Petitioners start gathering signatures to get rid of the role of Mayor in Pueblo government
PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) -- After a month of working out the details of the petition language, volunteers in Pueblo are starting to gather signatures to get rid of the role of Mayor in their local government.
Petitioners only have 14 days to gather the necessary number of signatures to get the question on the ballot in May according to the city clerk.
In 2017, Pueblo voters chose to amend the city’s charter to switch from a City Manager style of government to one that includes a Mayor. The following year those same voters chose Nick Gradisar as Pueblo’s first Mayor in more than 60 years.
The petition, approved by the Pueblo City Clerk’s Office last week, would amend “the Charter of the City of Pueblo to change the form of government from a Mayor - City Council government to a City Council - City Manager government.”
To get the question on the ballot in May, petitioners must obtain 3,768 signatures by Jan 23.
“I think (volunteers) that came forward that really wanted to pursue a city manager form of government, again, have experienced a strong mayor for four years, and they don't like it. They don't like the power that it involves,” Pueblo Councilwoman Lori Winner told 13 Investigates.
Winner supported the effort to amend the style of government back in 2017. Now, however, she equates the current government system to that of a dictatorship and is backing the efforts to revert back to a city manager style of government.
“The Mayor’s office has control over all employees, the police department, the legal department,” Winner claimed. “They have control over the agenda. Which ordinances are paid attention to as far as which council member wants to bring what forward? It can be delayed and delayed because they're not directing staff to take care of it.”
Pueblo Mayor Nick Gradisar said the petitioners are misinformed about the checks and balances in this newly formed government.
“I do appoint the department directors but every one of those department directors has to be approved by city council. That's the same under the city manager system of government.” Gradisar pointed out. “What some of the city council members don’t like is they can fire a city manager, but they can’t fire me.”
Gradisar believes these petition efforts are an attack against himself and not the style of government. Winner and one of the petition representatives deny this to 13 Investigates.
“A mayor government has been good for the city of Pueblo, it’s been good to have somebody in charge. This government by committee that they want to return to in terms of the city council being able to fire the chief executive officer of the city, didn't serve us well for 60 years. There is no reason to suggest that it's going to serve us any better now.”
According to the Pueblo City Clerk's Office, there are a few deadlines to pay attention to for this new petition:
- Volunteers obtain the required number of signatures prior to Jan. 23. This would place the ballot question on the Spring May 2 ballot, costing Pueblo taxpayers approximately $100k.
- Volunteers obtained the required number of signatures after Jan 23, but prior to March 1. This would trigger a special election after May 2, likely in June or July, costing taxpayers from $200k-$300k.
- Volunteers don't get enough signatures by March 1, and must resubmit a petition. If they gather the required number of signatures, the ballot question would be on the November 2023 ballot. The question over whether or not to have a Mayor style of government would be on the same ballot as the race for Pueblo’s new Mayor.
If you are interested in volunteering or signing the petition email backtocitymanager@gmail.com.
