{"id":137309,"date":"2026-07-01T22:15:33","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T04:15:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.durangoherald.com\/tj\/montezuma-county-republicans-nominate-cox-for-commissioner-frizzell-for-county-clerk\/"},"modified":"2026-07-06T17:08:17","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T23:08:17","slug":"montezuma-county-republicans-nominate-cox-for-commissioner-frizzell-for-county-clerk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.durangoherald.com\/tj\/montezuma-county-republicans-nominate-cox-for-commissioner-frizzell-for-county-clerk\/","title":{"rendered":"Montezuma County Republicans nominate Cox for commissioner, Frizzell for county clerk"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"A
A voter hands in her ballot Tuesday at the Montezuma County Annex in-person polling center. Thousands of voters cast ballots in Montezuma County on Tuesday, the last day of the Colorado primary election, which included two locally contested races and several statewide races. (Anna Watson\/The Journal)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

Rodney Cox secured the local GOP nomination for county commissioner, according to a final tally of unofficial results released by the Montezuma County Clerk and Recorder\u2019s office July 1.<\/p>\n

In a second contested race for clerk and recorder, Jerri Frizzell won over Lenetta Shull, earning 70% of the Montezuma County Republican vote during the statewide primary election June 30.<\/p>\n

Cox, a retired, longtime Mancos resident, gained 55% of the vote. He ousted two other candidates Bonnie Anderson and Diane Fox-Spratlen.<\/p>\n

Cox told The Journal<\/em> he felt good about his monthslong campaign. He reflected on it as an \u201ceye-opening learning curve\u201d culminating on Election Day.<\/p>\n

Cox said he felt his private sector career and being a local business owner resonated with voters \u2013 that wearing multiple hats, bringing financial literacy and past experiences of working long hours show he is capable of stepping into the role and solving problems.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just going to bring that energy and mindset to every issue that comes up within the county. There are issues, but I think our county is sound,\u201d Cox said July 1.<\/p>\n

He spent months involving himself more in county government, attending regular commissioner meetings and some of the area\u2019s local town and school board governance meetings.<\/p>\n

\"Cox\"
Cox<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

\u201cI\u2019ve been involved with school boards, fair boards and water boards since my whole adult life and never really paid much attention to what the county commissioners do or what the county actually does for the community,\u201d Cox said.<\/p>\n

He said he learned a ton about various county departments and services provided that \u201cmost people don\u2019t have a clue\u201d about and wants to continue to see those funded, whether it\u2019s Veterans Services or youth programs.<\/p>\n

Anderson was the local GOP choice for 29% of voters while Fox-Spratlen received 16% of votes, as of an update posted 7:35 p.m. July 1.<\/p>\n

Election officials from the clerk\u2019s office received thousands of ballots within the past days and just as polling closed June 30. Officials began processing them while gathering the additional votes from the six countywide drop boxes.<\/p>\n

The offices counted the ballots until 1 a.m. July 1. With the results unfinished the day of, County Clerk Kim Percell said election judges and staff members continued processing the count early and all throughout the day July 1.<\/p>\n

The entire GOP nomination process for commissioner District 1 seat originally had six candidates. The candidate pool was narrowed through local caucuses and the county general assembly. The three candidates then debated one another in several forum appearances during spring and winter.<\/p>\n

The District 1 commissioner seat is currently held by Jim Candelaria.<\/p>\n

\"Busic\"
Busic<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Cox faces Democrat Rebecca Busic in the November general election. Busic, running unopposed, received 2,492 votes in the June 30primary, according to the unofficial count.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to say congratulations to all the Republican candidates. \u2026 Everyone ran a tough race,\u201d Busic said in a Facebook video. \u201cTo all you voters out there, my race starts now.\u201d<\/p>\n

She added: \u201cIf you are looking for a candidate with vision and a campaign that focuses on the needs of Montezuma County in 2026, I hope I can earn your vote this November.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>