Cortez residents are voting April 7 to fill five City Council seats and decide four ballot questions that would amend the city charter. Cortez is a home rule city, giving residents significant autonomy in self-governance. The charter is our local constitution – it outlines the city’s government structure and powers, so proposed changes deserve careful consideration.
Karen Sheek
The city website has excellent resources, including the full charter text with proposed changes marked. Election information is available at cortezco.gov/248/Elections.
The Montezuma County League of Women Voters analyzed each ballot question as part of its nonpartisan mission to empower voters. The following pros and cons are offered for comparison only – the League takes no position on any April ballot question.
Primarily covers housekeeping issues that do not change how the city is currently governed.Replaces “he” with gender-neutral pronouns, more accurately reflecting that city government is no longer exclusively male.Removes the requirement that the city manager must reside within city limits due to limited housing availability, while allowing the council to specify residency requirements in the manager’s contract.
Cons:
Some may view gender-neutral pronoun changes as politically motivated.Removing the residency requirement could open the door to future managers choosing not to live in or engage with the community.
Ballot Question 2 – City Council Qualifications/Who Sets Council Compensation
Pros:
Allowing the council to set the next council’s compensation through the ordinance process is more efficient and timely than an election.Citizens retain two opportunities to provide input during the ordinance process.Compensation increases would not take effect until the following election.
Cons:
Voter approval of compensation increases accountability and transparency.Removing the voter check creates potential for conflicts of interest and may reduce public confidence.Compensation increases can already be placed on the April ballot, with increases effective upon swearing in of the new council.
A contingency plan for emergency meeting locations ensures continuity of government and legal decision-making during a crisis.Technology makes remote attendance practical and reliable.Remote attendance demonstrates dedication when a council member cannot appear in person.Remote attendance is capped at six meetings per year per council member.
Cons:
Citizens value seeing their representatives in person.Council members may be less attentive when attending remotely.
Ballot Question 4 – Alternative Term Limits
Pros:
Clarifying language around election timing and term lengths makes the charter easier to understand.
Cons:
Voters should retain the right to decide who receives four-year terms.New language preventing an appointed council member from serving two full four-year terms could override the will of the voters.
Voting Information
The city of Cortez is hosting a ballot question information session Thursday, March 26, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Cortez Public Library, 202 North Park St.Ballots were mailed March 16. If you haven’t received yours, contact the City Clerk’s office at 564-4008 or email [email protected] is no in-person voting this election and ballots must be received by 7 p.m. April 7 – postmarks do not count.24-hour drop boxes are available on the west side of and inside City Hall, which is available to voters during regular business hours (Monday to Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to noon). Vote for no more than five council candidates – voting for more will disqualify your ballot.Register or check your registration at GoVoteColorado.gov.
Karen Sheek of Cortez chairs the Montezuma County League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan organization, and is a former Cortez mayor and city councilor. Contact [email protected] or find the League on Facebook at https://tinyurl.com/bdcjr8pn.
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