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  Home Page » News » Durangoans Elect Councilors

Durangoans elect councilors

Thompson, Broderick and Lyon chosen

by Ted Holteen
Herald Staff Writer Christina Rinderle Thompson and Paul Broderick will be Durango's newest city councilors and Doug Lyon will serve four more years after their victories in Tuesday's citywide election.

Aaron Tucson, a former councilor, finished fourth in an election in which the top three vote-getters earned council seats. Departing Councilors Scott Graham and Renee Parsons did not seek re-election. City Councilors serve four-year terms.

Thompson led with 2,423 votes then Lyon at 2,389, Broderick with 2,133 and Tucson at 1,210.

"Ten years ago I was serving coffee to a few hundred people at Carver's, and now I'll be serving all 14,000 of you in Durango," Thompson told a crowd of nearly 100 supporters at a party on the roof of The Crossroads building, where she is the manager. Broderick joined the festivities after he learned of his victory.

Thompson said she has no immediate agenda when she takes office but will continue to listen to the citizens, city staff and her soon-to-be fellow councilors.

"That's how you learn and better serve - by listening to what people have to say," she said.

Lyon, a current and future councilor, had to wait until 9 p.m. for the results as the City Council held its regular meeting Tuesday night, and the totals were announced during a break.

"It's been a privilege to serve these past four years, and I'm flattered and gratified to do it for another term," Lyon said.

"I think the new City Council will be a great team, and I look forward to working with each and every one of them."

Broderick said it was his first election, but the results matched his predictions.

"I'm honored that the citizens have chosen me, and I'm looking forward to serving the business community and the entire community," he said shortly after the preliminary results were announced.

He said he will focus on the core services of the city including public safety and infrastructure but repeated his campaign pledge to promote the economy as well.

"I'd like to see a better business quality of life that's on a par with our traditional quality of life," he said.

Tucson said he was somewhat surprised by the results and thought the race for third would have been closer, but he thanked his supporters and team of volunteers who mobilized late in the campaign. Tucson formally announced his candidacy on the March 3 deadline.

"I'd like to congratulate Christina, Doug and Paul," Tucson said. "After getting to know each of them in the last month, I know Durango elected some quality people. I was the underdog going in, and that's how elections go sometimes."

The order of finish will determine who serves as mayor in the coming years.

The mayor, who runs meetings but otherwise has a largely symbolic role, is elected by councilors annually based on who receives the most votes in previous elections.

Councilor Leigh Meigs, who was the leading vote-getter in 2007, is expected to be elected mayor at council's April 21 meeting, which is also when Thompson and Broderick will be sworn in and Lyon will retake the oath. Councilor Michael Rendon will be the likely choice in 2010 then Thompson in 2011 and Lyon in 2012.

A total 3,175 ballots were cast out of 9,264 for a voter turnout of 34 percent.

Electors had the option to vote for one, two or three of the four candidates.

ted@durangoherald.com