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Council debates charter change to allow city employees to run for elective office
Summary
Councilors discussed drafting a charter amendment that would let classified city employees run for elective office without first resigning; if elected, employees would still have to leave city employment, and council asked legal staff to draft language and explore exceptions for city council seats.
Pueblo City Councilors on Monday discussed drafting a charter amendment to allow classified city employees to run for elective office without resigning their positions while campaigning.
Under current charter language, individuals holding positions in the classified service must resign to run for elected office. Councilors and staff said the proposed change would remove that pre-candidacy resignation requirement while retaining the existing provision that any city employee elected to an office “shall cease to be employed by the city.” City Attorney Bob Gifford explained the amendment likely would be a one-line change striking the clause that bars classified employees from running; the provision requiring resignation after election would remain.
Proponents, including Councilor Sarah Martinez and Councilor Brett Boston, said the change would make it easier for working, often younger, residents to seek state or federal elective office without risking their livelihood during a campaign. Martinez said employees who want to run for office often seek income continuity and a transition plan. Boston said higher barriers to candidacy keep younger people out of local government.
Opponents raised concerns about conflicts of interest and campaign activity by city employees. Councilor Regina Maestri and Councilor Roger Gomez emphasized that the charter amendment would not alter rules that forbid city employees from certain political activities and that, if an employee were elected to city council, they would still be required to resign the city job. Council members asked legal staff to draft language that would allow employees to run for offices such as school boards or special districts while clarifying exceptions for city council seats.
Council direction: Council members asked staff, including City Attorney Gifford, to draft a charter ordinance to present language bringing the issue to the council for consideration and potential placement on the ballot. Council members scheduled follow-up meetings between staff and interested councilors to refine language, and Gifford agreed to meet with councilors to work through details.
No final charter amendment was approved at Monday's meeting; councilors instead sought legal drafting and additional discussion.
The conversation was part of a broader work-session block that included multiple proposed charter changes and ballot initiatives.
