HUERFANO 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 Huerfano County.
Congressional District 3
- Scott R. Tipton (Republican)
- Diane Mitsch Bush (Democrat)
- Gaylon Kent (Libertarian)
- Marie M. Malarsie (Independent)
- 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 District 3
- Alvin Rivera (Democratic)
- Glen H. Gallegos (Republican)
- Michael Stapleton (Libertarian)
Regent, University of Colorado At Large
- Lesley Smith (Democratic)
- Ken Montera (Republican)
- Christopher E. Otwell (Unity)
- James K. Treibert (Libertarian)
State Representative District 62
- Donald E. Valdez (Democratic)
- Scott Honeycutt (Republican)
Huerfano County Commissioner District 3
- Gerald A. Cisneros (Democratic)
Huerfano County Clerk and Recorder
- Nancy C. Cruz (Democratic)
Huerfano County Treasurer
- Debra J. “Debbie” Reynolds (Democratic)
Huerfano County Assessor
- Marcy R. Freeburg (Republican)
- Elisha Andreatta Meadows (Democratic)
Huerfano County Sheriff
- Bruce Newman (Democratic)
- James L. Chamberlain (Republican)
Huerfano County Surveyor
- No candidates for this office
Huerfano County Coroner
- Vonnie Maier-Valdez (Democratic)
County/Precinct Questions
Huerfano County Ballot Issue 1A
Huerfano County is asking voters to approve a $625,000 tax increase with a sales tax of 1% from 2020 to 2039 to pay for new construction and upgrades to the courthouse and jail facilities. In December 2039, the tax rate would drop to 0.25%
Shall La Veta School District Re-2 debt be increased by up to $5.5 million, with a repayment cost of up to $8,750,000, and shall district taxes be increased by up to $458,000 annually by the issuance and payment of general obligation bonds to provide local matching money required for the district to receive approximately $42,000,000 in state grant funds (which are not required to be repaid) under the building excellent schools today (“BEST”) program to finance the costs of:
· acquiring, constructing, equipping, and furnishing a consolidated pk-12 facility, including athletic facilities, on district owned property, to replace the existing facility; provided, however, that no debt shall be issued unless a best grant is received; with such general obligation bonds to bear interest, mature, be subject to redemption, with or without premium of not more than three percent, 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 $458,000 annually?
La Veta Fire Protection District Ballot Issue 6A
Shall La Veta Fire Protection District be authorized to increase or decrease its current and all future mill levies only if, on or after November 6, 2018, there are changes in the method of calculating assessed valuation, including but not limited to a change in the percentage of actual valuation used to determine residential assessed valuation due to Article x Section 3 of the Colorado constitution (commonly known as the Gallagher Amendment), so that, to the extent possible, the actual tax revenues generated by such mill levies are the same as the actual tax revenues that would have been generated had such changes not occurred?
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 Huerfano County Clerk’s Office located at:
401 Main Street, Suite 204
Walsenburg, Colorado 81089
The office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
There is also a ballot drop off box that will be available 24/7 between the Huerfano County Courthouse and the Mining Museum in Walsenburg.
