Councilman Tom Bailey resigns instead of facing a recall election

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KOAA) — Colorado Springs City Councilman Tom Bailey is resigning from office instead of going through a recall election.

Bailey, who was first elected to the council in April 2025, after an election where he ran unopposed. District 2 includes the city’s northernmost neighborhoods, including North Gate, Briargate, and Flying Horse.

The recall effort initially fell short of the required signatures to trigger a recall election. Per the city charter, the group was allowed an additional 30 days to collect the required number of signatures for the election.

The city estimated the cost of a recall election would exceed $200,000.

Bailey spoke to reporters Tuesday afternoon after he made his official announcement.

• Listen to more about what he had to say in the video player below

"My instinct was to fight this because I don't think there was really any good justification for the recall in the first place," Bailey said, "my fear was that our electorate doesn't turn out for regular elections, last election city-wide, less than 24% of the people who were eligible to vote actually cast a ballot. Now you're talking about a special election. In an off year when it's only one district. The people that are going to turn out were the people that signed a petition to recall me."

Bailey said in his remarks Tuesday afternoon that he may seek elected office in the future. Three at-large city council seats will be on the ballot in 2027, he said he would not run against the current at-large members "because I have great respect for them and believe that they're doing a good job, a better job than I could do."

Bailey said he reached his decision to resign over the weekend. City Council members thanked him for his time on council during Tuesday's meeting. President Lynette Crow-Iverson even ripped up his resignation letter and said she's not accepting his resignation and encouraged him to run. The city attorney clarified the decision is up to Bailey.

"I talked to a lot of people who I respect, whose opinions I respect, to try to get an idea of whether it made sense for me to run, to run in the recall or to resign," Bailey said.

Timothy Lewin, who led the effort to recall Bailey, called his resignation "a good day for accountability here in the community, the district, and the city."

Lewin and others behind the recall effort cited Bailey's support for projects like the Karman Line Annexation, Ford Amphitheater, and the Royal Pines apartments in the Pine Creek Neighborhood.

Bailey was not yet elected to the council when Karman Line or Ford Amphitheater was approved. Bailey is an investor in the amphitheater, which he disclosed leading up to the April 2025 election.

The Royal Pines apartments were initially approved before Bailey's time on council; the group cited his support for private activity bonds for the project, which Bailey voted for.

Both Bailey and Lewin mentioned they have ideas for people they'd like to see fill the seat. Lewin did not say whether or not he would apply for Bailey's seat.

"I think what we did was we sent a message," Lewin said, "we sent a message that there will be accountability in this district and we will be represented appropriately."

The Colorado Springs City Council has 30 days to appoint a replacement. An application and interview process will take place in the weeks leading up to the final decision. An election for Bailey's seat will happen during the 2027 city election.

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Community gathers enough signatures to recall Colorado Springs councilman

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