Both Democratic incumbents retained their seats on the La Plata County board of commissioners, launching their second terms at the dais.
Commissioners Gwen Lachelt, District 2, and Julie Westendorff, District 3, defeated their Republican challengers.
Lachelt beat opponent Lyle McKnight with about 51 percent of the vote, while Westendorff defeated Kayla Patterson with 54 percent.
“I’m just really happy with the work we’ve done,” Lachelt said. “I’ve got a great team. We ran a strong campaign, and I’m very fortunate to have hundreds of volunteers.”
Lachelt spent part of the day at Fort Lewis College, encouraging young voters to get to the polls.
“I’m honored to represent La Plata County, and especially honored to be rehired. In the four years ahead, we do have some challenges, and one thing that’s really valuable is having four years of experience,” Westendorff said. “I’ve spent the past four years talking to constituents and not waiting until election season to hear what people have to say.”
McKnight and Patterson, both new to politics, ran on pro-business platforms, appealing to voters who think La Plata County’s regulations are prohibitive to starting new businesses.
The incumbents won this time around by a more comfortable margin compared with the 2012 election, when both Democrats took their districts by the skin of their teeth.
Lachelt won District 2 from Republican Kellie Hotter, an incumbent, by 174 votes, while Westendorff took District 3 from fellow newcomer Harry Baxtrom by 320 votes.
jpace@durangoherald.com
