City Clerk declares recall petition for District 2 Councilmember sufficient

The City of Colorado Springs City Clerk Sarah Johnson has declared that the petition seeking the recall of District 2 City Councilmember Tom Bailey contains a sufficient number of valid signatures under the City Charter. This determination follows a second submission of signatures after the City Clerk previously determined the petition was insufficient and allowed time under the City Charter for petitioners to submit additional signatures.

Under the Colorado Springs City Charter, City Council must order a recall election unless the councilmember named in the petition resigns within five days of the City Clerk's declaration that the petition is sufficient. The five-day deadline in this case is Wednesday, March 11 at 5 p.m.

If Councilmember Bailey does not resign within that timeframe, City Council must order a recall election. The election must be scheduled on a Tuesday between 30 and 60 days from the date the City Clerk declared the petition sufficient. If another municipal election is scheduled within 90 days, City Council may choose to hold the recall election on that same date.

Councilmember Bailey would continue performing the duties of the office unless voters approve the recall during the election.

If Councilmember Bailey resigns within the five-day period, the recall election will not be held. The District 2 seat would become vacant and City Council would follow the process outlined in the City Charter and Rules and Procedures of City Council to fill the vacancy within 30 days.

In that process, City Council would accept applications and appoint a replacement to serve until the next regular municipal election on April 6, 2027, when voters would elect someone to serve the remainder of the term.

Background on Recall Petition

On Oct. 23, 2025, the City Clerk received a petition seeking the recall of District 2 City Councilmember Tom Bailey.

On Dec. 29, 2025, petition organizers submitted signature pages to the City Clerk's Office in support of the recall effort.

On Jan. 28, 2026, after reviewing those signatures, the City Clerk determined the petition did not contain the required number of valid signatures under the City Charter and declared the petition insufficient. Under the Charter, petitioners were given 30 days to submit additional signatures.

Petitioners submitted additional signatures to the City Clerk's Office on Feb. 17, 2026. After verifying those signatures, the City Clerk determined the petition now contains the required number of valid signatures.