A City Council committee Monday will consider whether Denver could have a special election early next year in which voters would decide how the city governs elections in the future.
Since Denver’s problem-plagued election last month, city officials have looked at scrapping the structure of the Denver Election Commission – currently made up of the appointed clerk and recorder and two elected, part-time commissioners.
Two proposals – one from Auditor Dennis Gallagher and one from Councilwoman Rosemary Rodriguez – would create an elected clerk and recorder much like most other counties in the state. A third proposal from Councilwoman Marcia Johnson would keep the clerk and recorder as a mayoral appointee, but move the election commission under a single, full-time official.
A special election would allow for a vote on a new structure and – if approved – candidates for a new position would be elected in the scheduled May municipal election.
Councilwoman Rosemary Rodriguez said three council members have agreed to examine what a special election would entail. If the idea became a reality, the election would have to be held before February because of city charter requirements.
The idea of changing the commission is difficult on city officials because of a timing problem: Any change requires a vote of Denver residents, but the election commission seats are up for election in May.
If the city puts a restructuring question on the May ballot, it would mean residents would be voting for election commissioners, as well as a referred question that would do away with the positions.
A special election early next year on the structure of the election commission could solve that conundrum, but it would create its own set of problems.
For one, it is unclear if the City Council would be willing to pay for an extra election, given that the election commission was $1.4 million over its $3 million budget for 2006.
And the election commission is currently in turmoil after systemic problems on Election Day.
Clerk and Recorder Wayne Vaden announced his resignation last month. Executive Director John Gaydeski resigned this week – although he has agreed to stay on through June after protests from commissioners. And the commission’s head of technology has been suspended.
Rodriguez will bring up the issue of a special election at the Administrative Management Transition Committee, she said.
Staff writer George Merritt can be reached at 303-954-1657 or gmerritt@denverpost.com.
