Dolores Hosts Civic Engagement Summit as Election Nominations Open
Organizers in the Town of Dolores announced on Jan. 7 a daylong civic engagement summit to be held at Dolores Town Hall on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, aimed at lowering barriers to local participation and explaining municipal processes. The announcement arrives as the 20-day nomination window opened on Jan. 6 for the April 7 municipal election, a timing that gives residents both information and opportunity to consider running for trustee or mayor.
Town leaders and former trustees announced a free, daylong civic engagement summit to help Dolores residents understand how municipal government works and what serving in local leadership entails. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10 at Dolores Town Hall and includes sessions titled “Constituent 101,” “Being Involved: Opportunities to Serve,” “Stepping Up: What Serving in Local Leadership Looks Like,” and “Navigating Conflict, Resolution and Repair.”
Former Mayor Marianne Mate has been invited to lead workshops, and current committee members and former town trustees are organizing the schedule and presentations. Organizers say the summit is intended to lower barriers to participation by demystifying boards and commissions, clarifying regular municipal processes, and outlining the practical demands of service on local governing bodies.
The summit comes as the town’s 20-day nomination window opened Jan. 6 for the April 7 municipal election, during which candidates may file petitions to run for three trustee seats and the mayoralty. Prospective candidates must pick up and file nomination paperwork at Town Hall, gather at least 10 valid signatures on their petition, and meet the town’s residency requirements to qualify. The deadline to file petitions is Jan. 26, leaving a narrow window for interested residents to complete their paperwork and submit signatures.
For residents considering running, attending the summit offers a compact primer on day-to-day responsibilities, time commitments, and the procedural rules that govern local decision-making. For voters, the event is an immediate opportunity to meet prospective candidates, learn how boards and commissions influence town policy, and understand how municipal decisions affect services and budgets in Dolores County.
Organizers request that attendees RSVP by phone to Dolores Town Hall in advance to help with planning. The summit is positioned as a practical, hands-on opportunity to translate civic interest into action ahead of the filing deadline and the spring election.
Local participation in small-town governance can shape public works, land use decisions, and community priorities. With the nomination window open and the summit scheduled this weekend, Dolores residents have a clear route to both learn about and participate in the civic life of their town.
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