Colorado Springs city election: Yemi Mobolade, Wayne Williams still leading in mayor's race
Apr. 5—Yemi Mobolade and Wayne Williams are still leading in the mayor's race and will likely be the two candidates voters decide between in a runoff election next month, updated unofficial election results on Wednesday afternoon show.
Updated returns posted at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday show Mobolade, a West African immigrant, entrepreneur and political newcomer, had about 29.7% of the vote, while Williams, a city councilman and former El Paso County commissioner and Colorado secretary of state, received about 19.2%.
If those results hold as the City Clerk's Office works to certify ballots by April 14, Mobolade and Williams will advance to a May 16 mayoral runoff election since no one in the crowded 12-person race received more than 50% of the vote on Tuesday night.
Sallie Clark sits in third with about 17.8% of the vote.
The latest tally is similar to percentages and totals first released Tuesday night, when Mobolade, Williams and Clark ran 1-2-3.
On Wednesday evening, Clark conceded the race after announcing on Tuesday she would wait to do so until she saw updated results the next day.
"Thank you to my supporters and voters for putting your trust in me. While I am disappointed in the results, I have always respected our democratic process and the thousands of citizens who voted in this important election," Clark said in a written statement Wednesday night. "I hope that the two remaining candidates for mayor heard the voters loud and clear. Voters are asking for more police officers, more firefighters, an end to homelessness, smooth roads, safe trails and beautiful parks. I pray that our next mayor won't let us down."
Clark also said she was currently withholding her endorsement in the mayoral runoff election.
The next person to be named Colorado Springs mayor will be just the third strong mayor in the city's history, succeeding Mayor John Suthers, who cannot run again for the seat after serving for eight years because of term limits.
The mayor acts as the city's full-time chief executive, with the power to enforce laws and ordinances, create a strategic plan for the city, and submit to the City Council an annual budget.
In the race for three at-large City Council seats, David Leinweber led with about 15.4% of votes cast, followed by Lynette Crow-Iverson with about 14.3%, and Brian Risley with just under 14%, in returns released at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Michelle Talarico was likely to claim a two-year term representing District 3, capturing about 53.8% of the vote. She will represent the southwest portion of the city and downtown and finish Councilwoman Stephannie Fortune's term.
The new members on the nine-member nonpartisan council will be sworn in on April 18. The council oversees the city's budget, land use decisions like zoning and annexations, and policies like whether the city will allow the sale of dogs from commercial breeders.
