On Tuesday, Nov. 2, Election Day, Manitou Springs was watching two races and one ballot issue.
The two contested races were for mayor, pitting incumbent John Graham against longtime resident Alan Delwiche and write-in candidate Tyler Graefe, and the Ward 3 City Council seat, with former Councilor Bob Todd facing political newcomer Michelle Whetherhult.
Graham will start his second term as mayor in early January. He defeated Delwiche 832 votes to 437, according to the unofficial results on the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder’s Office website. That’s a split of 65.56 percent to 34.44 percent as of Wednesday, Nov. 3.
As a write-in candidate, Graefe’s votes were not among the posted results.
After the preliminary results were announced at the end of Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Graham and Delwiche went to a local watering hole to talk about Manitou’s future.
“We both felt upbeat and energized. In particular, Alan spoke to our opportunity to show the rest of El Paso County how a community can work effectively for the common good,” Graham said Wednesday, Nov. 3.
“His extensive insight into planning issues will continue to be immensely important to all of us.”
Delwiche has chaired Manitou’s Planning Commission for many years, and has been active on other boards and committees for the past 25 years.
“I believe we share a passion for Manitou and both want to preserve and protect what we love about our community,” Delwiche said about his Tuesday evening talk with Graham.
“I am happy to have had the opportunity to participate in our local democracy. One of the amazing things about Manitou is that we can have a civil debate over policy and politics and then, after the votes are counted, we come together and work together to help move our community forward.”
“I look forward to continuing to support John and the rest of City Council, and do all I can to help them be successful.”
In the Ward 3 race, Whetherhult defeated Todd 238 to 151 votes; the percentages are 61.18 and 38.82.
“I want to thank everyone for their support. I am looking forward to representing Ward 3 and meeting with each resident and business owner,” Whetherhult said Nov. 3.
“I am excited about creating a cohesive balance within the community. Please know that I am available to anyone, regardless of which ward they live in.”
Whetherhult replaces Steve Bremner, who didn’t run again. She will take the seat in early January.
“Overall, I believe Manitou citizens voted wisely — assuming the Ward 3 results hold,” Todd said, also on Nov. 3. “I do like that we are drawing in a more diverse and younger generation to City Council, which better reflects our demographics.
“This is a great environment for Michelle’s introduction to policy making, I wish her every success and will support her as she chooses.”
The two other council races were for Ward 1, with Natalie Johnson running unopposed, and Ward 2, with Mayor Pro Tem Nancy Fortuin also running unopposed. Johnson stepped up to fill the seat when Susan Wolbrueck resigned, and Fortuin is the incumbent.
The terms for at-large City Council members Judith Chandler, John Shada and Julie Wolfe run through January 2024.
Ballot issue 4C, which proved to be very controversial among Manitou residents, would have increased the Manitou Springs School District 14 debt by $43 million to pay for facility improvements. It was defeated 1,471 votes to 1,090, or 57.44 to 42.56 percent.
Current school board members Tina Vidovich and Natalie Johnson were running unopposed.
El Paso County’s turnout was 127,218 ballots cast, out of 474,886 active voters; that is 32.48 percent.