CD3: Councilwoman Rodriguez resigns, effective immediately

City Council staff today announced the resignation of District 3 councilwoman Rosemary Rodriguez, effective immediately, as quoted below:

Effective March 1, 2007 Denver District 3 City Councilperson Rosemary Rodriguez has resigned from Council to accept a position on the United States Election Assistance Commission. Rodriguez will assume her position as one of four appointed members at the EAC on March 2, 2007. Established by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA), the Commission serves as a national clearinghouse and resource for information and review of procedures with respect to the administration of Federal elections.

Locally, Rodriguez was a vocal advocate for the change in Denver's election administration from the three-member Denver Election Commission to an elected Clerk and Recorder, which was passed by the Denver voters on January 30th. Senator Ken Salazar, sponsor of her appointment, noted that her extensive experience in the electoral process gave credence to her appointment to the federal post and is confident in her ability to effectively support voter rights across the country.

Rodriguez, a former Denver City Council President, Clerk and Recorder, and aide to Mayor Wellington Webb, was elected to District 3 in July of 2003. She has a history of involvement in neighborhood advocacy, access to the electoral process and Latino issues. She has received several awards over the years from many organizations including the Mi Casa Resource Center for Women, the Latin American Research Agency, the Colorado Association of Non Profit Organizations, the Anti-Defamation League, and, most recently, a Hispanic Annual Salute Humanitarian Award.

Term-limited District 8 Councilperson Elbra Wedgeworth resigned earlier in the month, effective March 12, 2007 to take a position with Denver Health as Chief Government and Community Relations Officer. The City's two At-Large Council members, Doug Linkhart and Carol Boigon, will oversee the day-to-day management of District 3 and District 8 respectively. Constituents may continue to contact their local council district office which will be staffed with current employees until new Council members are elected and sworn into those positions on July 16th, 2007.

Per City Charter, a special election will not be held for vacancies in these districts since a regular election is scheduled on May 1, 2007, within 90 days of the vacancies being declared. Persons interested in running for these or any Council seats should contact the Denver Election Commission and note the deadline for submission of completed candidate petitions with 100 valid signatures (300 for At-large) is March 7, 2007.