Loveland Voters Rejected Fire Board President Recall
Paul Bukowski will remain as board president after constituents voted against a recall effort by a margin of 119 votes.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Elections
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Loveland Rural Fire Protection District Board President Paul Bukowski survived a recall election held on October 13, 2026. A total of 956 voters opposed the effort, while 837 supported his removal.
Why it matters
Organizers had sought the recall over accusations regarding a lack of transparency and decisions surrounding the fire district's property tax mill levy and leadership changes. The move faced opposition from those who supported the current board's direction.
The recall election result was decided by a margin of 119 votes, with 53.3% of voters opposing the recall compared to 46.7% in favor. Official certification of these election results is set for October 22.
The players
Paul Bukowski
He is the President of the Loveland Rural Fire Protection District Board and was the subject of the recall election.
Shawn Eggleston
He received 879 votes during the election process held for the fire district board.
The details
The election process was triggered after organizers collected 300 signatures to advance the recall. The district incurred an estimated cost of over $100,000 to conduct the vote, which also included a race where Shawn Eggleston received 879 votes.
Timeline
March 2026: Recall effort began.
June 2026: Organizers issued a statement calling for leadership changes.
July 2026: Estimated election cost exceeded $100,000.
October 13, 2026: Recall election occurred.
October 22, 2026: Election results scheduled for certification.
Political Context
Opponents of the recall argued that the effort was a misuse of resources for a special district board position. Supporters, meanwhile, maintained that the process was a necessary mechanism to ensure accountability for the fire district's financial and personnel decisions.
Residents of the fire district will see no change in board leadership as the president remains in his position. The district's property tax mill levy and previous leadership decisions, which sparked the recall, remain unchanged following the vote.
The takeaway
The failed recall highlights the challenges of mobilizing voters for special district elections, which often suffer from low turnout despite high associated costs. Residents should monitor future board meetings to see if the concerns over transparency are addressed without further electoral intervention.
What happens next
The election results are scheduled to be formally certified on October 22, 2026.
Further reading
For more information on local governance and voting, visit the Elections section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Loveland Reporter-Herald.
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