Large pool of candidates in Colorado Springs mayoral race could result in May run-off election

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- With the city's municipal election a month away, there's already talk that a second election will be necessary to whittle down the field of a dozen candidates.

KRDO has learned that the city clerk's office is already preparing for the possibility of a May 16 run-off election to determine the city's next mayor; current Mayor John Suthers is stepping down after serving the maximum of two consecutive terms.

Officials said that a candidate can win the April 4 election by receiving one vote more than 50% of the total; if that doesn't happen, the two candidates with the most votes advance to the run-off.

City Clerk Sarah Johnson said that if a mayoral run-off happens, it will be the third in four elections since voters approved switching to the "strong mayor" form of government in 2010.

"With 12 candidates splitting the vote, I think it's pretty definitive that we'll have a run-off election," she said. "It'll be a challenge for us because we'd have 38 days between elections."

Johnson said that ballots for the April mail-in election should arrive soon and be sent to voters a week from Friday; in the event of a run-off, ballots will be distributed April 20 or 21.

The clerk also cautions voters against skipping the April 4 election in favor of the run-off election.

"You hear a lot of people say, Well I don't want to pick between 12 candidates. I just want you to narrow it down to two, and I'm just going to vote in the run-off," she explained. "But the downside of that is, you know what? You don't get to vote on Council -- because Council is only on that ballot -- and there is a question, the TOPS tax renewal is on the April 4 ballot. So it's really important that you vote April 4."

For that election, voters will fill three at-large (Council) vacancies and a member to finish the unexpired term formerly held by Richard Skorman and Stephannie Fortune.

For more information, visit: https://coloradosprings.gov/city-elections.