by Brian Orr
WALSENBURG– In a squeaker of a race, Bruce Quintana edged past Larry Patrick by 31 votes to win the Mayorship of Walsenburg. The final vote count was 489 to 458. Quintana accepted the congratulations of family and friends with a wide grin, but acknowledged he had a hard job ahead of him. “With the help of God, we’ll get it done,” he said. Quintana will be sworn in as Mayor in January 2010.
There were two County-wide issues on this year’s ballot. The one percent tax increase for funding emergency services dispatch throughout the County passed, 1,286 votes to 1,099 votes. The effort to remove term limits on CountyCommissioners failed decisively by a vote of 1,700 to 674.
On the question whether the positions of Walsenburg City Treasurer and City Clerk should be elected offices or appointed by the City Council, the electorate firmly decided to keep these positions as elected posts.
