Boulder voters favor experience in City Council race
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Three Boulder City Council incumbents and a former member are poised to win four of five open City Council seats.
Why it matters: Despite budget concerns, voters appear to be sticking with experienced leaders while strengthening the progressive majority on City Council.
Driving the news: Three incumbents — Tina Marquis, Ryan Schuchard and Tara Winer — were among the top five candidates in Boulder's 13-person council race, according to the Boulder County Clerk and Recorder's Office as of 11pm Friday.
- Former council member Jill Adler Grano is in second place, positioning her for a return to the council.
- Newcomer Sam Fuqua leads sixth-place Jamillah Richmond by 2,387 votes.
- Fuqua would serve a two-year term in the seat vacated by Mark Wallach, who resigned in July.
State of play: Factoring in Mayor Aaron Brockett's reelection, Boulder voters largely supported established political leaders over challengers campaigning on promises of change.
- In addition to the three incumbents, Grano was elected in 2017 but resigned two years later to work for U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse.
- Even Fuqua brings extensive political experience: He previously led the Boulder Valley school board and served on several city and county boards and commissions.
Yes, but: The results don't necessarily amount to a vote of confidence in the council's performance.
- Voters rejected council's proposed $400 million bond for recreation and safety facility upgrades.
- In a statement conceding defeat on the measure, Boulder city manager Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde said council and staff "have some difficult short- and longer-term decisions to make."
Between the lines: Boulder Progressives emerged as a winner, having endorsed Brockett and four of the five leading council candidates.
- With Wallach's departure, seven of the nine total members will have received the group's endorsement.
Zoom out: While democratic socialists celebrated victories elsewhere in Colorado and beyond, Boulder's only two formally Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates — Richmond and mayoral challenger Taishya Adams — both fell short in the early results.
What's next: The new council will be sworn in Dec. 3.
- This City Council will be tasked with overseeing the arrival of Sundance and setting a new slate of priorities for city staff.