The ultra-exclusive Forty Grand Club was born out of the turmoil of the '95 Boulder City Council Election. It seemed almost as if more citizens were running for office than weren't. The confusion induced by mass-candidacy and the post-election machinations of the '95 campaign led to the custom of not-running, that is, conducting a campaign urging people not to vote for you, to avoid possible misunderstandings later. The members of The Forty Grand Club are:

Founder and Patron Saint- After several terms on the council, Matt Applebaum wanted to move on, but was faced with a painful choice: Who, among the multitudes clamoring for elevation to the council could measure up to his standard? No one. So Applebaum compromised. He ran successfully for reelection, and after the dust had settled he resigned, throwing the choice of his successor to the council according to custom. The Applebaum Gambit set in motion the events that led to the creation of The Forty Grand Club. He later headed PLAN-Boulder.

Restless Ghost-Ruth Blackmore was a determined neighborhood-power activist with a vocal grassroots organization who came within a few votes of election. The ruling coalition on the council found her Scary As Hell and snubbed her when filling Applebaum's still-warm chair. This contributed significantly to the public ire that led to a petition drive and ballot initiative mandating that a vote of the people must fill future council vacancies. In a stinging Reality Adjustment, the public made clear they'd rather spend the $40,000 that a special election costs than leave the choice up to the council. But, ever fickle, the voters didn't choose Blackmore at the next election, and her dream of a career trying to do the impossible for the ungrateful shattered, she quit running for council.

Anointed One- The council not only passed over Ruth Blackmore to fill Applebaum's vacancy, it passed over the whole field of candidates who'd jostled and slugged their way through the crowded campaign, picking a complete unknown instead. Don Mock, the Stealth Candidate, had never campaigned for or held office, hadn't spent a nickel or kissed a baby. Qualifications: nice guy. He was to be the last person to be so elevated to a council seat.

Gary Myre- When he just couldn't take the hell of public service any longer, Myre bailed out of his council term with only months to go, becoming the first councilman to require a 40 grand replacement. He took a job with a private organization that dispenses advice on how local government can save money.

Tom Eldridge- By becoming the first candidate to spend $40,000 in a campaign to gain a partial, less-than-one-year term, folksy millionaire Eldridge thus became the first councilman it cost both the public and himself $40,000 to elect and thus a sort of unique, $80,000 member of The Forty Grand Club pantheon. His accomplishment should really count for a double membership.

Jean Bonelli- By spending an unprecedented $40,000 of mostly teachers' union money in a school board campaign, former Boulder High principal Bonelli became the sole school board member of the Forty Grand Club.

For Sure - When popular former child prodigy and Mayor Will "For Sure" Toor decided to seek elevation to the Tripartite Hegemony, aka, the County Commissioners, he could have resigned his city council seat and saved the city the cost of a special election. But he decided to stay on. Cost to the taxpayers: $45,000. Peace of mind for Will: priceless.