Former Pueblo County Commissioner fills vacant city council seat

Pueblo City Council picked a familiar face by choosing former Pueblo County Commissioner John Cordova to fill the vacant District 4 seat.

Cordova spent more than five years as a county commissioner. He’s replacing former council president Sandy Daff, who resigned Oct. 31 amidst allegations that she violated the Colorado Sunshine Law by discussing public city issues over email.

Council members Ed Brown, Steve Nawrocki, Ami Nawrocki and Dennis Flores voted in favor of Cordova. Council member Chris Nicoll voted for Roger Gomez, an investigator with the Tenth Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Councilwoman Eva Montoya was excused from the meeting for health reasons.

The other finalists included Ralph Kenneth O’Neal, a retired Army nurse, and David Webb, a real estate agent.

Cordova was not at Monday’s meeting. His appointment marks the first time since August that there are seven council members. Former council member Chris Kaufman resigned on Aug. 12 after allegations surfaced against him, Daff and Ami Nawrocki.

A recall election for Ami Nawrocki will be Jan. 27.

On Monday night, council also unanimously voted to extend the city’s moratorium on retail pot sales until the end of February. Last month, city voters rejected a 4.3 percent sales tax on pot sales.