Littleton City Council 2021 Election Voter Guide: Update

LITTLETON, CO — Littleton voters have been turning in their ballots for Tuesday's election, which will decide the fate of nine candidates who are running for four seats — including mayor — on City Council.

Littleton voters approved a measure in the November 2020 election that changes how the mayor will be elected. For the first time in the city's history, council members won't appoint the mayor — voters will elect the mayor.

It's too late to return your ballot by mail, but ballot drop boxes and in-person vote centers are open in Arapahoe, Jefferson and Douglas counties:

• Arapahoe County
• Jefferson County
• Douglas County

Ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Nov. 2. Colorado doesn't have a registration deadline, so voters can both register and vote Nov. 2. If you are voting in person, you must be in the line before 7 p.m., officials said.

Littleton City Council Candidate Profiles

Mayor

• Jon Buck
• Carol Fey
• Kyle Schlachter

District I

• Patrick Driscoll
• Candice Ferguson

District III

• Stephen Barr
• Paul Bingham

At Large

• Krista Kafer
• Gretchen Rydin

Ballot Issue 3A

At a special meeting Aug. 26, the Littleton City Council referred a question to voters that will ask for an increase in the sales tax rate from 3 percent to 3.75 percent to fund capital improvement projects. Here is the wording that will appear on your local ballot:

SHALL CITY OF LITTLETON SALES AND USE TAXES BE INCREASED BY AN ESTIMATED $9,773,087 ANNUALLY, OR BY WHATEVER ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS ARE RAISED ANNUALLY THEREAFTER, BY A 3/4 CENT (FROM 3.0% TO 3.75%) WHICH AMOUNTS TO 75 CENTS ON $100 IN PURCHASES EXCLUDING THOSE ITEMS EXEMPT FROM TAXATION BY CITY CODE, THAT WILL GO INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY 1, 2022 OF BACKLOGGED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: NEIGHBORHOOD STREET MAINTENANCE AND RECONSTRUCTION, STREET CONGESTION AND IMPROVED CAPACITY PROJECTS, RIGHT-OF-WAY AND MEDIAN MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENTS, STREET AND BRIDGE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS, SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS, BUILDING REPLACEMENT AND MAINTENANCE, INCLUDING SPECIFIC PROJECTS SUCH AS:

• MAJOR STREET MAINTENANCE AND RECONSTRUCTION IN NEIGHBORHOODS AND SIGNIFICANT CORRIDORS;
• MINERAL & SANTA FE INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS;
• DOWNTOWN STREETSCAPE AND PARKING IMPROVEMENTS;
• PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY REPLACEMENT; AND
• MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENTS TO CITY-OWNED FACILITIES AT THE LITTLETON MUSEUM, BEMIS LIBRARY, THE MUNICIPAL COURTHOUSE AND OTHERS; AND
• PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS;
• ENHANCED ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP IMPROVEMENTS SUCH AS SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION AND CONSERVATION IMPROVEMENTS

AND THE CITY SHALL ANNUALLY REPORT THE PROGRESS OF SUCH PROJECTS AND THE EXPENDITURES OF SUCH REVENUES TO THE CITIZENS WITH REVIEW BY A BOARD OR COMMISSION AS APPOINTED BY CITY COUNCIL, AND SHALL THE REVENUES GENERATED BY SUCH SALES AND USE TAX INCREASE AND ANY EARNINGS FROM THE INVESTMENT OF SUCH REVENUES BE COLLECTED AND SPENT BY THE CITY AS A VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE PURSUANT TO ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION OR ANY OTHER LAW?
___ Yes
___ No

Littleton City Council unanimously adopted a resolution Oct. 12 expressing its support for Ballot Question 3A. The resolution is titled: A RESOLUTION OF THE LITTLETON CITY COUNCIL SUPPORTING A YES VOTE ON BALLOT ISSUE 3A SEEKING VOTER APPROVAL OF A ¾ CENT SALES AND USE TAX INCREASE TO FUND THE COSTS OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS IN THE CITY.

As posted in the Littleton Report, the resolution states:

"The City of Littleton has a list of nearly $100 million dollars in unfunded capital and infrastructure projects over the next 15 years; and the city’s Capital Projects Fund is currently expected to reach zero in the next couple of years without significant increases in revenue or drastic cuts in spending and services.” The resolution concludes by stating, “The city council of the City of Littleton hereby supports a “Yes” vote on Ballot Issue 3A and urges the registered electors of the City of Littleton to vote in favor of the proposed ¾ cent sales and use tax increase to fund the city’s Capital Projects Fund which will be used to pay for the costs of deferred and backlogged Capital Improvements Projects throughout the city.

The full text of the resolution is available here.

Voter Registration

If you’ve changed your name or moved since the last time you received a mail ballot, you need to update your voter registration as soon as possible.

Coloradans who will turn 18 on or before Nov. 2 can pre-register to vote in the election here. They will need a valid driver’s license or Colorado State ID number to register online.

Colorado has same-day voter registration, so even if you put it off until the last minute, you can go to a voter service and polling center with your ID, register, and cast a ballot on Election Day.

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Ballot Tracking Registration

Littleton voters who want to track their ballots can sign up ahead of time to receive alerts by phone, email or text message:

• Arapahoe County Voters
• Jeffco Voters
• Douglas County Voters

More information about the Nov. 2 election can be found in your county:

• Arapahoe County
• Jefferson County
• Douglas County

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