Colorado Springs mayoral candidate Sallie Clark ‘considering a recount,’ asks city clerk how much it would cost Friday

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- A candidate in the race to be the next mayor of Colorado Springs is requesting information on the cost of a recount of mayoral ballots.

Friday afternoon, KRDO obtained a request for the estimated cost of a recount by candidate Sallie Clark to the City of Colorado Springs stating that she is "considering a recount of the election pursuant to state and city election law."

Below is the full letter:

Recount consideration on behalf of mayoral candidate Sallie Clark

Ms. Johnson,

As an official candidate for Mayor of Colorado Springs in the April 4th, 2023 election, I am
considering a recount of the election pursuant to state and city election law.

As an example, the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder recently conducted recounts for primary
countywide elected offices which records show an initial estimated cost of $5,760.72 per
candidate.

As this election turnout is much smaller than the 2022 Primary El Paso County CO election, it
would be assumed that it would be less than the final amount charged to the candidates since
this election only includes the citywide ballot for the office of mayor.

Please provide the estimated cost of a recount for the mayor’s race and the process to file for
the recount, including applicable dates.

- Sallie Clark

As it stands now, candidates Yemi Mobolade and Wayne Williams are the two headed to the runoff election next month.

But Clark said that she's not conceding the race, adding in a release Wednesday that "While I am disappointed in the results, I have always respected our democratic process and the thousands of citizens who voted in this important election."

Clark, a former city councilwoman and El Paso County commissioner, said that she's concerned about possible irregularities in processing ballots during Tuesday's election.

"There were some citizens who came forward, and said that they had heard that in terms of collection of the ballots, there might be some collection issues," she explained. "But I don't have any empirical data on that. The city operates under different protocols than the state or the county would. So, it's kind of hard to know what their processes are."

Clark received 1,500 fewer votes than second-place Williams, who's a current councilman, former commissioner and former secretary of state for Colorado.

Williams said that he's surprised Clark is considering a recount request.

"I've run a number of elections that have had recounts," he said. "I've supervised or served as Secretary of State when other recounts took place. We just saw several recounts last fall -- for example, in the 3rd Congressional District. But again, the results don't change by more than a few votes, typically. But a candidate has the legal right to do it."

Clark's request for information comes as the city clerk's office continues its effort to finalize Tuesday's results, and prepare for the May run-off election.

It's unclear whether the request might delay that election.

"Until you have the results established, you're not sending out ballots," he said. "And so, that could delay. I anticipate that the city clerk might begin the process of preparing the ballots based on the presumption that it will be upheld."

Mobolade released the following statement Friday:

"I applaud the professional, grassroots campaign Sallie has run that has highlighted the opportunities we have to help our neighborhoods thrive by addressing important issues like homelessness, public safety, and roads. My campaign has turned its attention to the runoff election and I am excited to continue a positive campaign that charts a course for our city to center the needs of our neighborhoods and families."

Clark said that it's possible, but not probable, that a recount would change the outcome of Tuesday's election.

No timetable was given for when Clark will receive information from the clerk's office and decide whether to pursue a recount.