Citizens Project

Candidates and Issue Advocates Share Positions at October 20 Election Forum

19th October, 2011

Nearly 100 community members came out on October 18 to Stargazers Theater to hear from school board hopefuls and issue advocates for the November general election.

The event, which was presented by Citizens Project, the Colorado Springs Independent, the Pikes Peak Equality Coalition, and Inside/Out Youth Services, was moderated by Joe Cole from Fox21 and featured media panelists Andrea Chalfin of KRCC and Ralph Routon of the Independent. Attendees heard from city-wide school board candidates, and Colorado Springs School District 11 Board hopefuls were out in full force. The audience also asked questions of Bob Lally, who presented on the Memorial Health System question, and Victor Mitchell and Mark Neuman-Lee, who discussed statewide ballot measure Proposition 103.

The forum format included traditional Q&A from media and audience members, and also encouraged candidates and advocates to think outside the box by handing them props and asking them to explain how they related to their campaign.

Citizens Project offers special thanks to the volunteers who made the event possible: Mel, Victoria, Kelly, Mark and Rob.

We thank our co-sponsors: 9to5, National Association of Working Women, ACLU, Artemis Women, Center for Nonprofit Excellence, Freethinkers of Colorado Springs, League of Women Voters – Pikes Peak Region, NAACP Colorado Springs Branch, One Colorado, and Women’s Resource Agency

Election Season Rolls On…

20th April, 2011

In 2010, Colorado Springs voters made history by approving a ballot measure that creates a “strong mayor.” Seven candidates campaigned for your vote in the April 5, 2011 municipal election. As the results were announced, it became obvious that Colorado Springs was headed for a runoff election.

The City Charter requires a runoff election for the top two vote-getters in the event no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote. These candidates are Richard Skorman and Steve Bach, who received 35.85% and 33.41%, respectively.

Steve Bach

Richard Skorman

Thus the battle begins. So far, the candidates have squared off at one debate, and there are more in the works before the May 17 election deadline.

So what will make the difference in the runoff election? YOU!

VOTE!

Voters who received a mail ballot for the April 5 election will also receive a mail ballot for the May 17 runoff. If you did not vote in the November 2010 election and have not updated your registration status with the City Clerk’s office, you are considered inactive and will not receive a mail ballot for the runoff election, unless you follow these simple steps:  

• Voters with no recent changes of name or address can go to the City Clerk’s Office, 30 S. Nevada Avenue, Suite 101, with identification, to request a mail ballot. An inactive voter ballot request document is also available for download at the City of Colorado Springs website. You may mail  or hand-deliver this request  at least a week prior to the election (if you’re mailing it, please allow adequate time for processing and mailing).
• Voters who have a name or address change must first get an updated Voter Registration form from one of the three El Paso County Election Offices. The downtown office is Centennial Hall, 200 S Cascade Avenue, open M-F 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. You may then go to the City Clerk’s Office to request a mail ballot.

More information on the election process can be found on the City of Colorado Springs website.

YOUR OPTIONS:

If you haven’t yet decided who you will support for Colorado Springs Strong Mayor, here’s all the information you could want, and more:

Candidate websites:

http://www.stevebachmayor.com/

http://skorman4mayor.com/

Voter Guides (some include content for other candidates):

Citizens Project’s Freedom Watch Voter Guide

Colorado Springs Independent Voter Guide (includes endorsements)

Downtown Partnership Candidate Survey

The Gazette Voter Guide and Endorsements

Greater CS Chamber of Commerce Endorsements

Focus on the Family Candidate Survey

KRCC Voter Guide

Election Roundup

7th April, 2011

Congratulations, Colorado Springs, on standing up and making your voice heard in the April 5 Municipal Election: more than 91,000  individuals cast their vote before or on election day for an impressive 62.5% turnout. Whether your favorite candidate won or lost, turnout of this magnitude is a definite victory for Colorado Springs!

Despite an overnight vote-counting hiatus, unofficial results are now available at the City Clerk’s website, and we have the skinny right here.

Citizens Project congratulates all the candidates on successful campaigns! Your newly elected City Council members include (in descending order of votes, then by district):
Jan Martin
Merv Bennett
Val Snider
Brandy Williams
Tim Leigh

Angela Dougan – District 2
Lisa Czelatdko – District 3

Ballot issues 1A and 1B also passed, creating new districts in 2013 and allowing the strong mayor to attend Council meetings.

However, one seat is still up for grabs. Who will be Colorado Springs’ first Strong Mayor in over 80 years? Regulations require a runoff election between the top two candidates in the event neither candidate secures more than 50% of the vote. That means that Colorado Springs will get to choose between candidates Steve Bach and Richard Skorman in another all-mail election on May 17, 2011.

So what’s next? Citizens Project is working on a supplemental voter guide for the runoff election, and we will hold an election forum for the two candidates on April 26, 2011. Details are below.

Decision 2011: Strong Mayor Debate

Presented by Citizens Project, the Colorado Springs Independent, and KRDO
Tuesday, April 26
6:30-8:00pm
Stargazers Theatre, 10 Parkside Dr, 80910
Free and open to the public, simulcast on krdo.com

Didn’t vote in the municipal election? You can still vote in the runoff! Don’t miss this opportunity to make your voice heard!

Citizens Project Election Forum Recap

24th March, 2011

Citizens Project, along with the Colorado Springs Independent and KRDO, hosted two election forums this week for Colorado Springs Mayoral and City Council candidates. More than 250 community members attended these free events to meet and learn about the candidates before casting their ballots. If you missed the forums, it’s not too late to get the scoop!

• Check out KRCC’s Voting Guide, including audio of the debates
• Read John Hazlehurst’s recap of the Mayoral debate
• Watch a video about ”Reform Team’s” boycott of the City Council debate
• Check out Citizens Project’s Voter Guide

Citizens Project thanks our community sponsors and media panel: 9to5, National Association of Working Women – Colorado Chapter; Artemis Women; Colorado Springs Branch NAACP; Colorado Springs Independent; KRCC; League of Women Voters – Pikes Peak Region; Pikes Peak Equality Coalition; Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains; the Pride Center; The Gazette; and the Women’s Resource Agency

Citizens Project on Comcast Spotlight!

1st March, 2011

Citizens Project will be featured on Comcast Newsmakers in the month of March. Check out the video below to hear executive director Kristy Milligan talk about elections, diversity, and community!

Citizens Project’s 2010 Voter Guide Now Available!

14th October, 2010

Citizens Project believes that your vote is your voice!

We invite you to check out our hot-off-the-presses Voter Guide to learn about the candidates and issues on the 2010 ballot. Get educated, and make your voice heard!

Upcoming Election Education Forums

16th September, 2010

Citizens Project, in conjunction with the Colorado Springs Independent, is proud to host two upcoming Election Education Forums to engage and inform community members on upcoming November election ballot measures on Wednesday, October 6 and Tuesday October 19, from 5 – 7 pm at Stargazers Theatre and Event Center. We are also delighted to invite you to join us on September 20 at an El Paso County Clerk and Recorder debate sponsored by the Constitutionalist Today and the Colorado Springs Independent.

Clerk and Recorder Debate
September 20, 6pm to 7pm
Colorado Springs Christian School Auditorium
4845 Mallow Rd, 80907
Free admission

Decision 2010: Election Education Forum
Wednesday October 6, 2010, 5 – 7pm
Stargazers Theatre

Featuring County Commission District 5 Candidates Peggy Littleton and Mike Merrifield, El Paso County Clerk and Recorder Candidates Tom Mowle and Wayne Williams, Fiscal Measures 60, 61, and 101, and the El Paso County Medical Marijuana issue.

Decision 2010: Election Education Forum
Tuesday October 19, 2010, 5 – 7pm
Stargazers Theatre

Featuring State Legislature Candidates Pete Lee and Karen Cullen, Ballot Measure 62, and the Colorado Springs strong mayor proposal.

We at Citizens Project hope that you’ll join us in educating the community about important issues and our local candidates before casting your vote on November 2!

Additional support for the Citizens Project/Colorado Springs Independent Election Education Forums provided by:

Citizens Project thanks our media panel: the Colorado Springs Business Journal, the Colorado Springs Independent, The Gazette, and KRCC.

Ready, set, vote!!

8th October, 2009

That’s right!  Citizens Project staff and volunteers have been working day and night to bring you all the election information you could possibly want!

Start by reading our newest Freedom Watch Online, and don’t forget to check out our Voter Guide for the City of Colorado Springs and School Districts 11, 20 and 49, our candidate survey for School District 2, and our election information page!

Still have questions? Let us know!

Fall 2009 Election Info Page

1st October, 2009

Citizens Project’s

2009 Election Info Page

gives you everything including the kitchen sink about this election in the Pikes Peak region: ballot measures, sample ballot, school board candidates, news articles, election forums, and more.