Jacobs victorious by a single vote in Grand Junction city council special election

BY BRANDON HURLEY
Managing Editor
news@beeherald.com

A rare special election produced a tense local race Feb. 14.

Grand Junction’s Dennis Jacobs scraped out a win to retain his appointed seat on the city council, besting fellow candidate Spencer Kirk, 42 votes to 41 votes.

Jacobs was appointed to the vacant seat by the council following Mark Renslow’s resignation in December.

A total of 102 Grand Junction residents cast ballots Feb. 14, with Jacobs receiving 41.18 percent of the tally, Kirk garnering 40.2 percent and former fire chief Terry Hoefle coming in at 17.65 percent with 18 votes. There was a single write-in vote tallied.

Kirk sought out a special election following Jacobs’s appointment during Grand Junction’s special meeting Dec. 20. Kirk coordinated and distributed a petition around town, needing 32 signatures to move forward with a vote. He secured 60 signatures.  

Jacobs officially joins the Grand Junction council with just under three years left on the seat’s term. He’s also joined by current council members Paula Hoskinson, Lora Lyons, Kenny Madesen and Michelle Hillman.