City Manager Drew Sanders and City Attorney Patrick Coleman will lead a public information session Thursday to walk residents through the four ballot questions on the ballot for the April 7 election.
They will outline each proposal and take questions from attendees. The city encourages residents to “Ask, Learn, Engage!” in its announcement.
The session is scheduled for noon to 1 p.m. at the Cortez Area Chamber of Commerce, 20 W. Main St.
“These are information only,” Sanders said. “We’re not telling people how to vote.”
If you go
What: Open house about the municipal election on April 7. Ballots will be mailed March 16.
When: Thursday, Feb. 26, noon to 1 p.m.
Where: Cortez Chamber of Commerce, 20 W. Main St., Cortez
Information: www.cortezco.gov/248/elections
The ballot questions are more technical, according to Sanders, and may require additional explanation for voters to feel comfortable and confident. The questions cover grammatical amendments to the City Charter, the required separation between term limits for City Council members, the designated meeting location for City Council, and City Council qualifications, duties and compensation.
“It’s a little more difficult than just voting for a person or persons,” Sanders said.
For those who are unable to attend, the city has scheduled additional ballot question information sessions for March 19 and March 26 at the Cortez Public Library, 202 N. Park St., from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Also on the ballot is the future of five City Council seats. The League of Women Voters of Montezuma County has invited the 11 candidates to participate in a City Council candidate forum in the Council Chambers at Cortez City Hall, 123 E. Roger Smith Ave., on March 11 from 6 to 8 p.m.
For the first hour and a half, candidates will answer questions submitted before the session. In the final 30 minutes, voters will have the opportunity to ask their own questions.
The city, which will conduct the election entirely by mail, will mail ballots to Cortez residents on March 16. To update registration or register to vote, residents can visit GoVoteColorado.gov or go to the Montezuma County Clerk and Recorder’s Office, 140 W. Main St. Voters can view a sample ballot, including the list of 11 candidates and the four ballot questions, on the elections page of the city website.
avanderveen@the-journal.com
