In the lead-up to the Nov. 3, 2026, election, Boulder Reporting Lab asked each of the 19 mayoral and city council candidates to answer our questionnaire. Their answers are presented in a random order, but you can jump to each candidate’s responses, listed alphabetically below. See all of BRL’s 2026 election questionnaire questions and candidate answers here. For more information on the election, see our 2026 Voter Guide.
Boulder voters this year will decide four city ballot measures. Boulder County voters will decide three more.
- City of Boulder Issue 2K: Allows the city to borrow up to $400 million for city facilities, repaid through higher property taxes.
- City of Boulder Question 2M: Changes how the city calculates its debt limit and raises the amount it can borrow.
- City of Boulder Issue 2J: Imposes a $4,000 annual tax on vacant homes occupied 183 days or fewer a year.
- City of Boulder Question 2L: Adds collective bargaining rights for full-time firefighters to the city charter.
- Boulder County Issue 1A: Raises property taxes across the county to generate about $30 million a year to lower child care costs, raise staff pay and add child care slots.
- Boulder County Question 200: Expands the Boulder County Board of Commissioners from three members to five.
- Boulder County Question 201: Decides how a five-member board would be elected if Question 200 passes. Voters would choose between electing all five commissioners by district or electing three by district and two countywide.
Below is how candidates for mayor and city council said they would vote on each measure.
The $400 million city bond drew the least support of any measure. It has become a proxy for a broader debate over the city’s financial stewardship. Supporters say it would let the city catch up on years of deferred maintenance across its more than 75 buildings before repairs grow more expensive. Critics argue taxpayers should not have to cover a large new property tax after what they describe as years of underfunded maintenance.
By contrast, every candidate who responded said they support the measure adding collective bargaining rights for the city’s full-time firefighters. Nearly all candidates supported expanding the county commission to five members.
Lisa Ann Jacobs, Fred Smith and Lee Gilbert did not respond to BRL’s questionnaire.
