When Pueblo voters were sold on the idea of holding a mayoral election, it seemed simple enough. Step 1: We would take an initial vote this November to select our top choice among a field of candidates. Step 2: If no candidate emerged with a majority of the votes, a runoff election would be held among the top two finishers to determine who would be the city’s mayor.

That was what voters approved in a ballot initiative last fall. Since then, though, the situation has gotten muddier than Fountain Creek.

First, Pueblo County Clerk and Recorder Gilbert “Bo” Ortiz pointed out that state and federal law requires ballots to be mailed out no later than 45 days before the election, not the 30 days specified in the language of the ballot initiative.

Read more at The Pueblo Chieftain.