Colorado Springs City Councilman resigns, plans to run for mayor

A Colorado Springs City Councilman who’s fought the council president over the City For Champions project resigned Monday.

Joel Miller made his announcement Monday afternoon before a council work session at City Hall.

“We cannot continue in this manner and effectively serve the citizens of this great city,” Miller said.

Miller’s decision comes as a surprise to the public and to some of his colleagues.

He will officially launch a campaign for mayor starting next January.

“As a person who calls this city home, I can’t stand by and watch what I believe will be a sequel to what’s occurred in the first four years of the strong mayor form of government,” Miller said.

The former councilman and council president Keith King are engaged in a public disagreement over how to handle the proposed City For Champions project.

Miller does not favor any public financing to help build a future stadium in Downtown Colorado Springs.

“Citizens who want to use hundreds of millions of dollars on a stadium should simply not vote for me,” Miller said.

King was very surprised by the decision and thanked Miller for his commitment to the city.

“He did his homework,” King said, “he came prepared, he represented his values very strongly and I wish him the best.”

Now, Miller vies to become the next mayor of Colorado Springs to work together with his former colleagues to represent the will of the people.

But Councilwoman Jan Martin believes her former colleague does not know how to lead nor cooperate with others.

“I have found Council Member Miller to be very divisive,” Martin said. “He just didn’t work with his peers very well. As a council member trying to help council move forward, I’m actually relieved.”

The council has 30 days to find a replacement who will succeed Miller until an election next April.