Campaigns and Elected Officials

May 4, 2010 Vacancy Election

At a special meeting on March 5, 2010, Denver City Council declared a vacancy in the City Council District 1 seat and scheduled a vacancy election for May 4, 2010. This seat was vacated by Council Member Rick Garcia.

The election will be held via mail ballot. Ballots will be mailed to voters in District 1 in mid-April. The Elections Division will have two service centers for ballot drop-off and voter assistance for this election: one service center located in District 1 (location and dates to be determined), and the Denver Elections Division Offices at 200 W. 14th Avenue.

Potential candidates whose petitions are deemed sufficient were announced Friday, March 12. A lot drawing for ballot position took place Monday, March 15, 2010, at 6 p.m. at the Elections Division, 3888 E. Mexico Avenue.

Vacancy Election Candidates

Ten candidates submitted a sufficient number of petition signatures and will appear on the ballot to fill the Denver City Council District 1 vacancy. Ballot order was chosen by lot.

The candidates will appear on the ballot in the following order:

Georgia A. Sigala

Paula E. Sandoval

Susan Shepherd

K. Jerry Frangas

Chris Jeffrey

John Haney

Larry Ambrose

Jon Lehmann

Ken Padilla

Randle Swan

Information Packets Available

Two new information packets are now available for potential Denver municipal candidates.

2010 Municipal Candidate Information Packet - Explains how to gain ballot status in Denver through the petition process, describes requirements and contains necessary forms.
2010 Campaign Finance Information Packet - Explains Denver's campaign finance reporting requirements and and deadlines. Contains necessary forms.
2010 Vacancy Election Campaign Finance Calendar - Contains all campaign finance filing deadlines for the May 4, 2010 special election.

Electioneering Near Polling Places

Electioneering is not permitted within one hundred feet of any polling place. This includes handouts, yard signs, banners, buttons, tee shirts and any other item that names or promotes your cause. Any person in violation of this provision commits a misdemeanor.

Campaign workers should understand that polling places are hosted at a wide variety of public and private properties. Electioneering beyond the 100-foot mark at any given polling place is subject to the rules of the particular property owner. Property rights should be respected.

Term Limits for Municipal Officeholders

Section 8.2.6 of the Denver Revised Municipal Code limits Denver's elected officials (Mayor, Clerk and Recorder, Auditor, City Council Members at Large and City Council Members) to three consecutive four year terms in their respective offices. The Denver District Attorney is technically a state Judicial Officer. In 2007, Denver voters approved a ballot measure to make the District Attorney term limits consistent with those in Section 8.2.6.

All of Denver's elected officials are up for election every four years. There are no staggered terms. The next Municipal Election for Denver's elected officials will be May 3, 2011 unless there is a need for a Special Election in the interim.

For Campaigns and Elected Officials

This section includes information for candidates, campaigns, elected officials, and voter groups, including:

Need lists of voters who vote early? This is a free service, and can be found here.

Campaign Links

Vacancy Candidate Contacts

Vacancy Election Fact Sheet

2010 Precinct Caucuses

Information Packets

Campaign Finance Regulations

Campaign Workshop

Election and Demographic Maps

Archives and Records

Poll Watchers

Colorado Elected Officials

Yard Sign Information

Election Resources

Ballot Initiative Requirements

2010 Precinct Splits

Effective February 16, 2010, three Denver precincts have been split due to population growth, creating three new precincts. The three precincts that were split are 735, 737, and 743. New maps for these precincts:

Old 735 area now 735 and 748 (Map A and Map B)
Old 737 area now 737 and 749
Old 743 area now 743 and 750

Updated Campaign Finance Ordinance

In 2009, the Denver City Council passed an ordinance updating Elections and Campaign Finance provisions.

Candidates and committees are encouraged to familiarize themselves with these changes.

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