COMMERCE CITY, COLO. – According to unofficial election results from the Adams County Elections Division, Commerce City will have four new elected officials and one incumbent return to City Council. More than 4,978 Commerce City voters cast ballots in this year’s coordinated election, approving all four municipal ballot questions.

Results as of 3 a.m. Nov. 1 are as follows (unofficial winners are noted with an asterisk):

COMMERCE CITY MAYOR

Robert L. Toavs----------- 30%
*Sean Ford------------------69.79%

COMMERCE CITY COUNCIL – WARD II

Kristine Sumner-----------------------15.69%
Kim Madson----------------------------22.08%
Jolene Vialpando-Nielsen------------7.07%
*Jim Benson-----------------------------45.77%
Ellen Haug---------------------------------9.39%

COMMERCE CITY COUNCIL – WARD IV

*Ricky A. Teter----------55.64%
Harvest Thomas---------44.36%

COMMERCE CITY COUNCIL – AT LARGE

Gene Leffel----------------16.95%
Paolo Diaz -----------------23.50%
*Crystal Elliott------------28.11%
James B. Romito----------6.19%
*Steven J. Douglas------25.25%

Voters overwhelming approved the four municipal ballot questions, including:

• The imposition of an additional tax, not to exceed 7%, on the purchase of marijuana, marijuana paraphernalia, marijuana-infused products and synthetic marijuana products, using revenue raised to promote public safety;

• A charter amendment changing the organization meeting of the city council to the second Monday following certification of election results;

• A charter amendment to remove all city council members from membership on the planning commission; and

• A charter amendment making the position of mayor, for the purposes of term limits, separate and distinct from the other seats on city council and limiting the total number of years any person may serve on council, as council member and mayor, to 16.

Incoming elected officials will be sworn in at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 14 and the public is invited to attend. Outgoing council members will be recognized for their service at a public reception following the brief Nov. 7 business meeting. The county will certify the 2011 election results on Nov. 18, consistent with state statute. The approved charter amendment will allow Commerce City to swear in future council members following this certification.

“Congratulations to the Adams County Clerk & Recorder’s office for running a successful coordinated election,” said City Clerk Laura Bauer. “The coordinated approach provides voters with the opportunity to vote for all candidates and issues from each political subdivision on one ballot.

Additional information on Commerce City and other Adams County election results can be found at www.adamscountyelections.org.

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