On Dec. 2, the Pagosa Springs Town Council approved an ordinance calling for an upcoming municipal election to be held on April 7, 2026.
The election will include the mayor’s seat, currently held by Shari Pierce, and three at-large council seats, currently held by Madeline Bergon, Matt DeGuise and Gary Williams.
Per an ordinance setting term limits to two elected terms, DeGuise explained to The SUN he cannot run for re-election.
An agenda document states that the “nomination petitions will be ready on January 5th for circulation on January 6th and must be returned to the Town Clerk’s office by January 26th.”
The ordinance states, “All candidates must file a valid Nomination Petition with the Town Clerk no earlier than January 6, 2026, and no later than 5:00 p.m. on January 26, 2026.”
It adds, “Nomination petitions may be amended to correct or replace invalid signatures not later than 5:00 p.m. on February 2, 2026, in order for their name to appear on the ballot.”
The document further explains, “To be eligible to be elected to office, a person must be a citizen of the United States, a registered elector of the town, and a resident of the Town for a period of no less than twelve consecutive months immediately preceding the election. In addition, candidates may not be convicted of a felony and not be an employee of the town.”
Town Clerk April Hessman will serve as the election official, the ordinance states.
The cost of mail ballot election is budgeted for 2026 at $10,000, the document states.
The ordinance also states, “The Election shall be conducted as a mail ballot election in accordance with all relevant provisions of the Election Code.
“There shall be no election precinct or polling place. All mail ballots shall be returned to the Election Official’s office, located at the Town Hall, 551 Hot Springs Boulevard, Pagosa Springs, Colorado.”
When a motion was made to approve the ordinance, it was passed unanimously by the council with DeGuise and council member Matt deGraaf being absent from the vote.
The council will consider a second reading of the ordinance at its Dec. 16 meeting, which will begin at 5 p.m. at Town Hall.
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