In mid-February Councilwoman Carla Madison held her campaign kick-off for her second term on council at The Bike Depot in Park Hill only to find she would have no competitors for her seat.
Following Madison’s death late Tuesday night from cancer, the seat is open to anyone who can mount a write-in campaign.
Ballots for the May 3 mail-in election for all elected officials in Denver including all 13 council seats have already been printed and Madison’s name will be the only voter’s choice for District 8 that represents downtown Denver, West Park Hill and Five Points.
Votes for Madison will not be counted, said Alton Dillard, spokesman for the Denver Elections Division of the City and County of Denver’s Clerk and Recorder’s Office.
People wishing to run for Madison’s seat must submit an affidavit to the Clerk and Recorder’s Office by April 18 that proves they are a registered voter in Denver, have been a city resident for two years and have lived in the district for at least a year.
Council members also must be at least 25 years old.
If no one submits an affidavit, a special election would be set after the City Council announces the vacancy.
If even one person submits an affidavit that proves they live in the district and gets one vote, they will be the district’s new council person.
If more sign up to become write-in candidates and no one gets 50 percent of the vote, then the top two vote-getters will battle in the run-off election on June 7.
City officials don’t know when the last time a council position was elected through a write-in campaign or if it has ever occurred.
Jeremy P. Meyer: 303-954-1367 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com
