Primary Election decides Valley races
VALLEY — Several races were decided in the San Luis Valley in Tuesday’s Primary Election, while other races were pared down for November face-offs.
In Costilla County, where there were no Republican candidates for open county seats, the Democratic Primary decided who will fill leadership positions in the county for the next four years. Costilla County had the most contested Primary Election races, with 15 candidates seeking five seats.
Of the four candidates running for Costilla County sheriff to replace Amos Medina, Danny R. Sanchez swept the race with 506 votes, nearly 200 votes ahead of the next closest challenger, Carlos C. DeLeon who received 312 votes. Colleen C. Romero received 126 and Steven Vigil 109. The new sheriff will take office in January.
Two new commissioners will fill the District 2 and 3 seats in Costilla County. Incumbent Augustine ‘’Roy’’ Esquibel was unseated on Tuesday for the District 3 seat, receiving 304 votes to winning challenger Steven Romero’s 500 votes. Fidel Rodriguez received 217 votes in the three-way race.
Filling Dolores Burns’ open commission seat in Costilla County will be Michael ‘’Mikey’’ V. Gallegos, who beat the next closest challenger by only 5 votes on Tuesday. Gallegos received 358 votes while Gilbert W. Martinez received 353 votes and Leroy Medina received 286.
(All of the posted results were listed as unofficial Tuesday night.)
Costilla County will also see a new county treasurer and assessor in January. Lorraine C. Medina defeated Rebecca ‘’Becky’’ Romero 462 to 338 votes to take the treasurer post. Both have been working in the office, Medina as deputy treasurer and Romero as deputy public trustee.
R. Thomas Aragon will be the new Costilla County assessor in the new year, having defeated challenger Lori Espinoza by a wide margin, 581 to 426.
In Rio Grande County, incumbent County Commissioner Karla Shriver lost her bid for re-election on the Republican ticket, having received 867 votes to challenger John Noffsker’s 939 votes. Noffsker will now face Democrat Joseph Schlabach in November. Rio Grande County’s only other contested race at the Primary Election level decided the sheriff’s race with Donald McDonald easily defeating Christopher Crown on the Republican ticket 1,080 to 631 votes.
Alamosa County had two contested local Primary Election races, both on the Republican ticket. Seeking the county treasurer post being vacated by the retirement of Lois Widhalm were Amy McKinley and Jerald Montoya. McKinley swept the vote with 1,233 ballots cast in her favor, while Montoya received 331 votes. McKinley will face Democrat Donna Griego in November.
Also by a wide margin (939 to 623), incumbent Alamosa County Commissioner Michael Yohn defeated challenger Arlan VanRy for the Republican candidacy for District 2 commissioner. Yohn will face Democratic challenger Edward Vigil in November.
Three Valley counties only had one contested race each at the Primary Election level. In Conejos County Republicans Garth Crowther and Marvin Thomas faced off Tuesday for the opportunity to face Democrat Jacob Ortiz in November in the run for sheriff. The two Republicans drew almost equal support, but Crowther won the race with 570 votes to Thomas’ 546 votes.
In Mineral County’s sole contested race, incumbent Mineral County Treasurer Patti Payne defeated opponent Lauri R Jordan by more than 40 votes, 163 to 120 on the Democratic ballot on Tuesday. Payne has served in the office for 18 years.
Saguache County also only had one contested local Primary Election race on Tuesday. Peter Peterson handily defeated Rhiannon Curry in the Democratic Primary for the county assessor post, 498 to 329.
Alamosa County Primary Election Unofficial Results
Representative to the 116th United States Congress - District 3 - Democratic Party
Diane Mitsch Bush 909
Karl Hanlon 327
Arn Menconi 175
Representative to the 116th United States Congress - District 3 - Republican Party
Scott R. Tipton 1,345
Governor - Democratic Party
Cary Kennedy 590
Jared Polis 472
Donna Lynne 165
Mike Johnston 332
Governor - Republican Party
Walker Stapleton 687
Greg Lopez 234
Doug Robinson 164
Victor Mitchell 402
Secretary of State - Democratic Party
Jena Griswold 1,253
Secretary of State - Republican Party
Wayne Williams 1,272
State Treasurer
Dave Young 1,007
Bernard Douthit 329
State Treasurer - Republican Party
Justin Everett 443
Polly Lawrence 354
Brian Watson 518
Attorney General - Democratic Party
Phil Weiser 646
Joe Salazar 879
Attorney General
George Brauchler 1,239
Regent of the University of Colorado - At Large - Democratic Party
Lesley Smith 1,250
Regent of the University of Colorado - At Large - Republican Party
Ken Montera 1,197
Regent of the University of Colorado - Congressional District 3 - Democratic Party
Alvin Rivera 1,304
Regent of the University of Colorado - Congressional District 3 - Republican Party
Glen H. Gallegos 1,205
State Representative - District 62 - Democratic Party
Don Valdez 1,300
Alamosa County Commissioner - District 2 - Democratic Party
Edward Vigil 1,385
Alamosa County Commissioner - District 2 - Republican Party
Michael Yohn 939
Arlan VanRy 623
Alamosa County Clerk and Recorder - Republican Party
Melanie Woodward 1,443
Alamosa County Treasurer - Democratic Party
Donna Griego 1,353
Alamosa County Treasurer - Republican Party
Amy McKinley 1,233
Jerald Montoya 331
Alamosa County Assessor - Republican Party
Sandra J. Hostetter 1,413
Alamosa County Sheriff - Democratic Party
Robert Jackson 1,404
Alamosa County Surveyor - Republican Party
Daniel M. Russell 1,380
Alamosa County Coroner - Republican Party
Trace K. Larson 1,343
Conejos County Primary Election Unofficial Results
Representative to the 116th United States Congress - District 3 - Democratic Party (
Diane Mitsch Bush 508
Karl Hanlon 262
Arn Menconi 122
Representative to the 116th United States Congress - District 3 - Republican Party
Scott R. Tipton 966
Governor - Democratic Party
Cary Kennedy 322
Jared Polis 333
Donna Lynne 97
Mike Johnston 279
Governor - Republican Party
Walker Stapleton 397
Greg Lopez 208
Doug Robinson 170
Victor Mitchell 298
Secretary of State - Democratic Party
Jena Griswold 830
Secretary of State - Republican Party
Wayne Williams 942
State Treasurer - Democratic Party
Dave Young 674
Bernard Douthit 207
State Treasurer - Republican Party
Justin Everett 376
Polly Lawrence 185
Brian Watson 405
Attorney General - Democratic Party
Phil Weiser 368
Joe Salazar 670
Attorney General - Republican Party
George Brauchler 924
Regent of the University of Colorado - At Large - Democratic Party
Lesley Smith 829
Regent of the University of Colorado - At Large - Republican Party
Ken Montera 904
Regent of the University of Colorado - Congressional District 3 - Democratic Party
Alvin Rivera 914
Regent of the University of Colorado - Congressional District 3 - Republican Party
Glen H. Gallegos 898
State Representative - District 62 - Democratic Party
Don Valdez 1,023
Conejos County Commissioner - District 2 - Democratic Party
Steve A. Cordova 838
Conejos County Commissioner - District 2 - Republican Party
Mitchell Jarvies 1,047
Conejos County Clerk and Recorder - Democratic Party
Nathan Ruybal 1,034
Conejos County Treasurer - Republican Party
Mack M. Crowther 1,076
Conejos County Assessor - Democratic Party
Naomi Martinez-Keys 1,027
Conejos County Sheriff - Democratic Party
Jacob D. Ortiz 799
Conejos County Sheriff - Republican Party
Garth Crowther 570
Marvin Thomas 546
Conejos County Surveyor - Republican Party
Martin Reynolds 1,036
Conejos County Coroner - Democratic Party
Leslie Salazar 933
Conejos County Coroner - Republican Party
Richard A. Martin 1,006
Costilla County Primary Election Unofficial Results
Representative to the 116th United States Congress - District 3 - Democratic Party
Diane Mitsch Bush 441
Karl Hanlon 185
Arn Menconi 105
Representative to the 116th United States Congress - District 3 - Republican Party
Scott R. Tipton 142
Governor - Democratic Party (Vote For 1)
Cary Kennedy 244
Jared Polis 284
Donna Lynne 112
Mike Johnston 237
Governor - Republican Party
Walker Stapleton 56
Greg Lopez 20
Doug Robinson 9
Victor Mitchell 65
Secretary of State - Democratic Party
Jena Griswold 682
Secretary of State - Republican Party
Wayne Williams 138
State Treasurer - Democratic Party
Dave Young 534
Bernard Douthit 168
State Treasurer - Republican Party
Justin Everett 48
Polly Lawrence 28
Brian Watson 60
Attorney General - Democratic Party
Phil Weiser 279
Joe Salazar 611
Attorney General - Republican Party
George Brauchler 129
Regent of the University of Colorado - At Large - Democratic Party
Lesley Smith 638
Regent of the University of Colorado - At Large - Republican Party
Ken Montera 121
Regent of the University of Colorado - Congressional District 3 - Democratic Party
Alvin Rivera 721
Regent of the University of Colorado - Congressional District 3
Glen H. Gallegos 121
State Representative - District 62 - Democratic Party
Don Valdez 817
Costilla County Commissioner - District 2 - Democratic Party
Michael ‘’Mikey’’ V. Gallegos 358
Gilbert W. Martinez 353
Leroy Medina 286
Costilla County Commissioner - District 3 - Democratic Party
Steven Romero 500
Augustine ‘’Roy’’ Esquibel 304
Fidel Rodriguez 217
Costilla County Clerk and Recorder - Democratic Party
Najondine T. Placek 806
Costilla County Treasurer - Democratic Party
Rebecca ‘’Becky’’ Romero 338
Lorraine C. Medina 462
Gary Gurule 225
Costilla County Assessor - Democratic Party
R. Thomas Aragon 581
Lori Espinoza 426
Costilla County Sheriff - Democratic Party
Danny R. Sanchez 506
Steven Vigil 109
Colleen C. Romero 126
Carlos C. DeLeon 312
Costilla County Coroner - Democratic Party
Gary R. Vigil 855
Mineral County Primary Election Unofficial Results
Representative to the 116th United States Congress - District 3 - Democratic Party
Diane Mitsch Bush 127
Karl Hanlon 60
Arn Menconi 14
Representative to the 116th United States Congress - District 3 - Republican Party
Scott R. Tipton 150
Governor - Democratic Party
Cary Kennedy 57
Jared Polis 77
Donna Lynne 28
Mike Johnston 84
Governor - Republican Party
Walker Stapleton 67
Greg Lopez 21
Doug Robinson 13
Victor Mitchell 59
Secretary of State - Democratic Party
Jena Griswold 175
Secretary of State - Republican Party
Wayne Williams 130
State Treasurer - Democratic Party
Dave Young 118
Bernard Douthit 72
State Treasurer - Republican Party
Justin Everett 38
Polly Lawrence 35
Brian Watson 59
Attorney General - Democratic Party
Phil Weiser 132
Joe Salazar 97
Attorney General - Republican Party
George Brauchler 119
Regent of the University of Colorado - At Large - Democratic Party
Lesley Smith 159
Regent of the University of Colorado - At Large - Republican Party
Ken Montera 110
Regent of the University of Colorado - Congressional District 3 - Democratic Party
Alvin Rivera 156
Regent of the University of Colorado - Congressional District 3 - Republican Party
Glen H. Gallegos 111
State Representative - District 62 - Democratic Party
Don Valdez 172
Mineral County Commissioner - District 1 - Democratic Party
R Scott Lamb 237
Mineral County Clerk and Recorder - Republican Party
Eryn K Wintz 165
Mineral County Treasurer - Democratic Party
Lauri R Jordan 120
Patti Payne 163
Mineral County Assessor - Democratic Party
Libby Lamb 195
Mineral County Sheriff - Democratic Party
Fred Hosselkus 216
Mineral County Coroner - Democratic Party
Jimmy K Adelman 209
Rio Grande County Primary Election Unofficial Results
Representative to the 116th United States Congress - District 3 - Democratic Party
Diane Mitsch Bush 548
Karl Hanlon 221
Arn Menconi 96
Representative to the 116th United States Congress - District 3 - Republican Party
Scott R. Tipton 1,583
Governor - Democratic Party
Cary Kennedy 281
Jared Polis 307
Donna Lynne 89
Mike Johnston 252
Governor - Republican Party
Walker Stapleton 790
Greg Lopez 233
Doug Robinson 146
Victor Mitchell 565
Secretary of State - Democratic Party
Jena Griswold 772
Secretary of State - Republican Party
Wayne Williams 1,469
State Treasurer - Democratic Party
Dave Young 624
Bernard Douthit 216
State Treasurer - Republican Party
Justin Everett 469
Polly Lawrence 368
Brian Watson 681
Attorney General - Democratic Party
Phil Weiser 338
Joe Salazar 572
Attorney General - Republican Party
George Brauchler 1,449
Regent of the University of Colorado - At Large - Democratic Party
Lesley Smith 745
Regent of the University of Colorado - At Large - Republican Party
Ken Montera 1,355
Regent of the University of Colorado - Congressional District 3 - Democratic Party
Alvin Rivera 778
Regent of the University of Colorado - Congressional District 3 - Republican Party
Glen H. Gallegos 1,360
State Representative - District 62 - Democratic Party
Don Valdez 811
Rio Grande County Commissioner - District 2 - Democratic Party
Joseph Schlabach 740
Rio Grande County Commissioner - District 2 - Republican Party
John Noffsker 939
Karla L Shriver 867
Rio Grande County Clerk and Recorder - Republican Party
Cindy Hill 1,633
Rio Grande County Treasurer - Republican Party
Cherilyn K Rue 1,579
Rio Grande County Assessor - Republican Party
J J Mondragon 1,583
Rio Grande County Sheriff - Republican Party
Donald G McDonald 1,080
Christopher Crown 631
Rio Grande County Coroner - Republican Party
Stephen Hunzeker 1,546
Saguache County Primary Election Unofficial Results
Representative to the 116th United States Congress - District 3 - Democratic Party
Diane Mitsch Bush 539
Karl Hanlon153
Arn Menconi 75
Representative to the 116th United States Congress - District 3 - Republican Party
Scott R. Tipton 405
Governor - Democratic Party
Cary Kennedy 294
Jared Polis 314
Donna Lynne 64
Mike Johnsto 158
Governor - Republican Party
Walker Stapleton 212
Greg Lopez 79
Doug Robinson 30
Victor Mitchell 147
Secretary of State - Democratic Party
Jena Griswold 598
Secretary of State - Republican Party
Wayne Williams 378
State Treasurer - Democratic Party
Dave Young 448
Bernard Douthit 229
State Treasurer - Republican Party
Justin Everett 157
Polly Lawrence 94
Brian Watson 163
Attorney General - Democratic Party
Phil Weiser 282
Joe Salazar 510
Attorney General - Republican Party
George Brauchler 371
Regent of the University of Colorado - At Large - Democratic Party
Lesley Smith 573
Regent of the University of Colorado - At Large - Republican Party
Ken Montera 343
Regent of the University of Colorado - Congressional District 3 - Democratic Party
Alvin Rivera 595
Regent of the University of Colorado - Congressional District 3 - Republican Party
Glen H. Gallegos 331
State Representative - District 62 - Democratic Party
Don Valdez 626
Saguache County Commissioner - District 3 - Democratic Party
Tim N. Lovato 620
Saguache County Commissioner - District 3 - Republican Party
Ellen E. Cox 348
Saguache County Clerk and Recorder - Democratic Party
Renee Hazard 627
Saguache County Clerk and Recorder - Republican Party
Trish Gilbert 427
Saguache County Treasurer - Republican Party
Connie A. Trujillo 425
Saguache County Assessor - Democratic Party
Peter Peterson 498
Rhiannon Curry 329
Saguache County Sheriff - Democratic Party
Nobel Havens 533
Saguache County Sheriff - Republican Party
Dan Warwick 431
Saguache County Coroner - Democratic Party
Tom Perrin 650