Steamboat Today: Election 2007

City, ACLU reflect on campaign spending limit provision

The Craig City Council was an even split on a ballot question in Tuesday’s election that asked voters whether they wanted to delete a city charter provision on campaign spending.

More mail-only elections likely for primaries, odd years

Routt County's first election conducted exclusively with mail ballots isn't likely to be its last. That means an all-mail-ballot format may continue to be used in August primary and November odd-year elections in Routt County.

Hermacinski eyes council presidency

Economic development, growth issues on council's priority list

Cari Hermacinski is making no secret of her aspirations to be the next president of the Steamboat Springs City Council. Hermacinski won re-election Tuesday against former City Council President Kevin Bennett. Kenny Reisman and Jim Engelken, who also is a former councilman, won their races and will be the only new members to join the body when it meets Tuesday for the first time since the election and begins to chart a course for the next two years.

Voter turnout at 36 percent

South Routt voters had no elections, weren't included in count

A surge of voters Monday and Tuesday pushed participation in the 2009 Routt County election to more than 36 percent, but it was still below that of recent odd-year elections.

Vance Fulton keeps Hayden District B seat

Incumbent tops challenger Laurie Hallenbeck for School Board

Hayden School Board member Vance Fulton will retain his seat and get his first full term as a board member. Fulton received 341 votes to opponent Laurie Hallenbeck's 206 in the District B School Board race.

Frentress wins Hayden District A seat

4th-generation Hayden resident beats Zehner for School Board

A former member of the Hayden Town Board, now Hayden Town Council, will represent District A on the Hayden School Board. Tim Frentress received 356 votes to the 192 received by opponent Darren Zehner, a 65 percent to 35 percent victory.

Connelly wins uncontested 4-year School Board seat

Denise Connelly won an uncontested race for her District 3 School Board seat Tuesday and will serve a second term. She received 2,749 votes.

Brian Kelly wins School Board seat

Longtime local defeats former educator Bill Kennedy for District 1

Brian Kelly won another chance to give back to the education community. He received 2,174 votes to challenger Bill Kennedy's 1,546, taking the Steamboat Springs School Board District 1 seat.

Magill re-elected in unopposed race

Walter Magill, a 39-year-old engineer and surveyor, will return to the Steamboat Springs City Council. Magill was first elected to the council in 2007 to finish a vacated term. Magill did not face an opponent in the District 3 race and will serve for four years. He received 2,293 votes.

Reisman defeats Solomon for District 2 seat

Small-business owner, soccer coach wins City Council seat

Kenny Reisman beat Ken Solomon for a District 2 seat on the Steamboat Springs City Council in Tuesday's election. He won with 56.3 percent of the vote, 1,776 to 1,379.

Engelken takes at-large City Council seat

Former councilman defeats Pietras for 2-year position

Former Steamboat Springs City Councilman Jim Engelken won a return to city leadership Tuesday, defeating political newcomer Kyle Pietras for the council's two-year, at-large seat.

Hermacinski re-elected to City Council

Council president pro tem easily defeats Bennett

In what turned out to be the most lopsided race of the 2009 election, Cari Hermacinski defeated Kevin Bennett for a District 1 seat on the Steamboat Springs City Council. She won with 63.6 percent of the vote, 2,066 to 1,184.

City's approval of Referendum 2C reduces signatures needed on petitions

With the approval of Referendum 2C on Tuesday, city voters made it easier for residents to formally challenge decisions made by the Steamboat Springs City Council. The referendum passed with 64 percent of the vote, 1,947 to 1,114.

Hayden OKs car rental, lodging tax hikes

Hayden voters passed a referendum Tuesday that will increase sales tax for car rentals at Yampa Valley Regional Airport. Based on 2008 rental car figures, Referendum 2B would generate $143,500 next year for the town of Hayden.

Hermacinski, Reisman, Engelken win City Council seats

Cari Hermacinski has retained her seat on the Steamboat Springs City Council. Joining her will be newcomer Kenny Reisman and former council member Jim Engelken. All three won their contested races Tuesday night. Brian Kelly won the contested Steamboat Springs School Board race.

Low turnout projected for today's elections

Many counties across Colorado are projecting turnout of less than 50 percent

The Denver Post reports that last-minute ballots streamed into county clerks' offices around the state Tuesday, but many counties still expected overall turnout to be well below 50 percent.

Last-day voters weigh in

Elections officials have now collected more than 620 ballots today

More than 850 people have dropped of ballots or voted as of 6 p.m. today, Routt County election officials said. Anyone who still needs to vote must deliver a ballot to the Routt County Courthouse in downtown Steamboat Springs by 7 p.m.

Election day arrives in Steamboat

Voter turnout surges in recent days; ballots accepted until 7 p.m. today

Voter turnout through Monday surged by about 1,000 votes since late last week. More than 4,000 Routt County residents now have voted in the 2009 election.

2nd finance deadline arrives

Hermacinski's fundraising prowess continues in October

Coucilwoman Cari Hermacinski continued to raise money at a breakneck pace last month and reported about $8,500 in fundraising in her bid for re-election in the second of three campaign finance filings this election cycle.

Elections Office, clerk's office only drop-off locations for votes

Ballots due in the Routt County Courthouse, in downtown Steamboat, by 7 p.m. Tuesday

Today and Tuesday, voters must return their ballots at the Routt County Courthouse, on Lincoln Avenue between Fifth and Sixth streets in downtown Steamboat. Ballots can be returned in the Elections Office on the third floor and the Routt County Clerk & Recorder's Office on the second floor. Voters can drop off ballots until 5:30 p.m. today and until 7 p.m. Tuesday. The Elections Office opens at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Youth vote largely absent in Routt County

Fewer than 600 people younger than 45 have voted

Residents younger than 45 account for just one-fifth of the ballots cast in Routt County's 2009 election, even though about half of the county's registered voters are in that age group. The discrepancy has caused some to worry that the county's first election conducted exclusively with mail-in ballots may not be conducive to young voters.

Steamboat Briefs: More voters return completed ballots

Routt County election officials received and certified 213 completed ballots Wednesday, bringing the total number of Routt County residents who have voted in this year's election to 2,322.

City Council candidates discuss local economy

Government hopefuls offer a variety of ideas to help stimulate area businesses

As local businesses struggle through shoulder season and downtown construction, Steamboat Springs City Council candidates are offering an array of ideas to boost the city's economy. Candidates mentioned more marketing dollars, improving local quality of life through affordable housing and open space programs, reviving the demolished Ski Time Square and talking with local business owners about their needs.

More voters return ballots

Routt County election officials received 213 ballots Wednesday, bringing the total number of Routt County residents who have voted to 2,322.

Longtime residents among those Routt County voters missing ballots

Undeliverable Routt County ballots don't just belong to transient and inactive voters. Some of the area's active, longtime residents - including one candidate for the Steamboat Springs City Council - also have experienced trouble getting their hands on a ballot with their name on it.