BENT COUNTY – The general election is coming up fast on November 6, 2018. Colorado voters will have a lengthy ballot in this year as we choose a new Governor, decide who will represent us locally, consider municipal and school district ballot measures, and make our choices on several constitutional and statutory ballot measures.
Local Clerk & Recorder offices will start mailing out ballots on Monday, October 15th. You have until October 29th to submit a voter registration application and still receive a ballot in the mail. If you miss that deadline, you can still submit an application at a Voter Service and Polling Center up to the day of the general election.
You may have already received the Ballot Information Booklet (Blue Book) which provides voters with the text, title, and a fair and impartial analysis of each initiated or referred constitutional amendment, law, or question on the ballot.
Here’s what you’ll find on your ballot in Bent County.
Congressional District 4
- Karen McCormick (Democratic)
- Ken Buck (Republican)
- Jared Polis / Dianne Primavera (Democratic)
- Walker Stapleton / Lang Sias (Republican)
- Bill Hammons / Eric Bodenstab (Unity)
- Scott Helker / Michele Poague (Libertarian)
- Wayne Williams (Republican)
- Jena Griswold (Democratic)
- Amanda Campbell (American Constitution)
- Blake Huber (Approval Voting)
- Brian Watson (Republican)
- Dave Young (Democratic)
- Gerald F. Kilpatrick (American Constitution)
- Phil Weiser (Democratic)
- George Brauchler (Republican)
- William F. Robinson III (Libertarian)
Regent, University of Colorado At Large
- Lesley Smith (Democratic)
- Ken Montera (Republican)
- Christopher E. Otwell (Unity)
- James K. Treibert (Libertarian)
State Board of Education Member District 4
- Tim Krug (Democratic)
- Debora L. Scheffel(Republican)
State Representative District 64
- Kimmi Lewis (Republican)
- Teri Nilson Baird (Democratic)
Bent County Commissioner District 2
- John Thomas (Republican)
- Chuck Netherton (Democratic)
- Robert J. (Jack) Barrington (Unaffiliated)
Bent County Clerk and Recorder
- Lynda G. Moss (Democratic)
Bent County Treasurer
- Angela Kelly (Democratic)
- Kathryn L. Brown (Republican)
Bent County Assessor
- Guy F. Wagner (Democratic)
- Catherine Tempel (Republican)
Bent County Sheriff
- Bradley Jones (Democratic)
- Jake R. Six (Republican)
- David L. Foulk (Unaffiliated)
Bent County Surveyor
- No candidates for this office
Bent County Coroner
- Jason Nichols (Republican)
City/County/Precinct Questions
City of Las Animas Ballot Question 2A
“Beginning January 1, 2019, shall Medical Marijuana Centers, Optional Premises Cultivation Operations, and Medical Marijuana-Infused Products Manufacturing be permitted within the City of Las Animas, subject to Colorado law and such additional regulations as may be adopted by the City Council of the City of Las Animas”
City of Las Animas Ballot Question 2B
“Beginning January 1, 2019, shall Marijuana Facilities, including Marijuana Cultivation Facilities, Marijuana Retail Sales Facilities, Marijuana Manufacturing Facilities and Marijuana Testing Facilities be permitted within the City of Las Animas, subject to the Colorado Retail Marijuana Code and such additional regulations as may be adopted by the City Council of the City of Las Animas?”
City of Las Animas Ballot Question 2C
“Beginning January 1, 2019, shall the City of Las Animas taxes be increased by an estimated one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) in the first full fiscal year and by such amounts as are raised annually thereafter by imposing an additional sales tax of five percent (5%) on the sale of retail and medical marijuana products, with the rate of such tax being allowed to be decreased or increased without further voter approval so long as the rate of the tax does not exceed 10 percent (10%), only in the vent that such facilities are permitted in the City of Las Animas based on upon an affirmative vote of the qualified electors of the City of Las Animas, and with the resulting tax revenue being allowed to be collected and spent by the City of Las Animas without regard to any expenditure, revenue-raising, or other limitation contained in Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution or any other law?”
City of Las Animas Ballot Question 2D
“Without increasing taxes, shall the City of Las Animas, Colorado have the legal ability to provide any or all services currently restricted by Title 29, Article 27, Part 1, of the Colorado Revised Statutes, specifically described as “advanced services”, “telecommunication services”, and “cable television services”, as defined by the statute, including, but not limited to, any new and improved high bandwidth services based on future technologies, utilizing community owned infrastructure including, but not limited to, any existing fiber optic network, either directly or indirectly, with public or private sector service providers, to potential subscribers that may include telecommunications service providers, and residential or commercial users within the City of Las Animas?”
Bent County Ballot Question 1A – Broadband Service Authorization
“Without increasing taxes, shall Bent County, Colorado, have the legal ability to provide any or all services currently restricted by Title 29, Article 27, Part 1, of the Colorado Revised Statutes, specifically described as “advanced services”, “telecommunication services”, and “cable television services”, as defined by the statute, including, but not limited to, any new and improved high bandwidth services based on future technologies, utilizing community owned infrastructure including, but not limited to, any existing fiber optic network, either directly or indirectly, with public or private sector service providers, to potential subscribers that may include telecommunications service providers, and residential or commercial users within Bent County?”
Bent-Prowers Cemetery District Ballot Issue 7C
“Shall the Bent-Prowers Cemetery District Taxes be increased by a total amount of $41,212.00 annually (Prowers County: $9876.00: Bent County: $31, 336.00) or by such amount as may be raised by the imposition of an additional ad valorem property real tax rate of 1,644-mills, being an increase from 2,356-mills to 4,000 mills. To be certified in 2018 and collected in 2019, and continuing each year thereafter as otherwise allowed by law, which increase shall be funding the general fund of the district to provide district operations and cemetery services and the acquisition of capital equipment and improvements, and shall the district be authorized to collect, retain, and spend all tax revenue collected from such total property tax rate, and all other revenue received from any source, commencing January 1, 2019, and continuing thereafter as a voter approved revenue change, offset, and exception to the limits which would otherwise apply under TABOR (Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution) or any other law and as a permanent waiver of the 5.5% limitation under Section 29-1-301 C.R.S?
Judicial District Questions
16th Judicial District Ballot Question 7A (District Attorney Term Limit Extension to
Three Terms):
Shall the term limits imposed by State law and in Article XVIII, Section 11, of the Colorado Constitution on the office of District Attorney in and for the Sixteenth Judicial District, be modified so as to permit an elected officeholder in that office to seek and, if the voters of the 16th Judicial District choose to re-elect that person to a third term in office, to serve a third consecutive term?
16th Judicial District Ballot Question 7B (Elimination of Term Limits on the Office of
District Attorney):
Shall the term limits imposed by State law and in Article XVIII, Section 11, of the Colorado Constitution on the office of District Attorney in and for the Sixteenth Judicial District, be eliminated so as to permit an elected officeholder in that office to seek and, if the voters of the 16th Judicial District choose to re-elect that person to any consecutive term?
Colorado Supreme Court Justice
- Shall Justice Richard L. Gabriel of the Colorado Supreme Court be retained in office?
Colorado Court of Appeals Judge
- Shall Judge John Daniel Dailey of the Colorado Court of Appeals be retained in office?
- Shall Judge Rebecca Rankin Freyre of the Colorado Court of Appeals be retained in office?
- Shall Judge Elizabeth L. Harris of the Colorado Court of Appeals be retained in office?
- Shall Judge David J. Richman of the Colorado Court of Appeals be retained in office?
Ballot Measures
Amendment V – Reduction in age for the general assembly
The amendment would change the minimum age to be elected to the Colorado General Assembly from 25-years-old to 21-years-old.
Amendment W – Change format of judicial retention elections
The amendment would change the language for judicial retention elections on the Colorado ballot to simplify the listing of judges on the ballot.
Amendment X – Change definition of industrial hemp
If passed, the amendment would redefine industrial hemp so it falls in line with existing federal law and Colorado statutes. The intent of the sponsors is to allow lawmakers more flexibility in defining industrial hemp when federal law changes, rather than going back to the voters for a constitutional amendment.
Amendment Y – Congressional redistricting
Amendment Y will take the responsibility of redistricting away from lawmakers in Congressional districts and in the hands of a commission to draw district maps, thereby ending the practice of gerrymandering.
Amendment Z – State Senate and State House redistricting
Amendment Z will take the responsibility of redistricting away from lawmakers in the State Senate and State House and in the hands of a commission to draw district maps, thereby ending the practice of gerrymandering.
Amendment A – Prohibit slavery and indentured servitude
Amendment A seeks voter approval to remove a mention of slavery in the Colorado Constitution that allows slavery and indentured servitude to be used as a form of punishment for convicted criminals. While slavery and indentured servitude are already prohibited in the constitution, this measure would ensure it is prohibited in all circumstances.
If passed, Amendment 73 would amend the state constitution to raise income taxes on corporations, those earning more than $150,000 every year, and those earning more than $500,000 annually.
Amendment 74 – Just Compensation for Reduction in Fair Market Value by Government Law or Regulation
This initiative calls for property owners in Colorado to be compensated for any reduction in property values caused by state laws or regulations.
Amendment 75 – Campaign Finance Reform
If passed, Amendment 75 would change campaign finance rules in Colorado to allow candidates to raise more money from individual contributions if their opponent donates $1 million or more to their own campaign committee.
Proposition 109 – “Fix our Damn Roads”
If passed, Proposition 110 known as “Fix our Damn Roads” would call for the state to borrow $3.5 billion in bonds to fund the highest priority construction projects on CDOT’s list. The proposal also calls for state lawmakers to dedicate a minimum of 2 percent of general fund spending to repay debt from the project until it is paid in full.
Proposition 110 – Increase sales tax to fund transportation projects
If passed, Proposition 109 would increase Colorado’s sales and use tax from 2.9 percent to 3.52 percent for the next 20 years to fund transportation projects around the state.
Proposition 111 – Payday loan regulation
If passed, Proposition 111 calls for the state to cap the maximum interest rate that payday lenders can charge at 36 percent and would regulate the charging of fees from payday lenders.
Proposition 112 – Setback requirement for oil and gas development
If passed, the measure would mandate that all new oil and gas development locations be a minimum of 2,500 feet away from occupied buildings and “vulnerable areas”
Ballot Drop Off Locations and Polling Centers:
People can drop off ballots, register to vote, receive a replacement ballot and vote in-person along with other services at the Bent County Clerk’s Office located at:
725 Bent Ave, Las Animas, CO 81054
That is the only location where voters can turn in ballots in Bent County.
