Republican delegates will vote in contested races Saturday at the Montezuma County Assembly, a pivotal step in determining which GOP candidates move to the June primary ballot.
After speeches are delivered and paper ballots passed around, candidates running for county commissioner, clerk and recorder, treasurer and coroner will be selected and certified for the local party ticket.
Saturday evening’s assembly is another step in the candidate selection process, where hundreds of party delegates gather to hear speeches, vote and move forward any party-sponsored resolutions to state levels. Caucuses were already held in 12 precincts March 5, selecting 145 delegates plus alternates and passing various resolutions.
Voting will take place by written ballot, while uncontested candidates may be approved by voice or hand vote, said organizer Lenetta Shull. The event will be held at the Lewis Arriola Community Center, 21176 Road S in Cortez, with credentialing beginning at 5 p.m. and voting expected to begin an hour later.
This election season features a contested field of commissioner candidates with multiple pathways for nomination. Candidates typically advance by receiving 30% of delegate votes, while one candidate has already secured a spot on the June ballot through petitions. Rodney Cox, a commissioner candidate, gathered enough signatures and will not participate in the assembly. There is also a hybrid method.
Because of those different pathways, there is a chance of multiple candidates advancing, although that is uncommon.
“It is kind of rare. You usually see a candidate that will pull at least 40 to 50% of the vote,” Shull said. Shull, a Republican Central Committee member, said there are 172 delegates participating, including alternates.
For the commissioner seat, the candidates are Cox, Bonnie Anderson, Diane Fox-Spratlen, Shane Prentice, Brett Likes and Gerald Whited. Another contest includes the county’s clerk and recorder race, featuring Shull and David Raubeson. Undersheriff Tyson Cox is running unopposed for sheriff, while Ellen Black is the sole candidate for treasurer and George Deavers is the sole coroner candidate.
Results will be tallied later that evening, and paperwork will be submitted in compliance with state election laws to the county election office. Also Saturday, voters will select delegates to attend the party’s higher assemblies, including House Districts 58 and 59 assemblies and the state and district assembly, which is April 11.
Committee vice chair Bob Ower is running Saturday’s election.
Dinner, including Frito pies for a $5 donation, will be served by the Mesa Verde Republican Women.
awatson@the-journal.com
