Denver voters will decide Tuesday whether the city should change the way it handles elections for two of its 13 City Council seats and rename a city department that handles licensing.
If approved, Referred Question 2G would require the winners of the council’s two at-large seats to be selected in separate majority-vote elections for “At-large A” and “At-large B” seats rather than running in a joint race.
Referred Question 2F is a charter amendment that would change the name of the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses to the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection. The change wouldn’t alter the department’s duties or budget.
Currently, at-large council members are selected in a single election with the top two vote-getters winning the seats, and with voters each getting to cast two votes. That means candidates typically win smaller pluralities of the vote and still land on the council.
The council narrowly approved the referral of the Question 2G to the ballot in August. If it passes, the measure could significantly shake up the dynamics of the at-large elections. Each new at-large race could go to a run-off if no candidate wins a majority in the initial election.
Supporters said at-large council members, who represent the entire city rather than geographic districts, should be elected the same way as the rest of the city’s elected officials.
Opponents argued that the proposed change would force candidates to arbitrarily choose between the two seats, creating opportunities for political gamesmanship. Some said they believed the proposal was an effort to unseat the current at-large council members, Sarah Parady and Shontel Lewis, who are some of the most progressive members on the council.
The council also referred Question 2F to the ballot, and it was requested by the licensing department in an effort to clarify its work. The agency doesn’t handle excise taxes.
No groups formed in opposition to Question 2F.
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