Community gathers enough signatures to recall Colorado Springs councilman

Colorado Springs residents deserve a city government that treats elections and public service with dignity and respect. Since being elected by the voters of District 2, I have remained committed to making decisions that are in the best interest of the people in our district and the city. Reasonable people will sometimes disagree on matters of public policy, and elections exist so that citizens can choose who they trust to make those decisions on their behalf. The voters entrusted me with that responsibility last April, and I have worked every day since to honor it.

Unfortunately, small groups of individuals are now seeking to override the results of that election by misusing the recall process. This effort does not stem from new concerns or sudden revelations – their grievances predate last year’s election. Yet the organizers chose to circumvent the democratic process and did not participate in that election. They did not field a candidate who represented their views, and some even encouraged voters to disengage entirely by claiming the vote was unimportant since I was “unopposed.”

Now, only a year after the voters chose their representative, these same groups are asking taxpayers to fund a quarter‑million‑dollar special election because they opted out of the one the city already held. I think they understand that their anti‑growth agenda does not reflect the views of most Colorado Springs residents. But rather than make their case to voters in an open election, they are attempting to rally a small but vocal minority in hopes of achieving, through a low‑turnout recall, what they could not achieve by participating in the normal electoral process.

This campaign has relied on misinformation and characterizations that erode trust in our local institutions for the sake of political convenience. This kind of divisiveness undermines the rules‑based system of government that has long served our community and our nation.

Today’s announcement was disappointing but not surprising. Regardless, the work of the city continues. As with every matter brought before City Council, I will take time to evaluate the implications of this, gather public and expert input, and determine the best path forward for the people and City of Colorado Springs.

Today is a good day for accountability in Colorado Springs. We initiated a recall of Councilmember Tom Bailey months ago after repeatedly not being listened to or heard on issue after issue. The interests of the people of District 2 were not being adequately represented by our elected official. Our petition statement attests to the specific reasons, but overall, this recall is about accountability. When the interests of constituents are not adequately being represented, it is the duty of those citizens to peacefully install new representation.

We worked tirelessly to gain signatures from across the District by going door-to-door and explaining our case. The District responded by supporting the petition and providing the necessary signatures to put this question to a special election. This was a one hundred percent grassroots effort–we did not use any paid signature-gathers to support this initiative. Volunteers from across the city donated their time to engage with their fellow citizens and gather their support. This guiding principle was paramount to our cause.

A successful recall will initiate a special election, which will unfortunately cost the taxpayers money, but is necessary to hold our government accountable to their constituents. The price of a special election is far less than the cost of not acting. If Mr. Bailey has concerns about spending funds on a special election; he can choose to spare the taxpayers that expense by resigning his post. His resignation will be accepted by the District.

Former City Councilmembers did everything in their power to stop the recall from occurring. These former officials, through their support to Mr. Bailey, miss the point of government accountability. The people are always above their government, not the inverse.

The people of District 2 initiated this recall. The people of District 2 worked tirelessly to attain the necessary number of signatures. The people of District 2 voiced their concerns and signed the petition. It is now up to the people of District 2 to exercise their civic duty and vote to hold their elected representative accountable and install a new councilmember to listen to their voices and do their best to represent their interests.