Unofficial results from Tuesday’s general election showed the majority of Archuleta County voters aligning with Republican candidates in local, state and federal races, and largely in step with voters from around the state on proposed constitutional amendments and propositions.
On Wednesday morning, Archuleta County Clerk and Recorder Kristy Archuleta reported her office had received 8,855 ballots by mail and counted 663 in-person votes.
“It was a great election with a good turnout,” Archuleta wrote in an email to The SUN.
Warren Brown, John Ranson elected
In the only locally contested county commissioner race, District 1 incumbent Warren Brown, a Republican, defeated challenges by unaffiliated candidates Wayne Hooper and Ken Bowles.
As of Wednesday, Brown had received 4,605 votes, while Hooper and Bowles received 2,760 and 985, respectively.
John Ranson, also a Republican and former commissioner, ran unopposed for District 2 and collected 6,543 votes.
Reached by The SUN while collecting signs from snowy lawns on Wednesday, Ranson described feeling excitement and relief after a long election season.
“It seems like this year was really long … but I’m excited,” he said. “I’m excited to get back in there and see if we can’t help out a little bit.”
Looking ahead, Ranson expressed hopes to sow unity and prioritize the local business community.
“I’m a big believer in teamwork and that, you know, we all need to work together,” he said.
Eyeing the potential reconstruction project scheduled to take place next spring in downtown Pagosa Springs, Ranson said he hoped to “work together with other entities to make sure we can somehow help our businesses through that construction period,” and added, “I think it’s our No. 1 priority.”
It was a priority he and Brown could agree upon.
“In my mind it’s the most critical thing right now,” Brown said Wednesday of the planned project. “We need to be very mindful to try and support our small businesses and aid our tourism in a manner that’s responsible.”
Assessing his greater feelings after election night, Brown said, “I am so humbled that the vast majority of voters have seen fit to retain me as a commissioner. I am grateful that, above and beyond the political rhetoric, they’ve been paying attention to the work that I’ve been doing for the county and for them.”
Other races
The majority of Archuleta County voters chose Republican Donald J. Trump over Democrat Kamala Harris for president — departing from trends elsewhere in Colorado that ultimately awarded Harris the state’s 10 electoral votes.
Trump received 55.81 percent of the local vote to Harris’s 41.72 percent.
In other races, Archuleta County voters selected Republican Jeff Hurd over Democrat Adam Frisch to represent Congressional District 3 in the U.S. Congress, and Republican Sherri M. Wright over Democrat Ellen Angeles to represent the district on the State Board of Education. Both results were aligned with those from around the state.
Local voters split from statewide results in the at-large regent race for the University of Colorado, with Republican Eric Rinard winning the local vote but Democrat Elliott Hood prevailing statewide. Republican Ray Scott, representing District 3 as regent, won locally and statewide.
Archuleta County voters also chose Republican Cleave Alan Simpson over Democrat Vivian Smotherman as state senator for District 6, as did voters statewide.
In the state representative race, Archuleta County voters chose Clark Craig, a Republican, over Democrat rival Katie Stewart in District 59. Stewart prevailed in state results released Wednesday.
District Attorney Sean Murray, running unopposed, won in the 6th Judicial District, and Archuleta County Coroner Brad Hunt won re-election.
In the state judicial races, Archuleta County voters agreed with those from around the state that Supreme Court justices Maria Berkenkotter, Brian Boatright and Monica Marquez should all be retained.
Court of Appeals judges Stephanie Dunn, Jerry Jones, Eric Kuhn, Gilbert Roman and Timothy Shutz were similarly retained, as was 6th Judicial District Court Judge Kim Soon Shropshire.
Archuleta County voters mostly agreed with those from around the state when considering state ballot measures.
Constitutional amendments G, H, I and J all passed locally and statewide. Amendment K, concerning the modification of certain election deadlines, failed both in Archuleta County and on the state level. Amendment 79 passed in similar fashion.
Amendment 80, establishing the right to school choice for children in kindergarten through 12th grade, was favored in Archuleta County but failed at the state level.
Propositions JJ, 128, 129 and 130 passed in local and statewide results, while propositions 127 and 131 failed.
Local voters diverged from those around the state when considering Proposition KK, which provides additional funds for mental health services and called for additional firearm taxes. The proposition was voted down in Archuleta County but passed statewide with 54.06 percent of the vote.
For additional ballot measure results, including summaries of each measure, see the table attached to this story.
Further assessing the results and turnout of the local electorate, Archuleta made special note to thank everyone who voted and helped the process run smoothly.
“I would like to give a huge thank you to my staff (Hazel, Cheree, Eleanor, Ann, Yolanda, Blane, Hailey and Rebecca), Archuleta County Human Resources, Archuleta County Extension Office, Archuleta County Assessor’s Office, Pagosa Springs Police Department, Mountain Peak Rentals, PLPOA, J.C., all of our election judges that put in extra long hours, and anyone else that helped with, yet again, another successful election,” Archuleta wrote in an email to The SUN.
She also praised the county maintenance and information technology departments.
“We could not do it [without] all of the help [from] our community,” Archuleta wrote.
garrett@pagosasun.com
