Vote NO on Thornton Ballot Question No 2A: Charter Amendment 4.5

Don't let a bad rule cost taxpayers and silence your voice.

This November, Thornton voters will be asked whether the Mayor or any council member should lose their seat immediately if they file to run for almost any other office, including school board, county, or state offices. Even forming a campaign committee could trigger it. Thornton For All urges a NO vote.

Why vote No

It costs you. Thornton is already spending about $75,000 on this special election. A forced vacancy could mean another one, and special elections can cost taxpayers $50,000 to $100,000 or more.

It takes away your voice. You elected them. You should decide who serves, not a rule that removes them the day they file.

It could leave seats empty. More than one vacancy could mean months without full representation.

It keeps good people out. Great candidates may skip city council altogether if serving means a dead end.

It reaches too far. Even a run for school board or a county seat could trigger it.

Other cities have learned the hard way. In 2023, Philadelphia lost six council members before their terms ended when they resigned to run for mayor, and the city has been trying to loosen its rule ever since. Killeen, Texas, voted 7-0 to move to scrap theirs.

Voters, not a rule, should decide

Whatever your politics, this measure is a poor fit. If you want responsible spending, it adds avoidable election costs. If you want government that answers to voters, it overrides their choice. If you want more everyday people to serve, it makes serving riskier. If you worry about misuse of city resources, there are already laws and ethics rules for that, and they can be enforced without removing everyone who files.

Mail your ballot by November 3. Vote NO on 4.5.

Council Vote

The following is the record of vote approving and proposing the amendment. A YES vote passed the ballot measure and cost Thornton tax payers $75k unnecessarily when this political game could have been held off for 2027 when we had a guaranteed election. 

Yes: David Acunto, Roberta Ayala, Devin Byrd, Jan Kulmann, Drew Morris

No: Justin Martinez, Chris Russell, Cherish Salazar

Abstained: —

Not Present: John Alge

Ballot Language

City of Thornton Ballot Question No. 2A
Shall Section 4.5 of the Thornton City Charter be amended to require that any member of the Thornton City Council, including the Mayor, shall be deemed to have resigned and vacated the member's office upon formally declaring candidacy for any elected office other than Thornton City Council member or Mayor, including by filing a candidate affidavit, petition, or other official candidacy document required by law?

Ciudad de Thornton Pregunta N. 2A de la boleta
¿Deberá enmendarse la Sección 4.5 de la Carta Orgánica de la Ciudad de Thornton para exigir que se dé por renunciado y quede vacante el cargo de cualquier miembro del Concejo Municipal de Thornton, incluido el Alcalde, en el momento en que declare formalmente su candidatura para cualquier otro cargo electo que no sea el de miembro del Concejo Municipal o Alcalde de Thornton, lo que incluye la presentación de una declaración jurada de candidatura, petición u otro documento oficial de candidatura requerido por ley?

Sources and Citations

Thornton sources

• Record of Council Votes on Amendment 4.5: Navigate to the August 25, 2026 Council Meeting section. 

• Thornton City Elections Information Page: View the full text of the ballot measure.

• Council Meeting, September 8, 2026 (Video): Starts when budget discussions come up. The first topic is the $75K for the special election for this ballot measure. [embedded below]

What other places have experienced

• Committee of Seventy: Statement on Philadelphia's Resign to Run legislation: A Philadelphia good-government group explains the history of the rule and the debate over changing it.

• Philadelphia Tribune: Councilmember leads talk to amend "Resign-to-Run" clause: Describes the six council members who left early to run for another office in 2023.

• Killeen Daily Herald: Killeen council moves to remove resign-to-run provision from charter: Killeen's council voted 7-0 to remove the provision. “If you’re seeking a higher position, you don’t necessarily — unless you are hired — have to provide a change notice or resign from that position, because you haven’t been elected yet,” Gonzalez said. “But historically, this resign-to-run, which is why you don’t see it … typically favored the wealthy and political outsiders who did not risk losing their employment status.”

• Ballotpedia: Resign-to-run laws: Overview of the five states with resign-to-run laws and the arguments on both sides.