Cheers erupted at Broadlands Golf Course where Broomfield Ward 4 Councilman Greg Stokes gathered with friends and supporters as the first round of ballot returns for his potential recall were reported. Nearly two-thirds of those were in favor of keeping Stokes in office.
Mayor Randy Ahrens read the first-round results — 1,509 voting to recall Stokes and 2,722 voting to keep him in office. By 9 p.m., the Broomfield Elections Division posted unofficial final counts of 1,583 votes to recall Stokes and 2,874 in support of him.
“I was not looking for this to be a victory or watch party so much as a thank you,” Stokes, who is also mayor pro tem, said.
In late February, a petition was approved and those seeking to recall Stokes began to collect the 1,150 signatures they needed to remove him from office — a number based on a percentage of votes Stokes received when he was elected.
The petition claimed that Stokes has either failed to disclose his interests in oil and gas, represent his ward’s interests and/or address citizens’ concerns.
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