Pueblo’s strong mayor system is the form of city government voters adopted in 2017, under which a directly elected mayor runs the executive branch, oversees city departments, prepares the budget, and can veto council actions, while the city council writes ordinances and approves spending.
What Changed in 2017
Before 2017, Pueblo operated under a council-manager system. An appointed city manager handled administrative operations, and the mayor’s role was largely ceremonial. The charter amendment voters approved that year flipped the structure: the mayor took on real executive power, and the city manager position was eliminated.
The City Charter now calls the arrangement a “Mayor-Council Government.” The mayor runs the executive branch. The council handles legislation and budget approval. That split mirrors how federal and state governments divide power, giving Pueblo a built-in system of checks and balances at the municipal level.
What the Mayor Can Actually Do
Three authorities are what make the system “strong” rather than ceremonial.1City of Pueblo, Colorado. Office of the Mayor
- Personnel control. The mayor appoints, suspends, and removes city employees, subject to civil service protections. That lets the mayor shape how departments operate and who leads them.
- Veto power. The mayor can veto ordinances passed by city council, including line-item vetoes on the annual budget.
- Budget preparation. The mayor drafts and submits the city’s annual financial plan. Council approves the final budget, but the mayor controls the starting document.
On top of those, the mayor enforces municipal laws, coordinates city departments, and keeps the council informed about department activities and needs. Council still writes the laws and approves spending. The mayor has real leverage over how those decisions get carried out.
Who Holds the Office
Heather Graham is Pueblo’s current mayor. She won a January 2024 runoff and was sworn in on February 1, 2024, for a four-year term after previously serving on city council.2City of Pueblo, Colorado. Mayor Heather Graham
The mayor is elected by direct popular vote during coordinated general municipal elections. Each term runs four years and begins on the first day of the year following the election.3City of Pueblo, Colorado. Amendment to the Charter for the City of Pueblo, CO The Charter caps service at two consecutive four-year terms, and a former mayor who hits that limit must sit out at least one full term before running again.
Candidates must be registered Pueblo voters, must have lived in the city at least 30 days before the election, and must be at least 25 years old at the time of taking office. Losing any of those qualifications mid-term can trigger a vacancy.
The salary is $150,000 per year, fixed by the 2017 charter amendment.4City of Pueblo, Colorado. Charter for the City of Pueblo, Colorado Because the figure sits in the Charter rather than in an ordinance, changing it requires another vote of the electorate. Pueblo council members earn significantly less.
A 2025 Ballot Question Could Undo It
The strong mayor structure has faced scrutiny since it took effect. In November 2025, voters considered Ballot Question 2C, a council-referred measure that proposed scrapping the strong mayor system and returning to a council-manager form of government. If passed, 2C would eliminate the positions of mayor, deputy mayor, and chief of staff, replacing them with a city manager appointed by council. The question reaching the ballot just eight years after voters created the current system reflects that how Pueblo governs itself remains a live issue for residents.