With 309 days until Election Day 2018, La Plata County Democrats have already identified early favorites in races for county treasurer and Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District.
In the only competitive county-level primary race, Treasurer Allison Aichele earned 288 votes, about 76 percent, and challenger Tim Walsworth drew 55 votes, about 15 percent, at straw polls held this week during county caucuses, said La Plata County Democrats Chairwoman Jean Walter.
Thirty-four votes were “uncommitted,” making up the additional 9 percent.
The race to challenge Congressman Scott Tipton, R-Cortez, was dominated by Karl Hanlon, a Glenwood Springs city attorney, who received 251 votes, about 61 percent. Diane Mitsch Bush, a state legislator from Steamboat Springs, received 121 votes, about 29 percent, Walter said. Durango resident Root Routledge, founder of Alpine Analytics, received 13 votes. Twenty-six votes were uncommitted in the race.
The votes are informational for the candidates, and precincts were not required to hold straw polls in either race. Seven precincts did not report straw poll results, Walter said.
Aichele said she has reservations about the votes because they are nonbinding, but she is encouraged by support she received while campaigning at caucuses.
“People do want somebody qualified in the job who does have experience and is up to the challenge,” she said.
Walsworth also spoke with voters during the caucuses and made his case for replacing Aichele.
“I feel like I can do a better job than has been done,” he said.
Last year, issues in the treasurer’s office, such as workload, turnover and lack of training, caused the office to fall behind on tax processing.
Walsworth is the executive director of the Business Improvement District and the former president and CEO of United Way of Southwest Colorado. In both cases, he managed a small staff and enacted processes and procedures to prevent financial problems, he said.
The upcoming Democratic county assembly is a key step in the treasurer’s race. Delegates elected during the caucuses will vote on both candidates, which could eliminate one.
If both candidates receive at least 30 percent of the party’s assembly vote, they both appear on the primary ballot in June.
If a candidate receives at least 10 percent of the assembly vote, the candidate can petition to continue to the primary. If the candidate receives less than 10 percent, he or she is eliminated from the process.
Walsworth said he has already started collecting signatures for his petition.
Congressional candidates will face a similar test at the Democratic district assembly on April 13. Candidates must receive 30 percent of the vote or petition to be on the ballot.
Hanlon was in Durango for the caucuses this week and impressed Democrats with his views and his potential to beat Tipton, said Dan Morgenstern, a member of the county executive committee.
“He really has his hands around the issues of the region,” he said.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
