Seven people throw hat into Crested Butte council ring

Deli running unopposed for mayor

By Mark Reaman

It looks like we’ll have a town council election in Crested Butte this fall. Seven people have filed petitions to run for six open seats on the council.

Current mayor Jim Schmidt was the only candidate to file a petition for the office of mayor. He says this will be his last run for the office, which he has held four times. He has also served five full council terms. The mayor’s seat is up for election every two years.

On the council side, five seats are open with only Chris Haver not having to run this time around. Four sitting council reps are running, along with two newcomers. Incumbents Laura Mitchell, Will Dujardin, Candice Bradley and Mallika Magner all want to return to the council table. Mitchell and Dujardin were voted into office (Mitchell four years ago and Dujardin two years ago) while Bradley and Magner were each appointed to fill an open seat.

Anne Moore and Monique Merrill also turned in petitions for the Town Council. The three recieving the most votes for council will get a four-year term. The next two will get a two-year term.

Election Day is November 5 but qualified voters will receive ballots through the mail by Friday, October 18. The Crested Butte News will be asking questions of all the candidates this fall and will hold a Candidates Forum sometime in October.

Ballot issues from the towns of Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte and the county library district will also be voted on this fall.