Colorado: Westminster Councilor survives recall vote

Westminster Councilor Jon Voelz has survived his recall vote, with 62% in his favor. The recall was over water bills and development issues and was launched by a group called the Westminster Water Warriors. Voelz is up for reelection in November. There was also a strong political component here, as Voelz's biggest donor was the Colorado Democratic Party.

Mayor Herb Atchison recently resigned before facing a recall effort, leading to an incredible mess in replacing the Mayoral position.  

The Westminster recall has taken a number of twists and turns. Petitioners got enough signatures for Atchison and Voelz to get to the ballot, but petitions against Councilors Anita Seitz and Kathryn Skulley failed to clear the bar. 

A state judge ruled that a city clerk was wrong in tossing out signatures due to petitioners unstapling the cover sheets of the petitions. The judge ruled that the stapling issue was unintentional. The recall is over water bills. Petitioners needed 25% of turnout, which is 5009 signatures for Atchison and 6,098 for the three council members. Skulley's signatures missed by 61; Atchison by 282; Voelz by 635 and Seitz by 757. Atchison's effort got more than a 1000 over the limit and Voelz just got 9. Seitz missed by 35 signatures and Skulley by 23.