Mayor, ex-girlfriend in turmoil
Julie Poppen, Rocky Mountain News
Published November 6, 2007 at midnight
On the same day her ex-girlfriend took out a temporary restraining order against her, Edgewater's Mayor Ronalda Goodner attempted to stop the woman as she drove a school bus.
According to a police report obtained today by the Rocky Mountain News, Shawn Zillmann said that Goodner stopped her car, got in front of the school bus Zillmann was driving and began waving her arms on the afternoon of Oct. 26.
Zillmann, who described herself as Goodner's ex-girlfriend, said she didn't know what Goodner would do so she turned off the 6700 block of West 26nd Avenue.
Zillmann also told police she had received about 30 harassing phone calls at her Westminster home from Goodner in the past week.
Goodner was notified of the no-contact civil protection order at 12:50 p.m. but was not actually served with the order until 3:45 p.m. — 25 minutes after the school bus incident.
Goodner, 49, could not be reached for comment today. She faces two opponents in today's election — Bonnie McNulty and Douglas Holmes.
Zillmann, 42, had one second-grader on the Jefferson County Schools bus at the time.
Goodner, who is completing her first term in office, was not arrested because she had not yet been served with the restraining order.
Hilda Sanchez, 55, also sought the temporary restraining order against Goodner.
Both women declined comment today .
According to court records, a hearing is scheduled for Wednesday on whether the restraining order should be made permanent.
The Edgewater City Council voted unanimously to censure Goodner in August 2006 in response to her hiring a department head without consulting the personnel board as required by the Edgewater city charter.
The motion noted that her decision cost the city $10,000 in legal fees.
At the time, Goodner acknowledged her mistake and apologized to the council. However, she said she would not take responsibility for legal fees or any disruption to city services, noting that the "entire episode was handled poorly."
poppenj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5176
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