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Council debate opens on reverting Pueblo to city-manager form of government; some councilors urge ballot referral
Summary
Councilor Roger Gomez proposed returning Pueblo to a city-manager form of government; councilors were sharply divided, with several urging the question be placed before voters and others opposing a mid-term review of the mayoral system.
Councilor Roger Gomez used a Monday work-session slot to propose putting the question of returning Pueblo to a city-manager form of government before voters, prompting an extended and often heated debate on local governance.
Gomez said he believes the strong-mayor form of government concentrates “too much political power” in one office and asked that the council direct staff to draft ballot language to reverse the 2019 change. “I’m requesting ballot language of reverting to a city-managed form of government from the current strong-mayor form of government,” Gomez said in his remarks.
Opponents argued the change would destabilize city administration and undo recent gains. Councilor Brett Boston praised the current mayor’s interventions on homelessness and neighborhood cleanups and said removing mayoral authority would be a step backward. Councilor Sarah Martinez said a return to a city-manager form would encourage frequent turnover and make it harder to attract and retain professional managers, while Councilor Dennis Flores urged voters already expressed support for the mayor in the most recent election and said the mayor should serve her full four-year term.
Several councilors voiced support for placing the question on the ballot so voters can decide directly. “I think the voters collectively are smarter than all of us put together here,” one councilor said, urging referral to the ballot. Others said a two-year mid-term referendum would be disruptive and argued any structural change should be considered at the next election.
Council did not adopt a binding motion to place the issue on the ballot Monday; several members asked staff to assemble comparative research on how other Colorado cities handle the strong-mayor versus city-manager models and to draft potential ballot language for council consideration.
The matter drew sustained comment across the dais and from multiple councilors, highlighting a contentious split on the council over the proper governance structure for Pueblo.
