City Council election night report and photos

| Nov 4, 2009

Source: Boulder County Clerk and Recorder, Boulder Reporter graph

(Source: Boulder County Clerk and Recorder, Boulder Reporter graph)


gray-cowles-morzel

Progressives. Reelected Councilman Macon Cowles (center) celebrates at the progressive candidates’ party on the Boulderado Hotel mezzanine Tuesday night flanked by incumbents Crystal Gray (left) and Lisa Morzel.

becker-george-ageton

Business-friendly. Celebrating campaign’s end at the Boulder Draft House were, pictured from left, KC Becker, George Karakehian — both newly elected Tuesday — and the top vote-getter, incumbent Suzy Ageton.

(Boulder Reporter photos)

Boulder voted to preserve the progressive bias on its City Council Tuesday. The final vote tally early Wednesday showed Suzy Ageton and Matt Appelbaum reelected by comfortable margins. Incumbent Macon surged at the end of vote-counting to capture third place, and newcomers KC Becker and George Karakehian also won Council seats (Karakehian for two years, the top four vote-getters for four years).

For final election returns, see Boulder County Clerk and Recorder website.

Observers put Council members Crystal Gray, Susan Osborne, Macon Cowles and Lisa Morzel in a strongly “progressive” bloc, with current Mayor Matt Appelbaum generally going along with “progressive” positions. Viewed as relatively pro-business are incumbents Suzy Ageton and Ken Wilson along with newcomers KC Becker and George Karakehian. Then again, this is liberal Boulder, where terms like “progressive” and “pro-business” have acquired their own homegrown meaning.

(More election news will appear later.)

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2 Comments »

  • Election analysis: progressives retain narrow edge | Boulder Reporter :: Independent news and opinion said:

    [...] That’s because in the mail-in City Council election that ended with into-the-night vote-counting Tuesday, Oct. 3, voters chose – along with predictably returning three incumbents to office – to fill the remaining two contested Council seats with relatively unprogressive candidates (see larger version of chart). [...]

    # 5 November 2009 at 2:23 pm
  • RealLiberalBldr said:

    Matt holds all the apples. The owns the housing ordinance, and despite KC's statements that the housing ordinance will be reviewed, it won't be for at least two years. He could make the progressives unhappy with Board choices, especially planning.

    Pro-biz Suzy has not advanced any specific alternative agenda, other than to vote on plans brought forward by staff. She and the other pro-bizers are in the position of the Republican party, simply saying no.

    Also, stayed tune for a certain lazy factor, a la Jack Stokes. KC didn't run her own campaign, and has a reputation on planning board for not being prepared. This will probably carry over to council, which doesn't make for effective opposition.

    # 4 November 2009 at 9:37 pm