Nine residents show interest in joining Durango City Council

Potential candidates have until Feb. 9 to enter race

Durango residents interested in running for City Council in April still have time to dive into the growing candidate pool.

Three of five seats are up for grabs during the April 6 election – one that has the potential to shift the majority on split votes. Already nine people have added their names to the list of potential candidates. Five have completed the first step: gathering 25 verifiable signatures of support.

If any other Durangoans feel like jumping into the fray, the signature gathering deadline is 3 p.m. Feb. 9.

“They still have time to come in and get a packet from the City Clerk’s Office, circulate their petition and get it back to us,” said Durango City Clerk Amy Phillips.

The top vote-getting candidates will serve a four-year term, which starts in late April.

Candidates must be 18 years old or older by election day, a registered elector and a resident of Durango for one year before April 6. The candidate can also be a resident of a territory recently annexed into Durango.

The three seats will open when councilors Dean Brookie, Chris Bettin and Melissa Youssef end their terms this spring. Brookie, who is term-limited, cannot be re-elected, and Bettin does not plan to seek re-election. Youssef plans to run for another term.

To appear on the April 6 ballot, candidates must submit a nomination petition, which must include 25 signatures from registered electors who live in the city of Durango. Nominating petitions can be obtained at the City Clerk’s Office, 949 East Second Ave.

Of nine potential candidates, staff members still need to receive and approve petitions for four people: Olivier Bosmans, Frank Lockwood, Jennifer Macho-Seekins and Victoria Mordan.

City staff members have vetted and approved petitions for Jessika Buell, Seth Furtney, Lisa McCorry, Harrison Wendt and Youssef.

Read the full article on the Durango Herald at: https://durangoherald.com/articles/362992-nine-residents-show-interest-in-joining-durango-city-council