KRDO calls Pueblo mayoral race for Nick Gradisar

With the first vote totals in Pueblo’s mayoral race, Attorney Nick Gradisar is likely to win the race after earning a significant lead over former City Council President Steve Nawrocki.

Gradisar received 11,858 votes to Nawrocki’s 8,564 as of the unofficial vote total released at 7 p.m. There are still additional ballots being counted, but it’s statistically unlikely for Nawrocki to make up the more-than-3,000 vote difference.

This is Pueblo’s first mayoral election in more than half a century after Pueblo City Council voted to change the city’s form of government in 2017.

This is a developing story, check back for updates.

Earlier

Voters in Pueblo are making history Tuesday, choosing between Attorney Nick Gradisar and former City Council President Steve Nawrocki to see who will become the steel city’s first mayor in more than half a century.

Back in 2017, Pueblo City Council voted to change their form of government from a city manager to one with a mayor. Tuesday night, the votes will be cast.

The first results between the final two mayoral candidates are set to be released shortly after the polls close at 7 p.m.

Both Gradisar and Nawrocki were the top two vote-getters in the field of sixteen candidates back in November.

According to Pueblo County Clerk Gilbert Ortiz, considerably fewer voters turned in ballots for this special runoff election than for the general election back in November.

As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, around 20,000 voters turned in ballots, while around 48,000 eligible voters turned in ballots last week. Only one-third of eligible voters in Pueblo turned in ballots or voted early.

Tuesday’s snowy weather may have played a factor in that, as well as the fact that no federal or state elections were on the ballot to attract voters.

Nawrocki touts his long tenure on council, while his opponent Nick Gradisar, who received the most votes back in the November election, says he brings a new perspective to council.

“Experience, experience, experience,” said Nawrocki when KRDO sat down with him Sunday. “Eight years on city council representing as a council member, at large 5 different times, elected by my peers unanimously to be the leader and president of city council. That is important experience.”

“I’ve worked with him in the past I was able to get the city council to unanimously put on the ballot this change in our form of government in 2017,” said Gradisar when KRDO sat down with him right before election day. “I have good relationships with the city council and once this election is over. There is no doubt in my mind that the members of city council will want to work together with that mayor’s office to move Pueblo forward.”

Again polling stations and ballot drop off location close at 7 p.m. Tuesday. First results are expected shortly after.