Meet two candidates running against Pueblo councilwoman in recall election
Voters looking to recall Pueblo City Councilwoman Ami Nawrocki will have to choose between two candidates who differ on how to spend money from the city’s half-cent sales tax.
Former councilman and realtor Bob Schilling and Colorado Department of Transportation employee Eric Medina disagree on whether half-cent tax funds should be loaned to the Pueblo Urban Renewal Authority to expand the Pueblo Convention Center.
“I’m for it. It saves us a lot of money over time, too. Just the interest rate cost — the initial start-up when you get the loan,” Schilling said.
“The people in my district that I have spoken to do not want that,” Medina said. “They are just totally against that and so I’d like to speak up about that and how it’s supposed to be primary jobs.”
Last month, city council approved an ordinance that allows half-cent sales tax funds for economic development to also be spent on tourism jobs.
Medina, a political newcomer, said running for office for the first time will be a strength.
“I think Pueblo wants a change. I think people are tired of the same revolving door of people coming in, people coming back out. And nobody has new, fresh ideas,” Medina said.
Meanwhile, Schilling, a former two-term city council member, said his previous experience will serve him well.
“My learning curve is negligible. I already understand the budget. I understand the process. I understand where money comes from,” Schilling said.
If elected, Medina said one of his top priorities will be to rebuild trust in officers following events in Ferguson. Medina has over a decade of law enforcement experience, including nine years as a deputy with the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office.
“I think police get a very bad rap,” Medina said. “There are a small percentage of law enforcement that are not good for the job.”
Schilling said his main concern is finding ways to generate more sales tax revenue for the city.
“Without sales tax, we die,” he said.
Both agree it’s time to move forward from the controversy that’s rocked city hall for several months — a controversy that led former council members Chris Kaufman and Sandy Daff to resign amidst allegations that they violated the Colorado Sunshine Law when they exchanged emails about city issues and didn’t tell the public.
The estimated cost of the election has gone up. City Clerk Gina Dutcher projects it’ll cost $35,000 to $50,000, up from the initial estimate of $35,000. Dutcher said the city didn’t anticipate as much as it’s had to pay in legal fees because even though it’s a city election, the county is running the election.
Next Wednesday, 14,300 registered voters will be mailed ballots. District 1 residents can also vote in person beginning Jan. 19 at the county election division at 720 N. Main, Suite 200. The election is Jan. 27.
Please see “related content” to hear what Nawrocki said exclusively to KRDO NewsChannel 13 about the recall during a November 2014 interview.
