Council Vacancy - District 6 - City of Fort Collins

District 6 Vacancy-Applications Due Dec. 31 (by 5pm)#

Applications are now being accepted to fill the City Council District 6 seat, which will be vacated on January 13, 2026 once Mayor Pro Tem Emily Francis is sworn in as the new Mayor.

Applications are due by 5 p.m. Dec. 31, 2025.

The appointment will last until a newly elected Councilmember is sworn in following the November 2027 municipal election. If the appointed Councilmember wishes to retain the District 6 seat, they will need to run for election in November 2027.

City Council will hold in person interviews on January 14, 2026 before ultimately voting to select a candidate to fill the seat. Community members will have opportunities to provide comment on the candidates both online and at the January 14, 2026 special meeting.

Voters elected Mayor Pro Tem Emily Francis as Mayor at the November 2025 regular municipal election. On Tuesday, January 13, 2026, she will be sworn in as Mayor. This creates a Councilmember vacancy in District 6 which will be filled by Council appointment at a January 14, 2026 special meeting. The appointment will continue until a new Councilmember is elected at the November 2027 regular municipal election. If the appointed Councilmember is interested in continuing to serve the community in this capacity, they will have to run as part of the November 2027 election.

Article II, Section 18 of the Charter of the City of Fort Collins defines what creates a vacancy, and requires that any vacancy on the Council, except for the office of Mayor, must be filled within 35 business days (in this case, on or before March 5, 2026, which accounts for two City holidays in that timeframe). The person appointed to fill the vacancy shall serve until the next regular election (November 2027), when the electors of District 6 will elect a new District 6 representative. The appointment will continue until the new representative is sworn in. If the appointed candidate desires to continue to serve as the District 6 Councilmember, he/she must run as a candidate in the November 2027 election.

The City Council has determined that applications from individuals interested in filling the District 6 Council seat will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. Applications can be emailed to the City Clerk’s office at cityclerk@fcgov.com, hand-delivered to the City Clerk’s Office, 300 LaPorte Avenue, or mailed to the City Clerk’s Office at PO Box 580, Fort Collins, CO 80522. No applications will be accepted after 5:00 p.m. on December 31, 2025, even if postmarked before that date. The application and related materials must be received by and/or delivered to the Clerk's Office by December 31, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. The application must be accompanied by a notarized candidate affidavit and a financial disclosure statement. The City Clerk’s Office can provide notary services at no charge, if the applicant appears in person to sign the affidavit in the presence of a notary and has photo identification.

The City Council currently plans to interview applicants at a work session on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 as well as make a final selection and adopt a resolution making the appointment at a special meeting on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 (following interviews). The selected individual will take the oath of office at the regular meeting on January 20, 2026.

A United States citizen
A registered voter in the city for one year immediately prior to the appointment
At least 21 years of age
A resident of Council District 6 (check your Council district)
Never convicted of a felony of embezzlement of public moneys, bribery, perjury, solicitation of bribery or subornation of perjury

Applications are due by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025.

Applications may be submitted:

Via email: cityclerk@fcgov.com
Via mail: City Clerk's Office, P.O. Box 580, Fort Collins, CO 80522 (must be received by Dec 31st)
In person: City Clerk's Office, 300 Laporte Ave.