Voters in two southern Colorado communities went to the polls Tuesday and recalled two elected officials.
Crowley County voters recalled Sheriff Jeff Keyes, and voters in Fountain recalled City Councilman Al Lender.
A group in Crowley County sought the ouster of Keyes after he was arrested in December for allegedly spilling contaminated waste and then lying about it during the execution of a search warrant Oct. 1 at a heavy-equipment operation.
A jury deliberated 3 1/2 hours in April before finding Keyes not guilty of the charges.
Keyes, 45, was appointed to the job in 1999 when the reigning sheriff died in office. After a tie vote in the 2002 Republican primary, Keyes’ name was drawn from a hat. He won the general election.
A majority of Tuesday’s voters – 658 – decided to recall Keyes, while 271 voted to keep him in office, according to an unofficial tally by the county clerk. Voters selected Miles Clark to replace him, with 586 votes.
Candidate Charles Gwaltney Jr. received 212 votes, and write-in candidate Dennis Johnson received 82.
In Fountain, voters decided 610-210 to oust Lender and replace him with Darell Craighead. Craighead got 516 votes to 261 for Dean Cimino.
A week ago, Lender said Craighead doused his eyes with pepper spray. Craighead said he was acting in self-defense after Lender swung a pitchfork at him.
Craighead said the confrontation occurred after he discovered that a pro-recall sign near Lender’s house had been destroyed. Craighead said he called police and was waiting for them to arrive when Lender swung the pitchfork at him and thrust it at his chest.
Staff writer Erin Emery can be reached at 719-522-1360 or eemery@denverpost.com.
