Three candidates declared winners — Becker, Sigala and Lorenz

MONTE VISTA — The Monte Vista City Council met on Sept. 2 and with a unanimous vote canceled the local election for Nov. 2 due to having only three candidates — two for city council and one for mayor.

With just enough candidates to fill the openings, the election was not needed. Incumbents, Mayor Dale Becker and Councilmember Victor Sigala filed to run again and will retain their seats on the council. Jason Lorenz also filed his paperwork to run for City Council and will be sworn in January of 2022. They will serve four-year terms.

The council has been without a fifth member since Gary Johnson stepped down in the spring. The council tried to fill the vacancy in July but after each vote ended 2-2, they decided to have the seat filled by voters in November.

The City Council has the power to cancel the election and declare the candidates the winners based on MV Municipal Code.

Monte Vista City Clerk Unita Vance said during the meeting, “If there are not more candidates than offices to be filled at such election, including candidates filling affidavit of intent. ... The City Clerk must certify that fact to the City Council, and it shall hold a meeting by a resolution, and shall instruct the City Clerk to cancel the election and shall declare the candidates elected.”

Vance informed the council that the parameters of the city code had been met — there were not more candidates than offices to be filled, including candidates filling an affidavit of intent, and there were no local ballot issues on the Nov. 2 ballot.

With the approval of the resolution, the "City Clerk is hereby authorized to direct and directed to cancel the regular city election scheduled for Nov. 2, 2021.”

The next City Council meeting is scheduled for Sept. 16 at City Hall.