HomeMy WebLinkAboutresolution.council.102-99 RESOLUTION NO. 102
(SERIES OF 1999)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ASPEN, COLORADO
SUPPORTING THE PITKIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND SUPPORTING THE
TRADITIONAL DEMOCRATIC ELECTION PROCESS.
WHEREAS, four of the Pitkin County Commissioners are being targeted for recall by
members of the Common Sense Alliance for refusing to place a rail measure on the ballot this
November, and for taking positions contrary to the Common Sense Alliance's in the
transportation area.
WHEREAS, the County's Home Rule Charter does not require the County
Commissioners to place referenda on the County ballot merely because the City of Aspen is
having an election on the same question and, in fact requires many more valid signatures
(1,200/than the 840 that were gathered on behalf of the rail question in the City, and;
WHEREAS, the recall proponents could have gathered signature for a County question
if they had so desired but declined to do so, and;
WHEREAS, the County Commissioners were duly elected by the democratic process in
elections where each of them expressed their views on transit options and were elected by the
public in spite of or because of those wews, and;
WHEREAS, the Aspen City Council respects the right of the Commissioners and their
critics to have opposing political views, but does not believe that declining to place a ballot
measure before the voters in accordance with how the Common Sense Alliance has chosen to
interpret a 1998 advisory vote merits removal from office those elected officials who have
differing views on the necessity and usefulness of the particular question being offered for the
ballot, and;
WHEREAS, the recall provisions of the Pitkin County Charter were written to protect
citizens from serious malfeasance in office or criminal behavior - not to punish elected
representatives for acting in what they believe are the best interest of the community.
WHEREAS, three of those Commissioners will be up for election next fall and the
critics will have every opportunity to either run for election or field candidates supporting their
point of view at that time, and;
WHEREAS, a recall election campaign la Pitkin County would be extremely divisive
and would seriously undermine our shared sense of community.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF ASPEN, COLORADO. THAT;
Section One
We respectfully call on the organizers of the recall effort to refrain from using recall
procedures for political ann.
,Section Two
We further request that citizens not sign recall petitions for anything less than an elected
official's serious offense while in office.
Section Three
We further request that citizens who do not agree with governmental decisions made by
the Piti<in County Commissioners to express their disagreement next August through the
primary vote and next November in a full and fair debate of all the issues during the regular
election campaign ~ or through the referendum process-as these are the proper recourses for
citizens in a healthy democracy.
Section Four
We urge the citizens of Aspen and Pitkin County to consider the greater community
good and to avoid the divisive and destructive politics of recall campaigns.
Dated: November 8, 1999.
Rachq~ E. Richards, Mayor ~
I, Kathryn Koch, duly appointed and acting City Clerk do certify that the foregoing is a true
and accurate copy of that res l o.n .ad~opted)y the Citr~Council of the City of Aspen,
C.o!~_rad6, a[~.!neeting held 7~ <5~ , 1999.
G:\john\word\resos\RECALL.doc