Exactly five people showed up at the Montezuma County Clerk’s office to hear firsthand the results of the election. And it was a bit of a nail-biter.
As unofficial numbers came in at 8:45 p.m., the mill-levy increase question for the Cortez Fire District was showing 1,848 for and 1,792 against, but 255 ballots (110 for, 145 against) for absentee property owners had not yet been added to the totals.
As the small crowd tried unsuccessfully to crunch the numbers in their heads, Montezuma County clerk Carol Tullis swiftly punched the additional ballots into a calculator and announced: “It passed, by 21 votes.”
Voters approved a deBrucing measure for the Montezuma County Hospital District, allowing the district to apply for grants that will put total revenues over a 5.5 percent cap set by the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights. It will not increase taxes.
Voters decided on two contested school board elections. Linnea Vass and Joye McHenry both won two open seats on the Dolores School board, and Sherri Wright earned the one open seat on the Cortez School board, winning over Bob Waggoner.
The Lewis-Arriola Fire Protection District split the difference for their two ballot questions. Question 5B, to increase the mill levy, failed, but question 5C to de-Bruce was approved by voters.
In Montezuma County 7,168 ballots were cast, representing a 44.67 percent voter turnout.
“It was a smooth election, thanks to an awesome staff and excellent crew of election judges,” said county clerk Tullis. “We had a flood of last-minute ballots, 1,100 on the last day.”
SUMMARY OF ELECTION
REFERENDUM 5A CORTEZ FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT WINS: Voters narrowly approved a 2.5 percent mill-levy increase for the district, by a vote of 1,958 to 1,937, a 21 point margin in favor of the measure. The additional funding will be used for equipment upgrades, rescue vehicles, personnel, and safety gear.
REFERENDUM 5D MONTEZUMA COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT WINS: Voters approved the de-Brucing measure by a vote of 3,880 to 3,114. The approved measure will allow the hospital district to obtain additional grant money.
DOLORES SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION (two seats): Linnea Vass and Joye Mchenry were elected to three year terms. Vass garnered 526 votes, and McHenry earned 514 votes.
CORTEZ SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION (one contested seat): Sherri Wright won over Bob Waggoner by a vote of 2,058 to 1,307.
MANCOS SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION: B. Boe Hawkins earned 623 votes. Blake Mitchell earned 553 votes.
REFERENDUM 5B LEWIS-ARRIOLA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT MILL LEVY LOSES: No: 466. Yes: 405.
REFERENDUM 5C LEWIS-ARRIOLA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT DE-BRUCING WINS: Yes: 489. No: 383.
