Voters will not see proposed changes to the Denver Election Commission on the November ballot after the Denver City Council unanimously voted the measure down Monday.
The vote ended a weeks-long attempt to reform the commission that began when officials announced in June they had misplaced the personal records of thousands of voters.
At least two City Council members called for an overhaul, but an appointed task force – led by Councilwoman Marcia Johnson – recommended smaller changes.
Monday night, Johnson surprised council members by asking them to kill the proposal.
“I just don’t think we have a mandate that can carry this issue,” Johnson said.
The proposal, on its second and final reading, narrowly passed the council last week with a 7-6 vote.
Johnson said the “last straw” came Friday. One of the changes would have moved commission employees under the city’s Career Service Authority, but about half of the employees sent a letter Friday opposing that change.
Johnson said Monday she did not want to create something that would be “disruptive” to the commission and new executive director John Gaydeski.
Election Commissioner Sandy Adams and several council members praised Johnson’s objective work with the task force. Councilwoman Elbra Wedgeworth, however, said she was “disappointed” and “a little stunned” by Johnson’s decision.
Meanwhile Monday, the council approved a ballot measure that would overhaul the city’s financial structure by moving payroll and accounting functions under a chief financial officer.
The restructuring has been the source of intense negotiations between city officials and the city auditor’s office. But the two sides reached a compromise earlier this month.
Council members praised Mayor John Hickenlooper’s and City Auditor Dennis Gallagher’s offices for reaching an agreement.
The issue goes to voters on the Nov. 7 ballot.
Staff writer George Merritt can be reached at 303-954-1657 or gmerritt@denverpost.com.
