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Grand Junction council accepts preliminary results of April 8 municipal election
Summary
The Grand Junction City Council voted 7-0 April 10 to accept the preliminary certification of the April 8 municipal election results; final canvass is scheduled after outstanding military/UOCAVA ballots and signature cures are resolved.
City Clerk Celestina Sandoval told the Grand Junction City Council on April 10 that the council accepted the preliminary certification of the April 8 municipal election results by a 7-0 vote.
The vote fulfilled a City Charter requirement that the council meet within two days after the municipal election to perform an initial canvass, Sandoval said. "Our charter does require that we meet within 2 days after the municipal election," she told the council before announcing vote totals and procedural next steps.
Sandoval reported vote counts by seat: in City Council District A, Cody Kennedy received 9,626 votes; District D incumbent Laurel Cole ran unopposed and received 12,096 votes; in District E Robert Ballard received 8,660 votes; and at-large candidate Ben Van Dyke received 7,838 votes. The council also certified results on two ballot questions: Question 2A, to move municipal elections to November to coordinate with Mesa County, passed with 10,106 yes votes; Question 2B, a proposed pay increase for council members, did not pass, with 8,907 no votes.
Sandoval said the preliminary certification remains subject to outstanding ballots and signature cures. The clerk's office reported 171 signature discrepancies and 100 ballots set aside to preserve voter anonymity; the council will wait eight days for UOCAVA and military ballots and allow time for voters to cure signature discrepancies. Sandoval said Mesa County is expected to provide final numbers on April 18 and the council hopes to hold a final canvass on April 21.
Sandoval briefly noted turnout figures: 16,604 votes were counted so far, down from 18,675 in 2023. During unscheduled public comment, Tom Kopp, a Grand Junction resident and small business owner, called the 31.5% participation rate "disappointing" and urged continued political engagement. "We're just getting started," Kopp said, urging persistent civic action following the results.
Councilmember Stout moved to accept the initial certification; Councilmember Winn seconded. Mayor Herman and the council members present voted in favor, and the motion passed 7-0. The council closed public comment and adjourned the special meeting.
