Mayor Of Boulder

In the year 2020, Boulder voters passed a ballot measure (Ballot Issue 2E) calling for the Mayor of Boulder to be directly elected in a ranked-choice voting election. The 2023 election will be the first test of the new system. Prior to this year, Mayors were chosen in an internal election among the nine City Council members.

For a few important points about this year’s Mayoral election:

The 2023 Mayoral winner will earn a three-year term, until 2026, because of a 2022 ballot measure (Ballot Question 2E) that moves City of Boulder elections to even-numbered years beginning in 2026. In 2026 and after, Mayors will be elected for two-year terms.
The 2020 ballot measure did not increase the technical powers and responsibilities of the Mayor position. In very brief, the Mayor runs Council business meetings, plays a major role in setting meeting agendas, and often represents the city at events. The Mayor does not have veto power, while the full-time City Manager is the leader ultimately in charge of most city administration and staffing.
For those who have never participated in a ranked-choice election, it might be helpful to visit this link in advance of voting because I’m not even going to hint at how to vote: https://bouldercolorado.gov/guide/ranked-choice-voting-guide
It is legal for sitting City Council members who have time left in their term to run for Mayor but keep their seat on Council if they don’t win the Mayoral race.
In 2023, City Council member Nicole Speer is running for Mayor. If she does not win the Mayoral race, she would stay on Council at least until her term ends in 2025.
If Speer wins the Mayoral race, there would be five open seats in this year’s City Council election instead of four. Voters can only vote for four Council choices, but if Speer wins the Mayoral race, the fifth-place finisher would earn a seat on Council.
If one of the current City Council members Bob Yates or Aaron Brockett win the Mayoral race, the other member would no longer be on Council, unless they decide to run again in 2025.
If Speer or Mayoral candidate Paul Tweedlie win, both Yates and Brockett would be off Council until at least 2025.
The new Council after the 2023 election would select a Mayor Pro Tem (sort of like a Vice President), who would take over as Mayor should the elected Mayor be unable or unwilling to finish the three-year term.

I interviewed each of the four candidates for Mayor of Boulder in either late August or early September. My approach has been to help readers get to know the candidates as people, and to learn their thoughts on top issues of the day. I asked them for the most part similar, but not identical questions. Just click on the profiles below to start learning, and hopefully you’ll enjoy taking part in a historic election!