RawlinsNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Rawlins City Council Election 2026

4 of 7 council seats are on the ballot, with 7 candidates running. Updated Oct 20, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

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Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 12 days left

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Election Day (Nov 3): the election office's notice

These links go to official state and county election sites. Hours and rules differ by state; your election office has the final word.

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

Rawlins voters in each of the three wards choose one council member, and voters citywide choose one at-large member; Ward 2 has one candidate.

Election Day · Nov 3

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Also on your Nov 3 ballot

We research city races only. For these races, go to the state's official guide or a nonpartisan one.

Official voter lookupState voter guideVote411 (League of Women Voters)

Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

What the next council decides

01City budget and sales tax4 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council adopted the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget 6-1 in June 2026, and Carbon County voters decide on Nov. 3 whether to continue a 1% general-purpose sales and use tax.

What's on the tableThe next council writes the Fiscal Year 2027-2028 budget and sets city fees.

  • The council approved the third and final reading of the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 municipal budget 6-1 on June 16, 2026, with Derek Elliott voting no. City of Rawlins · Jun 16, 2026
  • On May 19, 2026 the council approved amended municipal fee schedules, Appendixes A through J, 5-1, with Derek Elliott voting no. City of Rawlins · May 19, 2026
  • The Nov. 3 ballot asks whether Carbon County commissioners may continue a 1% excise tax on retail sales and use for general revenue. Carbon County Clerk
  • City Manager Matthew Hall told the council in March 2026 that voters will decide on the 5th Penny Sales Tax in November. City of Rawlins · Mar 17, 2026
02Water rates2 sourced facts

Where it standsCouncil member Derek Elliott proposed cutting water rates by about 40% in February 2026; no rate change has been voted on.

What's on the tableWhether to change city water rates in the next budget cycle.

  • On Feb. 3, 2026 Derek Elliott proposed reducing water rates by about 40%, followed by gradual increases of 2% to 5%, and council members discussed the reasons for past increases. City of Rawlins · Feb 3, 2026
  • On Oct. 6, 2026 the council heard a presentation on Waterworth software for water infrastructure and budget planning, with projections based on the city's existing water rates. City of Rawlins · Oct 6, 2026
03Junk yards and property cleanup3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council tightened its junk and salvage-yard zoning rules in December 2025 and accepted five undeveloped parcels from Sinclair Land & Development in February 2026.

What's on the tableHow the city enforces its junk-yard rules and what it does with land it acquires.

  • On Dec. 2, 2025 the council approved, 5-2 and without a grandfather clause, an ordinance amending Title 19 sections on junk and junk/salvage/wreckage yards and adding impound, towing and wrecking yard sections. City of Rawlins · Dec 2, 2025
  • On Feb. 17, 2026 the council voted 5-2 to accept a quitclaim deed for undeveloped land from Sinclair Land & Development, LLC and pay its 2025 property taxes. City of Rawlins · Feb 17, 2026
  • City Manager Matthew Hall reported on March 3, 2026 that Public Works had begun cleaning up the 5 parcels received on Feb. 17. City of Rawlins · Mar 3, 2026
04Rezoning the Lawrence property1 sourced fact

Where it standsIn August 2026 the council rezoned the former Lawrence property from industrial to residential and commercial.

What's on the tableHow the city handles development proposals for the rezoned land.

  • On Aug. 18, 2026 the council voted 6-1 to rezone about 4.88 acres of the former Lawrence property from Industrial to Residential R 7.5 and about 9.15 acres to Commercial C-2. City of Rawlins · Aug 18, 2026
05Workforce housing at the Ferguson Building2 sourced facts

Where it standsThe city applied for a state Unmet Housing grant for workforce apartments at the Ferguson Building, and ratified the grant agreement in June 2026.

What's on the tableHow the Ferguson Building project moves forward.

  • On Jan. 20, 2026 the council voted 7-0 to apply to the State Loan and Investment Board for up to $3.5 million for attainable workforce apartments at the Ferguson Building. City of Rawlins · Jan 20, 2026
  • On June 16, 2026 the council's consent agenda included ratifying the agreement for the Unmet Housing grant for the Ferguson Building project. City of Rawlins · Jun 16, 2026
4 notes on these statements

In the Aug. 18, 2026 primary for Ward 1, Megan Cragun received 99 votes, Bruce Seilaff 83 and DeBari T. Martinez 42. Carbon County · Aug 18, 2026

In the Aug. 18, 2026 primary for Ward 3, Steve Sanger received 275 votes and Cody Bluth 202. Carbon County · Aug 18, 2026

In the Aug. 18, 2026 primary for the at-large seat, Christine Cruz-Ford received 477 votes, Eddie Archuleta 452 and Shalan Crenshaw 276. Carbon County · Aug 18, 2026

Cristy Magagna is the only candidate listed for the Ward 2 seat. Carbon County Clerk · Sep 4, 2026

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Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

  1. 1. Should the council have adopted the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget as passed in June 2026?

  2. 2. Should the city's updated junk and salvage-yard rules apply without a grandfather clause for existing yards?

  3. 3. Should the former Lawrence property be rezoned from industrial to residential and commercial use?

  4. 4. Should the city seek state grants for workforce apartments in the Ferguson Building?

Seat the councilSeat the Council →Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.On the recordHow the council voted9 council decisions, each member's vote side by side, with a link to the minutes.

Key dates

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): Derek Elliott, Darril Garner, Terry Patterson4 on this ballot

7 council seats. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.

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