Incumbents look safe in Saguache County

Article by Ed Quillen

1996 election – November 1996 – Colorado Central Magazine

Incumbents look safe in Saguache County

by Ed Quillen

For Saguache County, the ’96 election sounds about as exciting as watching grass grow. The only local race is for two county commission seats.

“We’ve got two incumbents, one from each party, and each has an opponent from the other party. Pretty much the same old same old,” said Dean Coombs, publisher of the Saguache Crescent.

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It’s a 3-way contest for Custer County commissioner

Article by Jim Little

1996 election – November 1996 – Colorado Central Magazine

3-way race for a parking place at the Custer County Courthouse

by Jim Little

In spite of the problems our quiet Valley is having with National Guard zoomies in our skies, a soft cattle market on our ranches, and a whole slew of newcomers fighting over who can pay the most for the remaining 40-acre ranchettes, we now have our diversions turned to the most popular contact sport of the season, a three-way county commissioner race.

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School bond is the hot issue in Lake County

Article by Ed Quillen

1996 election – November 1996 – Colorado Central Magazine

In Leadville and Lake County, it’s the school bond that matters

by Ed Quillen

In Lake County, the hot item on the ballot is an $8.9 million school bond issue. Letters pro and con have covered acres of the Leadville Herald Democrat in recent weeks, and editor Grant Dunham says “It’s the thing everybody’s talking about.”

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Looks like a close race in Gunnison County

Article by Chris Dickey

1996 election – November 1996 – Colorado Central Magazine

All signs point to a close race in Gunnison County

by Chris Dickey

It’s not difficult to determine that there is a local political race in progress, with Gunnison yards, businesses and cars transformed into a sea of brightly colored billboards espousing one candidate or another. If an impromptu inventory of this signage has any merit, the races for two Gunnison County Commission seats could be close ones.

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No matter who wins, Chaffee will be conservative

Article by Ray James

1996 election – November 1996 – Colorado Central Magazine

No matter who wins, Chaffee will be conservative

by Ramòn Diego

Conservatives are destined to take Chaffee County District 1 and District 2 county commissioner seats next January regardless of who wins the Nov. 5 voting. Both the Republicans (in 1, Ron Leyba of Buena Vista, and in 2, incumbent Frank McMurry, Nathrop) and the Democrats (in 1, incumbent Jim Thompson, who lives just outside Buena Vista, and in 2, Jerry Leewaye, Salida) reside on the fiscally and politically conservative wings of their respective parties.

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Park County Republicans face strong challenge

Article by Daniel G. Jennings

1996 election – November 1996 – Colorado Central Magazine

Democrats could get majority on Park County Commission

by Daniel G. Jennings

Although Park County is traditionally Republican, there’s a good chance two Democrats will be serving on the Board of Commissioners in 1997.

Two of the three commission seats are up for election this year and both are in the Bailey area where most of our county’s population lives. In District Two incumbent Eunice Takatloglou, a Republican, lost the nomination at the Republican Party Convention in April, but was able to get on the primary ballot by petition. Takatloglou came in third in the primary behind Steve Benninghoven and Rosie Wiley.

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