Two incumbents, a retired electrician, a full-time mother, a family attorney and a journalist are vying for one of four available seats on the Cortez city council.
Retired educator and Mayor Karen Sheek and current teacher and council member Ty Keel have both opted to seek re-election to the seven-member legislative body. Also campaigning on the April 5 mail-in ballot: retired electrician Tim Miller; mother Monica Plewe; attorney Jill Carlson; and journalist Sonja Horoshko.
Yet to be certified as a candidate, Carlson was granted a five-day extension on Monday, Jan. 25, to secure the appropriate number of required petition signatures.
The seats up for grabs include posts currently held by Sheek and Keel, of course, along with positions held by council members Jim Price and Tom Butler. Only Butler was term-limited and disqualified from seeking re-election.
“The ballots will go out in the mail on March 14,” said City Clerk Linda Smith.
Voters must be 18 years old, a resident of the United States and city resident for 22 days prior to the election.
Ballots can be mailed or dropped off at City Hall. On Election Day, registered voters will also be able to cast a ballot at City Hall, located at 210 East Main Street, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
“The County Annex will not accept any ballots,” Smith said.
The three candidates receiving the highest number of votes will each serve four-year terms. The fourth candidate will serve a two-year term.
The mayor and mayor pro-tem are chosen by the city council after the newly elected members are sworn in April 26.
Council members are paid $400 per month. The mayor receives $500.
Current council members Bob Archibeque, Shawna McLaughlin and Orly Lucero will remain in office through 2018.
The Journal has circulated a questionnaire, asking candidates to state their respective positions on various issues. Stay tuned for our “Meet the Candidates” coverage.
