Local elections - The Durango Herald

Morrissey defeats Lieb for county treasurer

Democrat’s aggressive campaign pays off

DATE: Nov 4, 2014 | CATEGORY: Local News

Guaranteed victories for unopposed

Four candidates on this year’s ballot coasted through the election with guaranteed wins. Running unopposed, all they had to do was wait for the official word Tuesday night. Sen. E...

DATE: Nov 4, 2014 | CATEGORY: Local News

Bayfield residents reject tax hike

Bayfield voters narrowly rejected a ballot issue that would have boosted the town’s sales tax to 3 percent from 2 percent, according to final unofficial ballot returns. The numbe...

DATE: Nov 4, 2014 | CATEGORY: Local News

Tipton defeats Tapia

Republican U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton easily defeated Democratic challenger Abel Tapia Tuesday. Tipton received 58.8 percent or 152,415 votes, while Tapia won 35 percent or 90,873 vo...

DATE: Nov 4, 2014 | CATEGORY: Local News

Blake garners slim lead

Blake, Roebuck separated by only 144 votes

DATE: Nov 4, 2014 | CATEGORY: Local News

Carlson, Minot retained as district, county judges

Both freshman 6th Judicial District Judge Suzanne F. Carlson and veteran La Plata County Judge Martha Tinsley Minot retained their seats in Tuesday’s election. In the final report...

DATE: Nov 4, 2014 | CATEGORY: Local News

Jann Smith elected as county coroner

Janis “Jann” Smith won the La Plata County coroner’s race, a position she has held for two years after being appointed by La Plata County commissioners when Dr. Carol Huser stepped down. ...

DATE: Nov 4, 2014 | CATEGORY: Local News

Smith wins sheriff’s race

Dem focused race on the future

DATE: Nov 4, 2014 | CATEGORY: Local News

Gardner helps GOP, unseats incumbent Udall

DENVER – U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner defeated incumbent Democrat Mark Udall on Tuesday night in one of the closest-watched races in the nation. Results from the secretary of state’s o...

DATE: Nov 4, 2014 | CATEGORY: Local News

Guv race too close to call

Boulder, Denver yet to report

DATE: Nov 4, 2014 | CATEGORY: Local News

Voters have until 7 p.m.

Red, white and blue “I voted” stickers circled Lon Erwin’s hat. Erwin, a ballot drop-off volunteer at the La Plata County Courthouse, located at 1060 East Second Ave., stood with Ted La May,...

DATE: Nov 4, 2014 | CATEGORY: Local News

Local turnout strong in close contests

State’s first mail-in election sees several narrow races

DATE: Nov 3, 2014 | CATEGORY: Local News

Colorado history gets weird, wild, wacky at Fashion Do’s and Don’tsAnnual Snowdown event has become so popular, auditions are now required

Cowboys. Fancy ladies. Gold miners. Even-toed ungulates that some in Durango might consider more like rats.Where can you find a runway show that takes you on a whirlwind tour through the weird, wacky and wildly exaggerated 150 years of Colorado history? Only at Durango’s annual Fashion Do’s and Don’ts, held Wednesday, where models and audience members wore costumes celebrating Colorado’s sesquicentennial – the theme of this year’s two-week Snowdown celebration.Standout acts included the Ghosts of Durango, which featured four of Durango’s most famous ghosts: a Rochester hotel ghost in a Victorian get-up of a more “modern” variation; the Strater Hotel’s head of housekeeping, also head of more discreet services; a young girl haunting El Rancho’s bathroom; and Sheriff Bob Thompson, killed in a 1906 gunfight. according to emcee Suzan Lane. A Another act was the Secret Circus Society, featuring Rubi Starr, Jeni Gross, Tabatha Joy Bettin, Adrienne Young and Ethan Deffenbaugh dressed as a car and the roadside pests better known as deer. Group members said the inspiration for the costume came from lived experiences driving Durango roads. The two-person Cantine Couture act starred Leslie Ponce and Tyler Frakes in an homage to the plentiful variety of Mexican restaurants found in any Colorado town. Ponce, dressed in comically large Mexican pointy cowboy boots, ambled down the runway as if taking a stroll under the hot, dusty, high-altitude sun, while Frakes flitted about the stage in a bright yellow salsa dress. Ponce said this year’s costume had been tough to decide, but the final decision was inspired by TikTok videos of Mexican cowboys in pointy boots. This was the duo’s third year strutting down the runway. Why they keep coming back for more, Frakes said laughing, was, “for the fame, the glory and the attention.”

Fashion Do’s and Don’ts has been one of the most highly anticipated Snowdown events since its inception in the 1990s. It has more than doubled in size over the past several decades. Last year, there were a record number of models, and in order to keep the event at a manageable size, this year’s fashion show was the first one to require the acts to audition. But many of the models were unfazed by the change. “It was actually easy,” said Jodi Zuber, one part of the two-person duo that made up the 1950s Texas Invader Ski Couple. Her partner-in-costume, Danny Jaques, said they had been doing this for several years, and it’s good with everything going on in the world to “get some levity and let your hair down.” The performers were not the only ones in costume. Audience members also dressed in a wide variety of unique takes on what makes Colorado, Colorado. JonBenet Ramsey made a miraculous appearance, being played by an 82-year-old woman, as did Casa Bonita, an ensemble that included a taco, sopaipilla and gorilla in chains – to name some of the characters. By the end of the show, people were in high spirits, as usual. “It was just delightful,” said a first-time audience member. If blessed with the chance to get the much coveted tickets – he said he would jump on it. jbowman@durangoherald.com

Annual Snowdown event has become so popular, auditions are now required

Photos: Snowdown 2026 Fashion Do’s and Don’ts

Photos: Durango High School basketball teams lose to Montrose High School

Photos: Local girls high school wrestling at La Plata TriDurango girls wrestling went 2-0 to win Tri on Thursday night at Bayfield

Durango girls wrestling went 2-0 to win Tri on Thursday night at Bayfield

Photos: Fort Lewis College women’s and men’s basketball take on Westminster UniversityBoth Skyhawks teams were victorious on Saturday afternoon

Both Skyhawks teams were victorious on Saturday afternoon

Photos: An afternoon in 2004 with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell as he works on Capitol HillDurango Herald Photo Editor Jerry McBride had the chance to spend an afternoon with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell in 2004, photographing him during meetings and around the Capitol.

Durango Herald Photo Editor Jerry McBride had the chance to spend an afternoon with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell in 2004, photographing him during meetings and around the Capitol.

Photos and video: ICE protests return to DurangoAbout a dozen protesters tried to block federal agents from leaving with a detainee on Thursday

About a dozen protesters tried to block federal agents from leaving with a detainee on Thursday

The Durango Herald’s year in photos 2025

Photos: Chapman Hill fires up the snow guns

Morrissey defeats Lieb for county treasurer

Guaranteed victories for unopposed

Bayfield residents reject tax hike

Tipton defeats Tapia

Blake garners slim lead

Carlson, Minot retained as district, county judges

Jann Smith elected as county coroner

Smith wins sheriff’s race

Gardner helps GOP, unseats incumbent Udall

Guv race too close to call

Voters have until 7 p.m.

Local turnout strong in close contests

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