COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Colorado Springs mayoral candidates Richard Skorman and Steve Bach were within a few percentage points of each other at the top of the mayoral leaderboard and will now face each other in a run-off May 17.
Neither candidate received 50 percent of the overall vote in the municipal main-in election Tuesday, forcing a run-off. Because there were seven candidates running for the city's first strong mayor position, the likelihood of any one candidate gathering half the vote was small.
Skorman received 36 percent of the vote, and Bach scored 34 percent. There was a 49 percent voter turnout.
The run-off means registered voters in Colorado Springs will have to vote for mayor again, but this time there will only be two choices.
Skorman is a former city councilman and was also the Vice Mayor. However, he hasn't been in office in four years. Instead he has been running several small businesses in the area, a trait he said gives him an advantage in the race.
Bach has lived in the area for 45 years and is a former Fort Carson veteran. He said his experience in the city will give him a leg up, and he said he will work with city staff to get on the same page and solve some of the city's problems.
City Clerk Kathryn Young said the likely date ballots will be mailed to voters for the run-off election is April 27.
Complete election results
Steve Bach talks about run-off
Richard Skorman talks about run-off
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