GRAND JUNCTION — — The crowded national GOP race for the presidential nomination has nothing on Mesa County. A year before the local elections, eight Republicans and two unaffiliated hopefuls have jumped in the contests for two county commissioner seats.
“It really seems like a lot,” said Catherine Lenhart, who has been with the Mesa County Clerk and Recorders Office for more than a decade and never seen that much interest in commissioner seats.
Republicans in this red county are making sure they will have enough candidates to fill seats being vacated by Republicans Janet Rowland and Craig Meis. Both are facing term limits.
Realtor Paul Nelson, attorney and Tea Party activist Rose Pugliese and 45-year Mesa County resident Warren “Woody” Walcher are vying for Meis’ seat. Seven candidates, including former commissioner John Leane, agribusinessman John Justman and Fruita Mayor Ken Henry are running for Rowland’s seat. Other hopefuls in that district are Wes Daponti, Christi Flynn and Jane Bingham Gerow.
Leane and Gerow are the only independents in the otherwise Republican pack.
Karl Castleton, co-chairman of the Mesa County Democrats, said not to count his party out of the running.
“We are working on getting some Democratic candidates and want to provide Mesa County voters with an opportunity to make a choice who their leaders are. But in Mesa County Democrats are outnumbered by independent and unaffiliated voters. We are working to change that,” Castleton said.
Nancy Lofholm: 970-256-1957 or nlofholm@denverpost.com
