Carbon County turnout average

With the primary election over, some candidates can breathe a sigh of relief as they have successfully fended off challengers in both House District 47 and on the Board of Carbon County Commissioners. 

Compared to the 2018 Primary Election, voter turnout saw a three percent increase. In the last primary election cycle, Carbon County had a 56 percent turnout while, this election cycle, that number had increased to 59 percent. In that time, however, the number of registered voters decreased from 6,517 in 2018 to 5,860 in 2020.

Additionally, the Republican turnout this year was 66.32 percent with 2,640 ballots cast. Democratic turnout, meanwhile, was at 58.41 percent with 674 ballots cast. For Republicans, this is a slight increase from 66.30 percent during the 2018 Primary Election. Turnout for Democrats, meanwhile, was about the same as there was a 58.40 percent turnout in 2018.

House District 47

Incumbent Jerry Paxton survived yet another election cycle, securing his position representing the nation’s largest district for another two years. Paxton, who in the past has often won by large margins, secured nearly 50 percent of the votes cast in House District 47 with 1,021. 

Saratoga-based challenger Joey Correnti followed with 27 percent of the vote, having had 568 ballots cast for him. In Carbon County, which makes up most of House District 47, Correnti received exactly half the votes of Paxton with 420 compared to 840.

Perennial challenger Julie McCallister received 333 votes or 16.26 of the total ballots cast. Meanwhile, Dee Garrison had 59 ballots cast for her, which amounted to approximately 2.8 percent of the votes cast in the district.

Paxton will face Libertarian candidate Lela Konecny in the general election.

Carbon County Commissioners

On the county level, the three incumbents for the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC) secured their seats against challengers Dustin Buffington and Jerry Steele. Commissioner John Epsy received 1,632 votes, Commissioner Byron Barkhurst received 1,425 votes and Commissioners Sue Jones received 1,319. This amounts to 26.58 percent, 23.21 percent and 21.49 percent of the total ballots cast, respectively.

Steele was close to securing himself a seat on the BOCCC with 1,149 votes, or 18.72 percent. Buffington, meanwhile, received 550 votes, or 8.96 percent.

A total of 6,139 votes were cast for the commissioners. Additionally, 3,481 votes were cast on the day of the primary election and 2,658 votes were made by absentee ballot.

Saratoga Town Council

Out of the eight original candidates, only four made it to the primary election. Candidate Kristen Teubner was the last to withdraw, just a week before the election. Creed James, Ben Spaulding, Danny Burau and Tasha Worthington were the final four and all will advance to the general election.

Out of a total of 804 votes cast, James received 342 or 42.54 percent. Spaulding, meanwhile, received 197 votes or 24.5 percent and Burau received 172 or 21.39 percent. Worthington received 86 votes, or 10.70 percent of all votes cast.

Encampment Town Council

In Encampment, a total of 262 votes were cast among the three remaining candidates. Candidate Kelly Ralston had withdrawn following a move from Encampment. Incumbent Bill Craig received 96 votes, or 36.64 percent of the votes cast while Stas Banach received 93 votes, or 35.50 of the votes cast. Matthew Wagy, meanwhile, received 66 votes, or 25.19 percent of the votes cast.

Riverside

In the Riverside race, single registered candidate Mark Helwick–who was appointed to the council at the last meeting–received 15 of the 26 total votes cast, accounting for 88.55 percent. A total of 11 write-ins resulted in the nomination of Dean Webb.

Medicine Bow

In the unexpired mayor term currently held by Sharon Biamon, the incumbent mayor received 47 out of 56 votes accounting for 83.93 percent. A total of nine write-in votes led to the nomination of Kay Embree.

The unexpired council term saw sole registered candidate Lucinda Schofield with 52 of the 66 cast votes, accounting for 78.79 percent. A total of 14 write-in votes led to the nomination of Donald Mayfield.

Finally, the two four year council seats, which had no registered candidates, had 32 write-in votes and resulted in the nominations of Lyle Flansberg, Rex Rudd and Trevor Stauch.

Hanna 

Sole registered candidate Jayson Nordquist received 107 of 183 total votes, accounting for 58.47 percent of the vote. A total of 76 write-in votes were cast, resulting in the nominations of John Klemola, William Dys and William Lake.

Elk Mountain

In Elk Mountain, Angie Hobbs received 55 of the 120 votes cast, accounting for 45.83 percent while Tammy Page received 52 votes or 53.33 percent. A total of 13 write-in votes led to the nomination of Jessica Mustard.