HUERFANO— In a sea of Republican victories across the state and nation, Huerfano County stood out as an island of blue, with Democrats winning every elected seat in the county, and voting for democratic candidates on the state level.
For the open Huerfano County Commissioner seat, Democrat Gerald Cisneros beat his three opponents, with 1,261 votes. His nearest challenger was Republican Keith Varner with 1,024 votes, followed by Independent candidates Fred Rodriguez with 596 votes, and Oress DeHerrera with 321 votes.
For Huerfano County Sheriff, Democratic incumbent Bruce Newman defeated his challenger, Republican Jim Chamberlain, 2,018 votes to 1,192.
For County Clerk and Recorder, Democrat Nancy Cruz easily defeated her Independent opponent Scott King by 2,434 votes to 737.
For County Assessor, Democratic incumbent Louise ‘Chuky’ Sandoval retained her seat with 1,915 votes, while her republican challenger Wilma Martinez netted 1,237 votes.
For County Coroner, Democrat Vonnie Maier-Valdez won with 1,758 votes, while Republican Rebecca Mitchell got 1,359 votes. County Treasurer Debra Reynolds ran unopposed, and received 2,575 votes.
For state seats, Democratic senator Mark Udall lost his seat to Republican Cory Gardner, 50% to 45%, though Udall won here in Huerfano County. Governor John Hickenlooper narrowly kept his seat away from Republican Bob Beauprez, winning 48.3% to 47.1% In Congressional District 3, incumbent Scott Tipton retained his seat, beating off Democratic challenger Abel Tapia, 59% to 35%. In State House District 62, Democratic incumbent Ed Vigil hung on to his seat against Republican challenger Marcy Freeburg, 59% to 41%. On the Board of Education, District 3, Republican Marcia Neal defeated Democrat Henry Roman, 57% to 43%. On local ballot issues, ballot issue 1A, the imposition of an excise tax on commercial marijuana won big, with 2,445 votes for, versus 711 votes against. The Walsenburg city sales tax Ballot issue 2A, however, went down, 512 votes for, and 669 votes against. On statewide ballot issues, Amendment 67, which would have defined ‘personhood’, failed 64% to 36%. Amendment 68, which would have allowed expanded gaming at horse racetracks, lost, 71% to 29%. In Huerfano County, Amendment 68 went down to similar numbers, with no getting 2,173 votes, and yes only 989 votes. Proposition 104, which allows for open negotiation between school boards and teacher’s reps, passed, 69% to 31%. Proposition 105, which would have labeled genetically modified food, failed, at 66% to 34%.
