Primary Ballots Nearly Set

With a deadline of May 31 for candidates to file for the primary election, some races will see some competition while others are either uncontested or without any candidates at all.

This year, three seats are up for grabs on the Board of Carbon County Commissioners with five candidates having filed as of May 28. John Espy and Sue Jones both have filed to run for re-election. Joining them on the ballot will be Gwynn Bartlett, who has served as the Carbon County Clerk since 2010 and was re-elected in 2022, James “Jimmy” Hinkle and Garrett Irene. Hinkle was one of several candidates for the vacancy which was eventually filled by Irene.

In Saratoga, per the Saratoga Town Hall, while several filing forms have gone out only a handful have been returned. Michael “Mike” Cooley has filed to run for a four-year term on the Saratoga Town Council. Cooley was originally elected to a two-year unexpired term in 2022. Additionally, Cory Oxford has filed to run for a four-year term and Bub Barkhurst has filed to run for the two-year unexpired term. Chia Valdez, per the town hall, has filed to run but as of press time was undecided on which term she would run for.

Encampment, meanwhile, has had nobody file to run for town council per Town Clerk Doreen Harvey. There are currently two four year terms on the Encampment Town Council which will appear on the primary and general election ballot.

Neighboring Riverside, however, will have candidates. Linda Brown and Mark Helwick have filed to run for the two four-year terms on the Riverside Town Council while Lisa Lorenz has filed to run for the two-year unexpired term.

For statewide offices, neither Senate District 11 has seen anybody file including incumbent Larry Hicks. The same goes for House District 15 and it’s incumbent Donald Burkhart, Jr. In House District 47, incumbent Robert “Bob” Davis remains the only candidate to have filed.

The deadline to file for the primary election is Friday, May 31, at 5 p.m.