Does Your Vote in Wellington Actually Matter?
Yes. And the numbers from the last election prove it beyond any doubt.
5,932 Wellington residents didn’t vote.
The winner needed 227.
Wellington held a municipal election on April 7, 2026. Most of your neighbors never showed up. Here’s exactly what that means.
in Wellington
(27% turnout)
election entirely
The other 3 in 4 let someone else decide.
The Mayor’s race was decided by 227 votes — the margin between first and second place. Of the 5,932 people who sat out, fewer than 4% showing up could have changed the result.
| Candidate | Votes | |
|---|---|---|
| Rebekka Dailey (Kinney) | Won by 227 votes | |
| Christine Gaiter | 227 votes behind | |
| Ed Cannon |
| Candidate | Votes | |
|---|---|---|
| Aaron Blackstone | ||
| Brian M. Mason | ||
| Kendra Barrett | ||
| Sofia Moore | Not elected — missed by 38 votes | |
| Marc Roberson | Not elected |
Kendra Barrett made the Board with 988 votes; Sofia Moore missed it with 950. In a town where 5,932 people stayed home, 38 votes is nothing. A single street. A single neighborhood. Your block.
“It won’t affect my life.”
Your Board of Trustees makes decisions every month that reach into your wallet, your backyard, and your community — whether you’re paying attention or not.
This isn’t about national politics. It’s about the people who control what’s built next door to you, what rules govern your property, and how your tax dollars are spent. These decisions happen in low-turnout local elections, by whoever shows up.
What do you want Wellington to be?
Only 27% of Wellington’s registered voters decided which candidates would govern the town. The other 73% left that choice to their neighbors.
Wellington is still a small agricultural community — roughly 12,000 residents, open land, a modest downtown, and fewer of the urban amenities that larger cities have accumulated over decades. That character isn’t permanent. It reflects choices. As Wellington grows, the decisions made by each Board of Trustees compound. Zoning rules, utility structures, development approvals, and spending priorities set today shape what the town looks and feels like ten and twenty years from now.
Residents have different visions for Wellington’s future. Some want to preserve its agricultural and small-town identity. Others want to see it develop more amenities, density, and services. Both are legitimate positions — and both get decided at the ballot box, in low-turnout local elections, by whoever shows up.
Wellington is still small enough that engaged residents can shape its direction. That window doesn’t stay open indefinitely. Every election cycle is an opportunity — or a missed one.
| Metric | Wellington | Fort Collins |
|---|---|---|
| Population | ~12,000 | ~170,000 |
| Median home price | ~$425K–$470K | ~$535K–$585K |
| Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (FBI, 2024) |
~11 per 1,000 Below national avg. |
~24–29 per 1,000 Above national avg. |
| Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents (FBI, 2024) |
~3 per 1,000 | ~3 per 1,000 |
| Community character | Agricultural, rural, small-town; limited retail and dining; open land | University city; extensive retail, dining, trails, and cultural amenities |
| Years of municipal decisions | Still early-stage growth | Decades of accumulated policy |
Home price sources: Redfin, Zillow (Feb–Mar 2026). Crime sources: NeighborhoodScout / FBI Uniform Crime Report, 2024 calendar year data. Population: U.S. Census estimates.
These numbers show where two Northern Colorado communities stand today after very different growth histories. Fort Collins has amenities Wellington doesn’t — and costs and tradeoffs Wellington doesn’t have yet either. Which of those differences matter to you is exactly the kind of question local elections are meant to answer.
The next municipal election is 2028. Candidate filing, Board decisions between now and then, and resident engagement in the meantime will all shape the choices on that ballot. Staying informed is how you show up prepared.
🦅 Stay Informed. Stay Engaged.
This site is updated as new information becomes available on the local decisions that affect your life, your property, and your community.