following all applicable regulations.

3. What are your thoughts on CSU and the city’s current water 34,000 acre-foot shortfall?

I find it disingenuous to continue raising utility rates on the citizens and businesses of Colorado Springs. Are rate increases a “normal” part of life? Yes, but they must be done appropriately. I have seen far too many times what these improper increases have done to our citizens, especially those who are low-income and or on fixed incomes. Let’s consider how many businesses have closed since these increases began. I will direct CSU to be creative in finding ways to decrease our already elevated fire danger by burying electric lines, improving customer service, decreasing rates, and appropriately planning for the future.

The utility system in Colorado is in a dangerous predicament, so much so that it is consistently debated at the State Capitol. It comes as no surprise that our entire grid is overloaded. I will direct CSU to stop proclaiming we have the resources to do things we clearly cannot and to come up with actual solutions. Right now, expanding our utility service into areas currently unserved by City water is inappropriate and clueless thinking.

CSU orders us to water our landscaping only on specific days and then charges us more for electricity during peak hours, referring to this as “energy wise.” There is nothing wise about this. It is a clear sign that CSU cannot handle current demand, let alone future demand, until real changes are enacted.

4. What are your thoughts on development? When should it occur?

Development also requires “entire community” engagement. I will demand that accountability be maintained between all stakeholders in any development process. As with annexations, I will ensure that all applicable codes, charters, laws, and ordinances are followed.

Developers need to pay for the strain that new development causes on all sectors of the city: public safety, roads, utilities, schools, and libraries. I will bring forward policies that require developers to absorb these costs rather than having the city “bail them out.” It is not the government’s job to provide construction loans in the form of bonds, nor is it responsible stewardship of taxpayer money. Developers love our city and aren’t going to stop building here; under my leadership, they will pay their fair share.

Development should only occur when real-life data is considered and after listening to citizens. This requires stakeholders to provide easy-to-understand impact studies and implement reasonable changes brought forward by the community. Furthermore, development shall not take place in designated protected wildlife habitats or other environmentally sensitive areas.

5. What are your thoughts on the need for housing? Do you think there is a housing shortage in Colorado Springs?

I have served and know every area of this city. It is astonishing to see the disparities in housing and essential needs from district to district. We are not doing what our citizens desperately need, which is encouraging builders to create residences that are actually affordable for those who live here.

I do not believe there is a housing shortage; currently, over 1,000 brand-new homes sit for sale in three master-planned communities across Colorado Springs alone. There is a shortage of neighbors who have the financial means to afford these out-of-touch prices. More apartments are not the answer; encouraging builders to create residences within the financial grasp of the community is the answer.

6. What is your opinion on the city’s management of criminals, and what can the city do to mitigate the crime situation?

As a survivor of a violent crime myself, I found out exactly how lacking our management of crime is. For the first time in my life, I was on the opposite end of a 911 call. In fact, it took me three attempts to reach a 911 call taker on December 20, 2024. This incident resulted in the Colorado Springs Police Department and the District Attorney’s Office failing to do their respective jobs. We can and will do better. Sgt. Ronnie Taylor of CSPD had the audacity to publicly state, in response to the horrific attempted murder of a college student downtown last week, that “We’re a big city, so crimes like that unfortunately happen.” What a tone-deaf and disgraceful response to our community. 

I will hold our police department accountable—not just because they failed HALO and me, but because they have failed many of our neighbors. The reason CSPD has failed so many citizens starts with top-level management. For those officers who are doing their jobs, I will support them to the highest level; they deserve that support while working a challenging job. Active policing is the only way to mitigate crime, we need high quality officers with backing from actual leadership, not management. 

7. What are your thoughts on potholes? 

The City of Colorado Springs can do better. While taxpayers are paying increased taxes via the 2C ballot measure, our roads are seemingly getting worse. Instead of focusing on the roads, we see curbs and gutters getting makeovers. The priorities are backwards, and I will work to get them back on track. Being disabled myself, I recognize the importance of ADA-accessible sidewalks, and I have no issue with the city ensuring those needs are met.

However, there is confusion regarding priorities. I will direct the Mayor and Public Works to ensure we have accessible information with clear reasoning for road maintenance and construction priorities. Additionally, I am in favor of school zones around every single school in our city, regardless of cost. Our children deserve to be safe, and one life lost from our next generation is a price we will NOT accept. This is especially vital following the tragic death of Doherty High School student Giorgia Trocciola in 2023.

8. What would you do differently than Council Member Bailey, and why? 

I will listen to and serve my citizens as I have done for years. I will avoid making the mistakes Mr. Bailey made; my interests remain in doing what is best not only for my constituents in District 2, but for the populace as a whole. I will rebuild trust within District 2 in a way that no other candidate can nor will. I am here to never forget whom I have served and will continue to serve: my fellow citizens.

9. Why are you applying for this vacant city council member seat?

On December 20, 2024, my life of service was stolen from me by a criminal behind the wheel of a 5,000-pound vehicle. He heinously hit my service K9, Halo, and me as we were walking home in District 2. This individual left us for dead, but God saved us that day. Despite our life-altering injuries, Halo and I emerged from this tragedy and now spend our days advocating for disability rights across Colorado. We are working with federal and state legislators to ensure real-world issues are represented in public policy. My experiences have afforded me a unique perspective on public safety, accessibility, and the issues impacting Colorado Springs. Simply put, no other applicant’s experience in this appointment process comes close to what I have offered, and will continue to offer, my city. I am here to get my city and my district back on track while serving all who call Colorado Springs home in a new capacity.