Effort to recall Jacobson in works in Snowmass

A Snowmass Village resident submitted a request Monday to launch a petition calling for the recall of Councilman Chris Jacobson, the town has confirmed.

The form, which was missing some information, has not been certified by the town clerk and was returned to the resident for revision. But it would appear the wheels are in motion to launch a recall election of the elected official, who last month was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence and later charged for damage he allegedly caused to the Pitkin County Jail the night of his arrest.

Jacobson was not at Monday night’s Town Council meeting. He did not respond to a phone call placed by The Aspen Times.

State law is very specific about how a recall process should be conducted, said Travis Elliott, assistant to the town manager. Making sure the documents are filled out properly is “just a part of the process to make sure it’s to the letter of the law,” he said.

There are a number of steps leading to a recall election, the first of which is the successful filing of a recall petition, according to the state constitution. The required number of signatures is equal to a quarter of the votes cast in the most recent general election. Based on the total votes cast in the most recent Snowmass Village council election, that number comes out to 242 signatures.

Jacobson was arrested early the morning of June 26. While detained in the Pitkin County Jail, he allegedly tore off sections of a rubberized wall in the isolation cell, exposing electrical wiring, and damaged lights in the cell, according to a police report. He was charged on July 8 with felony criminal mischief for the damage, which is estimated to cost $14,572 to repair.

Details of Jacobson’s arrest, including video surveillance from the jail, have received attention from local and statewide media outlets.

Jacobson has not commented publicly as to whether he will consider resigning and until this week had continued to appear regularly at Snowmass Village Town Council meetings. Snowmass Village elected officials are required by the town’s charter to step down if they are convicted of a felony.

Mayor Markey Butler publicly asked Jacobson to consider resigning voluntarily during a council work session on July 13, the body’s first meeting after he was arraigned on the felony charge.

Jacobson’s next court appearance is set for Aug. 3.

jill@snowmasssun.com