20 The Independent - The Herald
July 12, 2018J
RECALL FROM PAGE 1
Steve Yates, a former at-large councilmember, lives outside the district and couldn’t carry the petition but was involved in the effort to garner support. The recall movement wasn’t made “on a grudge,” he said. “It’s meant to try to make a city be able to run efficiently at the lowest cost to citizens,” said Yates, who served on council alongside Barrentine. Council “is so involved in this grandstanding that they can’t take care of the daily business.” Former mayors Penn, who served from 2011-15, and Woodward, who served from 2007-11, signed the affidavit to request the petition. The document accuses Barrentine, who was elected in 2015, of “bullying and unwarranted threats to fire City employees” and of “regular distortion of facts and outright lies.” “Council Member Laurett Barrentine demonstrates conduct unbecoming of an elected official and creates a toxic, counterproductive dynamic on Englewood City Council, preventing Council from acting in Englewood’s best interest,” the former mayors and District 3 residents wrote in the affidavit. It was received by the city April 17, and the city clerk’s office authorized the petition May 7. The petition, as allowed by city law, included a statement of defense from Barrentine, which criticized the use of the recall process. “It is a shame four people refuse to participate
in the normal election cycle,” Barrentine wrote. The group’s grievances are vague, Barrentine said in a previous interview, adding that she’s “offended” by the idea that staff needs to be protected from council. “It’s just sad, all of this trying to stir the pot,” she said previously. I “think they’re disappointed that council is getting along so well.” Barrentine said on July 6 that she’d be “happy to debate” any of the concerns the petitioners raised. To schedule the recall election, the clerk’s office will bring a proposed resolution to set an election date at the July 16 council meeting. It will be the first city council recall election in Englewood in more than 20 years, and just the third in city history, according to a city document. District 3 voters will have the chance to vote on whether Barrentine stays in office. If the majority votes in favor of the recall, voters in the district will then choose a new councilmember in a second election. District 3 includes roughly the southeast and middle parts of Englewood. The petition needed valid signatures totaling 25 percent of the number of registered voters who voted in the race for Barrentine’s office in the previous municipal election, according to the Englewood Home Rule Charter. Nearly 1,500 voted for the District 3 position in 2015, the last time the seat saw an election, so the threshold for petition success was 366 signatures in the district. “I know my job, and I’m not going to stop doing my job,” Barrentine said. For a map of the council districts, go to englewoodco.gov/inside-city-hall/city-council.
How a recall works
Caring for our Community by
Using Sustainable Printing Practices. ColoradoCommunityMedia.com PIONEER COLLECTIONS
WE HELP YOU CRAFT THE
OUTDOOR LIFESTYLE COMPLETE HARDSCAPE & LANDSCAPE SUPPLY
DECORATIVE ROCK GARDEN BED SOLUTIONS PATIO & WALL SYSTEMS OUTDOOR LIVING ARTIFICIAL GRASS GARDEN BORDERS & EDGING PATHWAYS & EROSION CONTROL WINTERIZATION
SALES FINANCING AVAILABLE!
BAGGED PRODUCTS LANDSCAPE TOOLS & ACCESSORIES COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS
PIONEER LOCATIONS
6th & Airport Blvd BOULDER 6379 Valmont Rd AURORA
ARTIFICIAL GRASS
10% off
Restrictions apply. Call for details. Expires 7-31-18.
PAVERS
15% off
Restrictions apply. Call for details. Expires 7-31-18.
BRIGHTON
Hwy 2 & 112th Ave BROOMFIELD
Hwy 287 & Dillon Rd GOLDEN 7608 Hwy 93 LITTLETON
Santa Fe & Highlands Ranch Pkwy NORTHGLENN
E 112th & Irma Dr PARKER 11731 S Parker Rd
pioneerlandscapecenters.com
For a location near you, call
303.872.6408 Same day delivery available.
18PILC007-24-140403-45