Democratic challenger Beth Melton smiles and claps after hearing the announcement that she was leading Republican incumbent Cari Hermacinski in the race for Routt County commissioner.

Editor’s note: This story was corrected at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday to correct the number of votes Melton received. This story was updated at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday to reflect final vote counts. 

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — Democrat Beth Melton won the Routt County commissioner’s race over Republican incumbent Cari Hermacinski.

Melton received 7,086 votes, outpacing Hermacinski, who received 6,039 votes.

Precincts in the West Routt and Yampa area voted Republican in the 3rd Congressional District and governor’s races. Precincts in West Routt, North Routt and Yampa voted Republican in the House District 26 race between Nicki Mills and Dylan Roberts. Other precincts in central Routt County, Steamboat, Oak Creek and Stagecoach voted Democrat in these races. (Map by Katie Berning)

“I am really excited to just dig in and address the issues that we addressed during the campaign — really thinking about childcare, housing and getting to work on a climate action plan, and I know we can get that done,” Melton said.

Melton ran on a platform of increasing middle-class jobs in Routt County, creating an action plan to address climate change and providing more early childhood care. Melton also hopes to address housing in the county by concentrating development in urban growth boundaries, creating a supply of affordable workforce housing and improving connectivity of transit infrastructure.

With Melton in the District III seat, the Routt County Board of County Commissioners will be made up entirely of Democrats.

“In these local races, party matters a lot less than the issues at hand, and I think that I am bringing a really important new perspective to the board from that angle,” Melton said.

She thanked the Routt County Democrats and her campaign team.

“We definitely knocked on over 5,000 doors talking to people, and I’m really proud of the hard work that we did to win this race,” she said.

Melton will take office in January 2019.

Hermacinski did not respond to three requests for comment.

To reach Eleanor Hasenbeck, call 970-871-4210, email ehasenbeck@SteamboatPilot.com or follow her on Twitter @elHasenbeck.