(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Pueblo voters will soon decide whether to retain the current strong mayor system or revert to a city council-city manager form of government in the upcoming November election.

The Pueblo City Council passed an ordinance this week with a six-to-one vote, adding a ballot question to the November election that could eliminate the mayor’s position. This decision comes amid tensions between Mayor Heather Graham and some city council members.

“Personal dislike of me or any one person should not drive a change as important and fundamental as this,” Mayor Heather Graham stated, addressing the council’s decision.

Mayor Heather Graham, who has been in office for a year and a half, expressed concerns about the council’s motivations, suggesting that personal conflicts are influencing the push to change the government structure.

Graham highlighted ongoing challenges with the city council, including an alleged case of sexual harassment involving Councilman Roger Gomez. Gomez has stated that his comment was not intended to harass and was not meant to be shared.

Graham fears that reverting to a city manager system could hinder Pueblo’s economic development, citing ongoing housing and business projects that she believes the city council has not been involved in.

Former Mayor Nick Gradisar supports Graham’s position, suggesting that the ballot question is a personal attack and could disrupt the city’s progress. Councilman Roger Gomez, however, argues that the decision should be left to the voters, describing the current mayoral system as a “failed experiment.”

Mayor Graham plans to campaign against the proposed change by holding town halls in all four city districts throughout September, starting in District 2 on Sept. 3.

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