How will Pueblo’s new government work with a Mayor?

We are less than a day away from the swearing-in of Pueblo Mayor-elect Nick Gradisar. The city of Pueblo hasn’t had a Mayor in more than 60 years.

So, what exactly will be changing in how Pueblo’s government will function?

There will now be two branches: an Executive Branch or the Mayor’s Office, as well as the Legislative Branch or the City Council.

In 2017, Pueblo voters approved the role of Mayor, but by doing so, Sam Azad’s days as Pueblo’s City Manager were numbered.

Thursday was his very last day and as City Manager for the past six years, he implemented the City Council’s own policies.

“Now the roles are different because the mayor can initiate a lot of those policies,” said Azad while clearing out his office. “And council would then have to pass it in the form of an ordinance.”

Nick Gradisar’s Mayor’s Office can veto ordinances or policies passed by the council, which then can be overturned with a super majority vote of five. The mayor will also propose his own policies to the legislature on what he wants to see get done.

However, for Gradisar, the Mayor’s top priority is to lead all of city government.

“Make sure all of the organizations in the community knows what the common vision is and what part they play in making that decision succeed,” said Gradisar when asked about his view on how the Mayor should run the office.

In city council chambers on Monday, Pueblo’s Mayor-elect said he wouldn’t be present at every city council meeting. We asked him if that’s the right thing to do.

“I don’t think it’s necessary for the mayor to attend every meeting at the city council,” said Gradisar. “It is important that the mayor’s office is represented and should be represented at every meeting of city council.”

Azad says that in most big cities, the mayor rarely attends council meetings himself.

“That’s up to him if he wants to attend or not,” said Azad. “Our charter doesn’t force him to attend any of those meetings. From my point of view, the more they can communicate with each other both formal and informal the better off they will be.”

The first communications between the two branches of Pueblo’s government may have hit their first obstacle, and it’s over the budget. Gradisar told council Monday he was considering new positions for his offices. However, those jobs and salaries need to be approved by the city council first.