Denver voters supported putting the volunteer Citizen Oversight Board in charge of appointing the city’s next top police watchdog instead of the mayor, unofficial election results show.
Referred Question 2G was passing with nearly 67% of the vote, according to preliminary results released just after 7 p.m. Tuesday. That’s a margin of 42,704 votes in favor to 21,040 votes against.
The measure would amend the city charter to change the way the Office of the Independent Monitor operates at a time when the city is looking for a new person to fill that role.
The monitor investigates alleged misconduct by Denver police officers and sheriff’s deputies and recommends policy changes to the Department of Public Safety among other duties.
Under 2G, the person who holds that position would be appointed by the oversight board — contingent on a City Council confirmation vote — rather than the mayor, and employees in the monitor’s office would be given stronger job protections.
Supporter and City Councilwoman Jamie Torres said 2G gives the office more independence from city politics, something community members have been advocating for for years.
Referred Question 2H also was poised to pass Tuesday night, with 74.5% of voters supporting it in preliminary results released just after 7 p.m.
That measure would amend the charter to move municipal elections to the first Tuesday in April in odd-numbered years instead of the first Tuesday in May as the charter mandates now.
The purpose of the measure is to provide the clerk and recorder’s office enough time to send mail ballots to people living overseas or serving in the military in the event a June runoff is needed to decide a mayoral or City Council race.
The current May-June timeline doesn’t comply with state and federal law and may disenfranchise voters, according to supporters.
