PROWERS 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 Prowers 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)
Prowers County Commissioner District 2
- Ron Cook (Republican)
Prowers County Clerk and Recorder
- Jana Coen (Republican)
Prowers County Treasurer
- Judy L. Wittman (Republican)
Prowers County Assessor
- Andy Wyatt (Republican)
Prowers County Sheriff
- Samuel Zordel (Republican)
Prowers County Surveyor
- No candidates for this office
Prowers County Coroner
- Joe Giadone (Democratic)
City/County/Precinct Questions
Lamar School District RE-2 Ballot Issue 4A
Shall Lamar School District debt be increased by $3,950,000, with a repayment cost of up to $6,500,000, and shall district taxes be increased by up to $325,000 annually by the issuance and payment of general obligation bonds to provide local matching money required for the district to receive approximately $4,429,262 in state grant funds (which are not required to be repaid) under the building excellent schools today (“BEST”) program to finance the costs of providing:
· district-wide security monitoring system for enhanced school safety and security;
· facility renovations for Lamar high school and partners for hope center, including but not limited
to:
· new hvac & control systems;
· window replacements;
· door replacements;
· electrical upgrades;
· hazardous materials abatement;
· fire response system repairs;
and to the extent remaining funds are available for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, repairing and improving district capital assets, with such general obligation bonds to bear interest, mature, be subject to redemption, with or without premium of not more than 3.00%, And be issued at such time, at such price (at, above or below par) and in such manner and containing such terms, not inconsistent with this ballot issue, as the board of education may determine, and shall ad valorem property taxes be levied without limit as to the mill rate to generate an amount sufficient in each year to pay the principal of, premium if any, and interest on such debt and to fund any reserves for the payment thereof, provided that any revenue produced by such mill levy shall not exceed $325,000 annually?
Prowers County Ballot Issue 1A
Shall Prowers County taxes be increased by approximately $400,000 annually beginning in 2019 and by such amounts as are received any year thereafter by the imposition of an increase in the county’s sales and use tax by twenty-five hundredths (0.0025) Of one cent per dollar pursuant to part 1 of Article 2 of Title 29, Colorado Revised Statutes to be exclusively used for ambulance services; shall such sales and use tax increase commence on January 1, 2019 and be imposed as follows: a sales tax increase of twenty-five hundredths (0.0025) Of one cent per dollar on the sale of tangible personal property at retail and the furnishing of services in the county; a use tax increase of twenty-five hundredths (0.0025) Of one cent per dollar on the storage, use or consumption in the county of any construction and building materials purchased at retail and motor and other vehicles purchased at retail on which registration is required; provided that this question does not authorize the county to increase any other fee or tax, including property taxes; and shall this tax increase constitute a voter approved revenue change and exception to the limits that otherwise would apply to the county under, Article x, Section 20 of the Colorado constitution; commonly known as the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights or “TABOR”; all in accordance with the resolution adopted by the Board of County Commissioners of Prowers County and set forth in resolution no. 2018-7, as amended and reenacted by resolution no. 2018-11?
Prowers County Hospital District Ballot Question 7A
Shall the term limits imposed by article XVIII, section 11 of the Colorado consitution be eliminated for Prowers County Hospital District directors?
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?
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?
District Court Judge
- Shall Judge Michael Davidson of the 15th Judicial District be retained in office?
County Court Judge
- Shall Judge Curtis Lane Porter of the Prowers County Court 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:
Prowers County Clerk and Recorder
301 S. Main St., Ste. 210, Lamar, CO
Open: October 22 – November 6, 2018
Monday – Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, excluding Sunday
Saturday October 27, 2018 & Nov. 3, 2018, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Tuesday, November 6, 2018 (Election Day): 7AM – 7PM
The accessible voting area is available at the Voting Services and Polling Center location at the County Courthouse
Ballot Drop Box
301 S. Main Street, Lamar, CO
Courthouse Building – East side parking lot
Open 24 hours: Oct. 15 – Nov. 6, 2018, until 7 p.m. on Election Night
