Despite the daunting list of local issues and millions in potential public projects, the Durango City Council elections are off to a slow start.
Mayor Sweetie Marbury and Councilor Dick White have announced they’re running to reclaim their seats. David McHenry, longtime Durango resident and a landscape architect, has submitted his candidate affidavit to the Durango City Clerk’s Office and intends to make a formal announcement Monday.
But otherwise, no challenger officially has announced a bid for City Council.
Both of the incumbents expect more candidates to enter the race in the coming weeks leading up to election day April 7.
“There are certainly names being bandied about,” White said.
In recent memory, no elections have been canceled for lack of interest, said Amy Phillips, city clerk. Since all City Council seats are at-large, it only will require three candidates to make it a competitive race for all contenders.
City councilors make $500 a month and easily can work 30 hours a week reading emails, sitting on boards and attending public meetings, graduation ceremonies and other community events. The mayor, which is an honorary title and has the same voting power as a councilor, earns $750 per month.
Marbury, who is retired, tries not to think about how many hours she devotes to City Council.
“I haven’t tracked it because I don’t want to,” she said. “Nobody wants to track it.”
When all the hopefuls do enter the field, there are a myriad potential contentious issues ranging from a new airport terminal, recreation at Lake Nighthorse, the city’s aging infrastructure and the potential STEAM (Science, Theatre, Education, Art and Music) Park along the Animas River.
“There’s a whole lot of dominoes out there that have the chance of falling all over each other,” White said.
These projects represent hundreds of millions of potential investment and represent important public discussions, he said.
Former City Manager Bob Ledger watched municipal elections during his 25 years at the helm and said people may be waiting on the discussion to develop,
“My sense is that people may be undecided about running and wait to see what the issues are that start to emerge before they decide to throw their hat in the ring,” he said.
If political unknowns do enter the race, they may not face as tough of odds as they would for other elected positions.
Although incumbents usually have a natural advantage, in municipal elections, it’s not nearly as important, said Geoff Wilson, general counsel with the Colorado Municipal League.
It even can be a disadvantage because the incumbents have to defend their record, while challengers may not have that hindrance, he said.
An incumbent’s name recognition also is less important in small towns because it’s more likely residents will know both the candidates.
In addition, the nonpartisan nature of a local election can even the playing field.
“You don’t have the shorthand way of evaluating a candidate; you actually have to figure out what they believe,” he said.
There still is time for the elections to ramp up. Candidates could start collecting signatures for their petition Feb. 11. The petitions are due March 3.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
