2023 Pueblo mayoral election
The 2023 Pueblo mayoral election is scheduled to be held on November 7, 2023, to elect the mayor of Pueblo, Colorado. Incumbent Democratic mayor Nick Gradisar is running for re-election to a second term in office. The deadline for submitting signatures to appear on the ballot was August 28.[1]
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A group collected signatures for a ballot initiative to eliminate the position of mayor and replace it with an unelected city manager. If it had passed, the 2023 mayoral election would have been canceled. Pueblo previously used the council-manager system for nearly a century before switching to a mayor-council system in 2017.[2] The group failed to collect enough signatures. It was discovered that Pueblo City Attorney Dan Kogovsek gave the initiative organizers incorrect information about how many signatures they would need to make the ballot, after which Kogovsek resigned at Gradisar's request. The initiative organizers have pledged to sue the city in order to get the initiative on the ballot.[3]
Candidates
Declared
The following nine candidates made the ballot:[1]
- Larry Atencio, city councilor (Party affiliation: Democratic)[4]
- Thomas Croshal (Party affiliation: Democratic)[1]
- Nick Gradisar, incumbent mayor (Party affiliation: Democratic)[5]
- Dennis Flores, city councilor (Party affiliation: Democratic)[6]
- Heather Graham, city council president (Party affiliation: Republican)[7]
- Regina Maestri, city councilor (Party affiliation: Republican)[8]
- Chris Nicoll, former city council president and candidate for mayor in 2018 (Party affiliation: Republican)[9]
- Randy Thurston, former city councilor and candidate for mayor in 2018 (Party affiliation: Republican)[10]
- Deryk Trujillo, graphic designer and YouTuber (Party affiliation: Independent)[11]
Failed to make ballot
- Thomas Martinez, retired steel worker (Party affiliation: Democratic)[1]
Withdrew
- Samuel Hernandez, food truck business owner (Party affiliation: Republican)[12]
Declined
- Mark Aliff, former city councilor[13]
- Jeff Chostner, district attorney for the 10th Judicial District[13]
- Steve Nawrocki, former city councilor and candidate for mayor in 2018[13]
- Garrison Ortiz, Pueblo County commissioner[13]
- Lori Winner, city councilor and candidate for mayor in 2018[13]
Endorsements
- Organizations
- Pueblo Firefighters Union[5]
References
- Winfrey, Anna Lynn (September 4, 2023). "Who's running in Pueblo elections in 2023? Here's who qualified for the ballot". The Pueblo Chieftain. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
- "Anti-mayor petition fails to collect enough signatures by Monday deadline". January 25, 2023.
- "Anti-mayor petitioners vow lawsuit, city attorney to retire after organizers misled on signature requirement".
- Winfrey, Anna Lynn (July 11, 2023). "Longtime city councilor officially launches bid for Pueblo mayor". The Pueblo Chieftain. Archived from the original on July 11, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
- "Pueblo Mayor Nick Gradisar formally announces reelection bid".
- Bartolo, James (March 30, 2023). "Pueblo City Councilman Dennis Flores announces candidacy for mayor". The Pueblo Chieftain. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
- "City council president Heather Graham announces bid for Pueblo mayor".
- Winfrey, Anna Lynn (August 7, 2023). "Another Pueblo city councilor joins the race for mayor". The Pueblo Chieftain. Archived from the original on August 8, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- "Former Pueblo City Council president launches 2023 bid for mayor".
- "Former city councilor Randy Thurston running for Pueblo mayor again".
- "Pueblo livestreamer announces candidacy for mayor while smoking blunt on YouTube show".
- Winfrey, Anna Lynn (July 13, 2023). "District 2 race shaping up after Pueblo mayoral candidate drops out to run for council". The Pueblo Chieftain. Archived from the original on July 13, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
- "Who is running for Pueblo mayor in 2023? Here's what we know". January 30, 2023.