Manitou Springs Mayor John Graham has avoided a recall election. According to an Oct. 4 statement of sufficiency issued by Manitou Springs City Clerk Elena Krebs, petitioner Linda Morlan only submitted 32 signatures, far fewer than the 485 required by statute.
Holding a recall election would have cost the city between $20,000 to $25,000, according to an unofficial estimate from the Manitou Springs City Clerk, Elena Krebs. That estimate included the printing vendor, election judges, staffing and other costs that go into holding a special election.
Morlan announced her plan to launch a recall campaign during a July 22 Open Space Advisory Committee (OSAC) meeting,
“Today I started with the city the process of recalling Mayor John Graham because he has been working behind this community’s back for years,” said Morlan. “We have proof of it. We’re going to recall him.”
According to Colorado statute, any elected official can be recalled by any voter for any reason. “Every elected officer of this state or any political subdivision thereof is subject to recall from office at any time by the eligible electors entitled to vote for a successor to the incumbent.,” reads Colorado Revised Statute 1-12-101.
While Graham had not been officially censured or charged with any crime, his efforts to discuss a possible land deal with the Jenkins and Waltons family have raised the ire of local community activists. The deal involved Norwood developers Chris and David Jenkins’ efforts to get Graham and city council to accept a donation of 15 acres of privately-owned land. In exchange, the city would create a Ruxton Avenue access road and possibly a parking lot. Residents raised concerns over increased traffic, pollution, and fire evacuation times, as well as government transparency.
[Oct. 30: The online version of this article has been updated to change “attempt to broker a land deal” to “discuss a possible land deal.” –ed.]
