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John Ronquillo

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John Ronquillo
Image of John Ronquillo

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments
Last election

November 2, 2021

Education

Bachelor's

Arizona State University, 2004

Graduate

Arizona State University, 2006

Ph.D

The University of Georgia, 2011

Personal
Birthplace
Safford, Ariz.
Profession
Assistant professor
Contact

Campaign website

John Ronquillo ran for election for an at-large seat of the Aurora City Council in Colorado. He lost in the general election on November 2, 2021.

Ronquillo completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

John Ronquillo was born in Safford, Arizona. Ronquillo's professional experience includes working as an assistant professor at the University of Colorado Denver School of Public Affairs and director of aspects of leadership at the Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America.[1] His experience also includes working as an associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy. He is the founding director of their Institute for Public Leadership.[2] He earned a B.A. in journalism and mass communications from Arizona State University in 2004, a graduate degree from Arizona State University in 2006, and a Ph.D. in public administration and policy from the University of Georgia in 2011.[1][3]

Elections

2021

See also: City elections in Aurora, Colorado (2021)

General election

General election for Aurora City Council At-large (2 seats)

The following candidates ran in the general election for Aurora City Council At-large on November 2, 2021.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Dustin Zvonek
Dustin Zvonek (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
22.8
 
28,744
✔
Image of Danielle Jurinsky
Danielle Jurinsky (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
20.8
 
26,235
Image of John Ronquillo
John Ronquillo (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
18.8
 
23,716
Image of Candice Bailey
Candice Bailey (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
18.2
 
22,903
Image of Becky Hogan
Becky Hogan (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
12.2
 
15,336
Image of Hanna Bogale
Hanna Bogale (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
7.2
 
9,010

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 125,944
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Endorsements

To view Ronquillo's endorsements in the 2021 election, please click here.

2020

See also: Colorado House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for Colorado House of Representatives District 40

Naquetta Ricks defeated Richard Allen Bassett and Robert Harrison in the general election for Colorado House of Representatives District 40 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Naquetta Ricks
Naquetta Ricks (D) Candidate Connection
 
59.2
 
25,508
Image of Richard Allen Bassett
Richard Allen Bassett (R)
 
36.7
 
15,807
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Robert Harrison (L)
 
4.2
 
1,805

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 43,120
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 40

Naquetta Ricks defeated John Ronquillo in the Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 40 on June 30, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Naquetta Ricks
Naquetta Ricks Candidate Connection
 
51.5
 
7,203
Image of John Ronquillo
John Ronquillo Candidate Connection
 
48.5
 
6,793

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 13,996
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 40

Richard Allen Bassett advanced from the Republican primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 40 on June 30, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Richard Allen Bassett
Richard Allen Bassett
 
100.0
 
5,928

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 5,928
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for Colorado House of Representatives District 40

Robert Harrison advanced from the Libertarian convention for Colorado House of Representatives District 40 on April 13, 2020.

Candidate
✔
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Robert Harrison (L)

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

To view Ronquillo's endorsements in the 2020 election, please click here.

Campaign themes

2021

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

John Ronquillo completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Ronquillo's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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As a professor at the CU Denver School of Public Affairs for the past several years, I have educated hundreds of public servants throughout Colorado and beyond. I have focused my academic research on leadership, ethics, and decision-making. And between my lived experiences and training, I believe I can offer Aurora policy leadership and good, innovative governance as we continue to “grow up” as a city. Population-wise, Aurora is bigger than New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and Cleveland, and in many cases, our needs outpace our ability to respond to them. I’m ready to serve and to help our great city not merely catch up, but leapfrog to where we need to be. I’m doing this because Aurora deserves a council member who prioritizes ethical leadership, innovative public service, and data-driven decision-making. I’m doing this because I want people to feel safe and be proud to live and work in a city with tremendous potential for the future.
  • Economic opportunity and community wellbeing -- The growth and development in Aurora is exciting and a sign that our community can be prosperous in a number of ways. Businesses that are expanding and locating in Aurora will provide jobs that will keep people and their tax dollars in Aurora, helping to build resources for much needed infrastructural improvements. It shouldn’t be hard to do business in Aurora; we have an opportunity to be an economic anchor of the state, and I believe the city council should be champions of that vision.
  • Smart growth and innovating for Aurora’s future -- While we have the space to grow, we must also reinvest in Aurora’s original neighborhoods and active economic zones. Not only does this give Aurora more entertainment, recreational, and business offerings, but it will hopefully build a healthier physical and business infrastructure to build our own city up, rather than merely be known as a suburb to another city in the metro area.
  • Community-oriented governance and administrative reform -- A city as diverse and large as Aurora deserves to be served by a responsive, nimble, and innovative government. Our administrative structures at City Hall, however, don’t necessarily reflect that and I believe that numerous administrative support changes, electoral reforms, and technological advances could greatly improve the operations of the city, thus improving resident services and responses and improving the business environment in Aurora.
Employment and wage equity, criminal justice reform, mental health access, economic stability, and administrative reform to improve government services and access.
The At-Large seats on city council represent the entire city, and thus, the ability to take in multiple perspectives and viewpoints is something that can be of value in city governance.
To be a fair and ethical steward of the city, to be responsive to constituent needs, to be present and engaged to make the best possible decisions for the city and its residents.
One of ethics, leadership, and a commitment to serving working people.
The Challenger Disaster in 1986. I was five years old at the time and fascinated that people were about to travel into space. I remember sitting in my elementary school library with my classmates and the collective shock we experienced together. I have always remembered that moment and the subsequent gentleness my teachers and parents took in explaining what happened.
I was a file clerk for a summer in high school for the County Attorney's Office in my hometown. It was my first exposure to local government and the judicial system. I've been hooked on public service ever since.
Stoner by John Williams, a masterfully written heartbreaking novel that has reminded me of the worth of individuals and how important their own stories are.
Harmony Hall by Vampire Weekend
The ability to introduce proposed ordinances is something that falls mainly on the shoulders of councilmembers. These ordinances, once passed, become part of the city code. Anything that is related to the city charter must be approved by Aurora voters.
To some degree, yes. Whether you've served on city boards or commissions, or have organized a letter-writing drive or speak frequently at council meetings, having a basic knowledge of council can be helpful.
The ability to listen to constituents and be responsive, as well as the ability to analyze policy and co-govern with other members of council.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2020

Candidate Connection

John Ronquillo completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Ronquillo's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

I am the only son of a tool repairman, a union steward, and an Army National Guard veteran, and a late general laborer and secretary. That their only son went on to become a Ph.D. educated college professor, in many ways is nothing short of a miracle, but perhaps also a microcosm of the American Dream we've been offered for a couple of generations. I'm running because I believe this dream is imperiled by a housing crisis, crippling student debt, a regression in civil rights, and a broken health care system that doesn't work for all individuals, among many other issues. As a professor in the public affairs, management, and policy fields for nearly the last decade, I've made it my imperative to educate hundreds of current and future public servants in Colorado and beyond to the best of my ability.

As a professor at the University of Colorado Denver School of Public Affairs, I teach and research in the areas of public service ethics and leadership, public management, organizational behavior, and social entrepreneurship. I frequently engage with community stakeholders in consulting and advisory capacities on public policy and management matters, and I pride myself on my ability to confront policy issues through the use of data and evidence-based decision-making and doing so in a collaborative spirit.

I am very active in civic life and currently serve on the Boards of Directors for the Arapahoe County Foundation, Inc. and Servicios de La Raza.
  • I believe that the best governance takes place when those who are most affected by policies have seats at the table and have opportunities to guide how resources dedicated to tackling policy problems are used. I believe the best outcomes happen when legislation and policy is co-produced with constituents.
  • I know what it's like to be down on my luck and to be supported by a community and to succeed. I have perpetually navigated intersections while simultaneously being in the margins, and I believe that my personal background and insights enhance the combination of my work ethic, grit, and perseverance that make me the right person for this job. I have the ability to represent this highly diverse district well at the Capitol.
  • I believe that the most effective representation happens when your representative is empathetic and hears you, when your representative is engaging and co-governs with you, and is empowering in helping constituent voices be heard and equips people with the right tools and information to be effective advocates.
I personally feel that to ensure Colorado is working for the residents of House District 40 we must advance Initiative #271 to the ballot to reduce the tax burden on households that earn less than $250,000 a year and to inject a projected $1 billion into our public schools. The devastating effects of COVID-19 will certainly last into the next fiscal year, and we will need to be prepared to deliver a workable budget while minimizing harm to critical areas. Beyond this, I want to be a strong advocate for ensuring an equitable and living wage for all, providing access to affordable health care, making housing affordable and secure, reforming our criminal justice system, protecting our environment, and addressing our transit and transportation needs.
I know what it's like to live at the poverty level and receive government assistance, and I know what it's like to be supported in ways that have enabled success. That paired with a PhD in public administration and policy equips me with not only the tools to be empathetic in my decision making, but also tactile training in policy.
Being accessible to constituents, listening to them, involving them in feedback on proposed legislation, and being appropriately responsive to them.
One of ethics, leadership, and a commitment to serving working people.
The Challenger Disaster in 1986. I was five years old at the time and fascinated that people were about to travel into space. I remember sitting in my elementary school library with my classmates and the collective shock we experienced together. I have always remembered that moment and the subsequent gentleness my teachers and parents took in explaining what happened.
I was a file clerk for a summer in high school for the County Attorney's Office in my hometown. It was my first exposure to local government and the judicial system. I've been hooked on public service ever since.
Stoner by John Williams, a masterfully written heartbreaking novel that has reminded me of the worth of individuals and how important their own stories are.
The most important issue in the immediate future is ensuring the state stays fiscally sound following a $3.3 billion state budget shortfall this year, and I believe to address that we must dismantle TABOR and repeal the Gallagher Amendment. I'm aware that there are efforts afoot to do that, and I am a strong proponent of Initiative #271 to help Coloradans earning less than $250k a year see some tax relief, to see more money to go toward our public schools and educators, and to address the current imbalance of our tax code. I also support a ballot measure to repeal Gallagher because the very serious negative externalities of the COVID-19 pandemic have dramatically underlined the need for Colorado to have a rainy day fund and to build better mechanisms for funding our public infrastructures. If either of these initiatives fails, we must persist in finding creative ways to secure Colorado's fiscal future.
Absolutely. While each legislator should first consider the needs of the district they represent, the work of the General Assembly affects all people in the state. Building relationships is useful to create a good working environment and to move the needs of the state forward. Above all, civility and professionalism should prevail among all interactions between legislators.
I would personally be interested in Education, Transportation and Local Government, and Health and Insurance.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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External links

Candidate

Aurora City Council At-large
  • Website
    		•

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on June 6, 2020
    2. ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia by the Candidate on September 29, 2025
    3. ↑ John Ronquillo Colorado House District 40, “Meet John,” accessed June 12, 2020
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