City council work demands specific skills – understanding municipal budgets, infrastructure planning, land use, water rights and the legal frameworks that govern how cities operate. Good intentions matter, but preparation matters more. Ask every candidate: Have you read the city budget? Have you attended council meetings? Have you talked to city staff? And perhaps most importantly – can you work collaboratively with people who see things differently?
Voters are electing three four-year seats and two two-year seats. The top three vote-getters earn four-year terms; fourth place earns a two-year term.
Candidates appear in ballot order. Travis Shepherd, 51, service writer, management background. Kathleen Swope, 69, retired teacher, 40-plus years working with diverse stakeholders. Charles Borchini Jr., 46, process server, small business owner, Planning and Zoning Commission member. Michael Bischoff, also known as Gandolf, provided limited background information. Carly Wolf, 32, owns Doobie Sisters, serves on nonprofit boards, Leadership Montezuma graduate, second council run. Clarisa Osborn, 38, manages the 22nd Judicial District DA's Office, overseeing large budgets and grants. Randy Vialpando was unable to attend the League of Women Voters forum due to illness and did not respond to The Journal's questionnaire (Journal, March 11). James McGinley, 74, MBA from Syracuse, 27 years leading complex organizations. Bruce Burkett, 36, senior pastor, Lighthouse Baptist Church. Dennis Spruell, 68, the only incumbent – 30-year Cortez police veteran, former county sheriff, current mayor pro tem. Claire West, 32, business consultant managing regional government funding.
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On the ballot: Four charter amendments
The Cortez City Charter is the city's local constitution, first established in 1957. Four amendments are on your ballot.
Question 1 modernizes the charter with grammar corrections, updates city manager qualifications, and replaces gendered pronouns – nearly 70 years overdue. One provision removes the requirement that the city manager live within city limits. We understand housing challenges, but a city manager should be deeply invested in the community they serve. The Journal’s editorial board strongly encourage council to negotiate at minimum Montezuma County residency in any future contract. We recommend yes, with that reservation noted.
Question 2 would allow council to set its own compensation through ordinance rather than voter approval. Pay hasn't changed since 2011 and the job warrants more. But voters should make that call. We recommend no.
Question 3 allows emergency meeting locations and remote attendance, capped at six meetings per year. Contingency planning is wise – COVID and wildfires taught us that. But in-person connection between residents and their representatives is a defining aspect of rural communities. Remote attendance must remain a genuine last resort, cameras on. We recommend yes, cautiously.
Question 4 clarifies term limit language to align with home rule authority. Our concern: an appointed councilor completing a predecessor's term could be prevented from serving a full second term voters chose them for. Limiting a councilor to less than two full terms raises questions about whether this language can withstand legal scrutiny. We recommend no.
Ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7 – postmarks do not count. Vote for no more than five; voting for more disqualifies your ballot. For election information visit cortezco.gov/248/Elections or contact the Cortez City Clerk at 970-564-4008 or dwells@cortezco.gov. The Journal’s editorial board thanks departing council members Matthew Keefauver, Lydia DeHaven, Robert Dobry, and Mayor Rachel Medina. To every candidate: thank you. Win or lose, stay engaged – Cortez needs you.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this editorial incorrectly listed the Montezuma County clerk and contact information instead of the Cortez city clerk.
