Political Sheet

Loveland Council Can’t Even Figure Out a Chair Rotation

Written by Scott K. James

The Loveland City Council is questioning its own election rules mid-vacancy—because nothing screams leadership like policy confusion on aisle nine.

Loveland’s city council is back at it again, friends—this time questioning their own rules for how to fill vacant seats. Because apparently, understanding your own damn ordinances is too much to expect from elected officials in 2025. The article from the Reporter-Herald details how a potential unexpected vacancy (over an administrative disagreement) has council members scrambling just to figure out whether to hold a special election or appoint someone. So… they wrote the rulebook and now need a decoder ring? Classic.

The Bullet Point Brief

  • Loveland council debates whether to appoint or elect someone if a seat opens—because reading comprehension is hard.
  • Some members say ordinance language contradicts itself. Wow, what a shock—poorly written government policies.
  • They might need a special meeting just to figure out if they need a special election. Bureaucracy eats itself again.
  • Even city staff admit the language is confusing—but hey, it only controls democracy at the local level. No big deal!
  • Meanwhile, business owners probably wonder if anyone on that dais could manage a lemonade stand without screwing it up.

My Bottom Line

This Loveland clown show proves yet again why people lose faith in local government faster than teenagers lose interest at church camp. You’ve got officials sitting around pretending they’re constitutional scholars but can’t even agree if the emergency exit is through the vote door or the appointment hallway. It’s your seat, people—you should probably know how it gets filled before you warm it.

The business community in Loveland should be biting its nails down to the knuckle. If your city council can’t interpret its own municipal code about vacancy elections, imagine what happens when something really serious hits—like zoning reform or economic incentives. Every minute wasted on parsing vague legal gibberish is a minute not spent helping small businesses grow or keeping neighborhoods safe and functional. Government dysfunction isn’t just annoying—it costs taxpayers time and money while making responsible governance look like improv theater with extra paperwork.

About the author

Scott K. James

A 4th generation Northern Colorado native, Scott K. James is a veteran broadcaster, professional communicator, and principled leader. Widely recognized for his thoughtful, common-sense approach to addressing issues that affect families, businesses, and communities, Scott, his wife, Julie, and son, Jack, call Johnstown, Colorado, home. A former mayor of Johnstown, James is a staunch defender of the Constitution and the rule of law, the free market, and the power of the individual. Scott has delighted in a lifetime of public service and continues that service as a Weld County Commissioner representing District 2.