Crowther leads by wide margin in reelection bid 

Contributed photo Mineral County Clerk Eryn Wintz and three judges worked through the evening Tuesday processing ballots from the General Election. 

CONEJOS COUNTY — Incumbent Garth Crowther (R) appeared to have won reelection as Conejos County Sheriff based on Tuesday night’s unofficial General Election results. Crowther was leading challenger Martin Maez (D) by a wide margin, 2,169-1,210. 

The sheriff’s election was the only contested race for Conejos County. 

In other elections of note, Conejos County voters favored incumbent U.S. House Representative Lauren Boebert to represent Dist. 3 over Adam Frisch; backed Republican Anne Kelly (61.17 percent) over Democrat Robert Willett (38.83) in the 12th Judicial District Attorney election; and supported Republican Carol Riggenbach over Democrat Matthew Martinez, 1,764-1,549, in the State Representative Dist. 62 election. 

There were many uncontested races in Conejos County. Mitchell Jarvies was elected as Conejos County Commissioner in District 2; Nathan Ruybal was elected county clerk and recorder, Mack M. Crowther was elected county treasurer, Naomi Martinez-Keys was elected county assessor, Martin Reynolds was elected county surveyor and Richard A. Martin was elected coroner. 

Sanchez on way to reelection; voters favor Issue 1A 

COSTILLA COUNTY — Incumbent Danny Sanchez (D) was leading unaffiliated challenger Paul Quintana by more than 500 votes in the Costilla County Sheriff election, according to Tuesday night’s unofficial General Election results. 

County voters were also supporting Issue IA, a 1 cent sales tax increase that would be used to fund “urgent public safety needs” including law enforcement operations and detention facilities. The measure was on the way to passing with 56.27 percent of the vote. 

In other elections of note, Costilla County voters favored challenger Adam Frisch (1,090) over incumbent Lauren Boebert (533) for the U.S. House of Representatives Dist. 3 seat; supported Democrat Robert Willett (53.78 percent) over Democrat Anne Kelly in the 12th Judicial District Attorney election; and backed Democrat Matthew Martinez (1,016 votes) over Republican Carol Riggenbach (545) in the Colorado State Representative Dist. 62 election. 

There were several uncontested races in Costilla as well. Lorraine Quintana was elected county commissioner in district 2, Najondire T. Placek was elected county clerk and recorder, Michael Ray Vigil was elected treasurer, Thomas Aragon was elected assessor and Gary Roy Vigil was elected coroner.

Voters recall Sargent School District Trustee Mitchell

RIO GRANDE COUNTY — Voters appear to have recalled Sargent School District Trustee Gina Mitchell based on Tuesday night’s unofficial General Election results.

By nearly a 3-1 margin (338-113), voters were in favor of recalling Mitchell from her seat on the school board. 

Eric Stephens Pfannenstiel ran unopposed on the ballot to replace Mitchell if she was recalled. 

The recall began after Mitchell was censured, 3-0, by the school on April 25, following an investigation into allegations of abuse of power by the trustee. 

Rio Grande County only featured uncontested races for its county seats. 

Tyler Ratzlaff was elected county commissioner for district 2, Cindy Hill was elected clerk and recorder, Rhonda (Simpson) Richardson was elected treasurer, J.J. Mondragon was elected assessor, Anne M. Robinson was elected sheriff and Stephen Hunzeker was elected coroner. 

In other elections of note, Rio Grande County voters favored incumbent U.S. House Representative Lauren Boebert to represent Dist. 3 over Adam Frisch; Republican Anne Kelly by more than a 2-1 margin over Democrat Robert Willett in the 12th Judicial District Attorney election; and Republican Carol Riggenbach over Democrat Matthew Martinez, 2,859-1,998, in the State Representative Dist. 62 election. 

Wetherill, Lamb leading respective races 

MINERAL COUNTY — Republican challenger Terry Wetherill held a 41-vote lead (372-331) over incumbent Democrat Fred Hosselkus in the voting for Mineral County Sheriff according to Tuesday night’s unofficial General Election results. 

The sheriff’s election was just one of two contested races on election night in Mineral County. 

Incumbent Republican Libby Lamb appeared to be on her way to retaining her Mineral County Assessor seat as she led Democrat challenger Stasha Birdsey by a wide margin, 427-278. 

Voter turnout in the county was at 84.13 percent with 726 ballots cast. 

In other elections of note, Mineral County voters favored incumbent U.S. House Representative Lauren Boebert to represent Dist. 3 over Adam Frisch; backed Republican Anne Kelly by nearly a 2-1 margin over Democrat Robert Willett in the 12th Judicial District Attorney election; and supported Republican Carol Riggenbach over Democrat Matthew Martinez, 394-287, in the State Representative Dist. 62 election. 

In uncontested races, R. Scott Lamb was elected county commissioner of District 1, Eryn K. Witnz was elected county clerk and recorder, Amy Wetherill was elected treasurer and Jimmy K. Adelman was elected coroner. 

Marron edging Phillips in Commissioner’s race 

SAGUACHE COUNTY — In the only contested race, Democrat Liza Marron had received 1,318 votes and led Republican Jeff Phillips with 1,159 votes in the Saguache County Commissioner Dist. 3 election, according to Tuesday night’s unofficial General Election results. 

In other elections of note, Saguache County voters favored challenger Adam Frisch (1,541) over incumbent Lauren Boebert (1,135) for the U.S. House of Representatives Dist. 3 seat; supported by a close 64-vote margin Republican Anne Kelly over Democrat Robert Willett in the 12th Judicial District Attorney election; and backed Democrat Matthew Martinez (56.17 percent) over Republican Carol Riggenbach (43.83) in the Colorado State Representative Dist. 62 election. 

In uncontested races, Trish Gilbert was elected clerk and recorder, Regina Swartz was elected treasurer, Peter Peterson was elected assessor, Dan Warwick was elected sheriff and Tom Perrin was elected coroner.

Other races of interest to SLV voters 

Overall, Republican candidate 12th Judicial District Attorney Anne Kelly led Democratic challenger Bob Willett by 10%; 55% to 45%. 

In the House District 62 race, Democrat candidate Matthew Martinez had a commanding lead garnering 61% of the votes to Republican Carol Riggenbach’s 39%. 

In the race for the seat in the U.S. House of Representatives CO-3, Democrat challenger Adam Frisch led incumbent Republican Lauren Boebert but the race was still too close to call. 

Gov. Polis, Sen. Bennett reelected by state voters 

The State of Colorado also voted in United States Senator Michael Bennet, and re-elected Democrat Governor Jared Polis for a second term. 

For the state’s ballot measures, Colorado voted to allow Amendment D which involved an amendment to the Colorado constitution concerning judges of the newly created 23rd Judicial District and Amendment E which provided an extension on property tax exemptions for qualifying seniors and disabled veterans. 

Colorado voted against Amendment F which would have changed the conduct of charitable gaming activities. 

Proposition FF concerning an increase in state taxes to provide healthy lunches for public school students was passing along with Proposition GG which requires ballot measures that involve state tax decreases or increases include a table showing the average tax changes. 

Proposition 121 was passing which will decrease state income tax by 4.55% to 4.40% 

Proposition 122 was passing which will allow the consumption of “natural medicine” for person’s 21 years or older defining the “natural medicine” as certain plants of fungi that affect a person’s mental health and are controlled substances under state law.  

For more on the Colorado 2022 General Election, visit https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/CO. 

The results of the General Election will not be official until the election is certified.