Ballot Question Results

Arapahoe County Government will begin posting preliminary results shortly after 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 5. View preliminary results for Ballot Question 301 here.

To view all preliminary election results for Arapahoe County, visit www.arapahoevotes.com.

Ballot Language

Charter Amendment to Directly Elect the Mayor

In order to provide Englewood voters the opportunity to directly elect the mayoral position on City Council, shall there be an amendment to Englewood City Charter Sections 19 and 24 requiring the Mayor to be elected by the voters, beginning with the general municipal election in November 2025, thereby replacing the third at-large Council position expiring in 2025?

Yes/For or No/Against

Explanation

This ballot initiative proposes a change to the Englewood City Charter, allowing Englewood voters to directly elect the mayor beginning in the November 2025 municipal election. Currently, the mayor is selected from among the City Council members. If approved, this amendment would replace the third At-Large City Council position, which is set to expire in 2025, with an elected mayoral position. 

Pros

  • Increased Voter Representation: This amendment will give Englewood voters a stronger voice and the right to directly elect the mayor. Empowering the electorate aligns with democratic principles and ensures that residents have a direct say in who leads our city.
  • Alignment with Other Cities: A directly elected mayor in Englewood would align with 23 of the top 25 most populous cities in Colorado, of which 22 have the same council-manager form of government as Englewood. Currently, only Englewood and Grand Junction do not allow voters the right to elect their mayor. This change would align Englewood with the best practices followed by most major Colorado cities.
  • At-Large Representation for Mayor: The last four mayors (2012-present) have been elected by a single district before being selected as mayor by the council. This means that three-fourths of Englewood citizens did not have the opportunity to vote for that person. An At-Large position, voted on by all Englewood residents, would ensure the mayor represents the entire city.
  • Strengthened Accountability: A mayor elected by the citizens would have a stronger commitment and connection to the entire community, encouraging accountability and responsibility to serve all residents. This would reduce the influence of political alliances and divisions within the city council, promoting service to all constituents.

Cons

  • Confusion of Mayoral Power: In Englewood’s Council/City Manager form of government, the mayor serves a primarily ceremonial role and leads council meetings but is not an executive officer. Directly electing the mayor could blur the lines of authority, creating the false impression that the mayor holds more power than outlined in the city charter, which carefully balances the roles between the council and city manager.
  • No Majority Protection: The proposed measure does not ensure that the mayor will have broad support from voters. In a crowded race, the mayor could be elected with a relatively small percentage of the vote, potentially leaving a significant portion of voters unrepresented. This amendment does not provide a safeguard to ensure the mayor reflects the preferences of most Englewood voters.
  • Increased Polarization: Currently, the mayor is selected by council every two years. A public election could introduce more political dynamics into the process, reducing council’s ability to hold the mayor accountable for balanced leadership. A mayor elected without majority support risks distorting political representation in Englewood’s nonpartisan government.
  • Weakened Accountability: The current system allows council to select and, if necessary, replace the mayor. Shifting this responsibility to public elections every four years reduces accountability and introduces costly recall elections if leadership issues arise.