Colorado Springs city councilwoman faces recall effort

The Colorado Springs City Clerk’s Office confirms that a recall effort has been launched against district 4 councilwoman Helen Collins.

The clerk’s office says that on Thursday the paperwork was filed, and that the people behind the effort were given petitions so that they can begin collecting signatures.

The clerk’s office says that if enough valid signatures are collected for the recall effort to go forward, Collins will have five days to resign. If she does not, an election will be scheduled.

The Colorado Springs Independent reported Friday that three people with ties to Harrison School District 2 are behind the effort. The newspaper identified those people as former board president Deborah Hendrix, who also ran against Collins for her seat on council, Board President Victor Torres and Coordinator of Student Services Woody Longmire.

The Independent report cited her opposition to stormwater funding, economic development projects, and her associations with conservative activist Douglas Bruce as some of the reasons behind the recall effort.

Her biography on the city web site says that Collins is a retired Navy cryptologist who received numerous medals. It says that she serves as chairman of House District 17 and the GOP county executive committee and that her political role model is Ronald Reagan.