Bluffs council asks county, lieutenant governor to cancel Nov. 2025 election after candidate withdrawal

An emergency Bluff Town Council meeting on Sept. 15, 2025, resulted in a unanimous vote to adopt a resolution requesting San Juan County and the lieutenant governor's office cancel the Town of Bluffs' Nov. 20, 2025, general election after a council candidate withdrew.

The meeting opened at 10:05 a.m., when the moderator explained the purpose: with one of three candidates for two council seats withdrawing, the town needed to transmit a written resolution to the county clerk and the lieutenant governor's office by noon to avoid ballot-printing costs. "Time is of the essence," the moderator said, noting county elections staff told him a written resolution was required that morning.

Council member Louann Hook confirmed she had decided to withdraw her candidacy and said she wanted the remaining two candidates to run unopposed and "take the reins for the next stretch." "No, I've I've made that decision," Hook said, adding she would continue to help with active-transportation and road issues during the transition.

After a brief procedural discussion, Hook moved to adopt the resolution "as presented," the motion was seconded and the council voted unanimously in favor; the moderator announced, "It's unanimous." The moderator said he would clean up the draft recorded at the meeting and deliver it to the San Juan County Clerk's office and the lieutenant governor's office within about 20 minutes.

The action means the town will ask county and state election officials to remove the withdrawn candidate from the Nov. 20 ballot and cancel the local contested election for the two council seats; the moderator said that would save printing costs and voter confusion. The newly seated mayor and council are expected to take office Jan. 6, 2026.

The council also formally moved to adjourn at about 10:11 a.m.; the motion carried by voice vote and the meeting ended.