Two Democrats ran unopposed seeking two seats on the La Plata County Board of County Commissioners and will likely face unaffiliated candidates in the November General Election after the Republican Party failed to field candidates in either race.

Marsha Porter-Norton, who has been active in nonprofits in Durango and operated Operation Healthy Communities from 1994 to 2000, collected 8,593 votes. She will run for the District 2 seat, which represents much of Durango.

Matthew Salka, former mayor of Bayfield, claimed 8,337 votes, running unopposed for the District 3 seat, which represents much of eastern La Plata County, including Bayfield, Ignacio and Vallecito.

In Colorado, county commissioners represent districts, but voters from the entire county vote for candidates in all the county commission districts.

Norton will likely face Durango businessman Jack Turner, who is running as an unaffiliated candidate seeking the District 2 seat. He has until the end of July to garner 600 valid signatures on petitions to earn a place on the General Election ballot in November.

Salka will likely face Charly Minkler, a longtime county resident who has served on the county Planning Commission for the past four years. Like Turner, Minkler is running as an unaffiliated candidate and faces the same deadline as Turner to submit 600 valid signatures to the La Plata County Clerk and Recorder to win a spot on the November ballot.

According to the latest candidate campaign-finance reports filed June 26 with the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office:

Porter Norton had $10,994 cash on hand for the race.Salka had $6,370.Turner had $1,131.Minkler had $4,234.

parmijo@durangoherald.com

Porter Norton had $10,994 cash on hand for the race.Salka had $6,370.Turner had $1,131.Minkler had $4,234.