Judge to Bruce: City rules apply on petitions

Anti-tax activist Douglas Bruce must follow Colorado Springs city rules in his latest petition gathering effort for a charter amendment to expand the powers of the mayor, a judge ruled today.

Fourth Judicial District Judge David A. Gilbert denied Bruce’s request for an injunction against the city, requiring officials to follow state laws when it comes to proposed city charter changes.

“No evidence was presented to suggest that application of the City Code amendment provisions seriously interfere with or inhibit the citizen’s right to petition,” Gilbert said in an eight-page decision.

The city attorney’s office argued that state law does not prevent city officials from requiring citizen initiatives to undergo review by the Initiative Review Committee and a Title Board. The judge agreed.

Bruce argued that city officials long have frustrated his petition gathering efforts through procedural delays, calling them “this infinite detour.” He contends the Colorado Constitution and state law trumps the City Code.

But he said he will try again on Tuesday to file a new petition with the city clerk and start the process over again.