Durango voters fill three City Council seats

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Durango voters fill three City Council seats

Newcomers Christina Thompson and Paul Broderick join a re-elected Doug Lyon

By Ted Holteen Arts & Entertainment Editor

Tuesday, April 7, 2009 2:20 AM

Christina Rinderle Thompson and Paul Broderick will be Durango's newest city councilors and Doug Lyon will serve four more years following their victories in Tuesday's citywide election.

Aaron Tucson, a former councilor, finished fourth in the election to fill the seats vacated by Scott Graham and Renee Parsons, neither of whom sought re-election. All results are unofficial until verified by City Clerk Amy Phillips.

"Ten years ago I was serving coffee to a few hundred people at Carver's and now I'll be serving all 14,000 of you in Durango," Thompson told a crowd of nearly100 supporters at a party on the roof of The Crossroads building where she is the manager.

Broderick said it was his first election, but the results matched his predictions.

"I'm honored that the citizens have chosen me, and I'm looking forward to serving with my fellow councilors and serving the business community and the entire community," he said shortly after the preliminary results were announced.

Reached by phone Tuesday night, Tucson said he was somewhat surprised at the vote totals but declined further comment.

The order of finish will determine who serves as mayor in the coming years. The mayor, who runs meetings but otherwise has a largely symbolic role, is elected by councilors annually based on who receives the most votes in previous elections. Thompson led with 2,423 followed by Lyon at 2,389, Broderick with 2,133 and Tucson at 1,210.

Councilor Leigh Meigs is expected to be elected mayor at council's April 21 meeting, which is also when the Thompson and Broderick will be sworn in and Lyon will re-take the oath. Councilor Michael Rendon will be the likely choice in 2010 followed by Thompson in 2011 and Lyon in 2012.

A total 3,175 ballots were cast out of 9,264 for turnout of 34 percent.