By Elliot Tzinberg
A Boulder County ballot box, 2016 (Paul Sableman/Wikimedia Commons)
Overview of Candidates
On Nov. 4th, city council incumbents Lauren Folkerts, Nicole Speer, Matt Benjamin and Mark Wallach are making their bids to retain their seats, contested by six potential newcomers. Candidates Jenny Robins and Rob Kaplan are running on comparatively conservative platforms including enforcement of the camping ban and de-emphasising Boulder’s role in foreign affairs. Rob Smoke and Aaron Stone, however, have made Boulder’s stance on the genocide in Gaza their flagship issue. Rounding out the ballot, Rachel Rose Isaacson is running to be the first Gen Z councilwoman and similarly young candidate Montserrat Palacios Rodarte’s campaign promises a fresh perspective and practicality. The Boulder Valley School District board’s only contest is between incumbent Jeffrey Anderson and Deann Bucher.
Key Issues
The biggest issues this cycle are related to infrastructure and housing. Candidates differ on how they feel the camping ban should be enforced, particularly in the face of disappointing progress fighting the housing shortage. Boulder’s response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and where that falls among other city priorities, has been a defining issue of Boulder politics in 2025 but in the wake of the ceasefire it remains to be seen if Gaza will continue to be as prominent an issue. As far as the BSVD contest is concerned, the biggest difference between the incumbent Jeffrey Anderson and challenger Deann Bucher is area of experience. Bucher has decades of teaching experience under her belt, something Anderson cannot say. But, Anderson does have a technical background and research experience with AI which is emerging as a watershed issue in schools here in Boulder and nationwide.
Ballot Propositions
Boulder County Ballot Issue 1A – Open Space Sales and Use Tax Extension
This measure would continue the current 0.15% sales tax for the next 10 years. All revenue from this tax is used to fund Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks department which maintains, preserves, and protects over 45,000 acres of land in Boulder county.
Boulder County Ballot Issue 1B – Mental and Behavioral Health Sales and Use Tax
This measure is to approve an additional 0.15% sales tax for the next 5 years. The revenue generated will be used to provide mental health crisis services, suicide prevention, mental health and substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery, and more.
City of Boulder Ballot Issue 2A – Community, Culture, Resilience, and Safety Tax Extension
This measure would extend indefinitely the current .3% CCRS sales and use tax which funds Boulder’s capital infrastructure projects and supports community non-profits.
City of Boulder Ballot Issue 2B – Community, Culture, Resilience, and Safety Tax Debt Authorization
This measure approves an increased debt capacity for the city, to be repaid with future CCRS tax revenue so the city can accelerate their projects in the face of rising construction costs.
State Ballot Measures – Proposition LL and MM
Propositions LL and MM are both related to the Healthy School Meals for All program, which pays for public schools to offer free breakfast and lunch to all K-12 students. Proposition LL would allow the program to spend all revenue generated since its approval in 2022 instead of refunding it to the high-income earners it was generated from. Proposition MM would expand tax deduction limitations on earners of greater than $300,000, generating increased tax revenue to be spent on Healthy School Meals for All. If these measures are not approved, it is possible that not all schools will be able to provide these services.
How To Vote
If you are above the age of 18, a US citizen, not currently incarcerated for a felony, and have been a Boulder County resident since at least October 14th, 2025, then you are eligible to vote in this election. If you are not already registered to vote you can register online, via mail, or at a vote center. In-person voting will take place at vote centers at the UMC and 3 other locations listed below. Hours are also listed below.
Boulder County Clerk & Recorder (1750 33rd St. in Boulder)
Southeast County Community Hub (1755 S. Public Road in Lafayette)
and St. Vrain Community Hub (515 Coffman St. in Longmont)
Monday, Oct. 27 – Friday, Oct. 31: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 1: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 3: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 4 (Election Day): 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Please note that you must present a valid form of ID at in-person voting. This includes a valid Colorado ID driver’s license, a BuffOne Card, a valid passport, or anything else on this list. Also, be aware that while it is not in itself illegal to be registered to vote in multiple states simultaneously, it is illegal to vote in multiple.