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Race shapes up in Silt

Pete Fowler
Post Independent Staff
Glenwood Springs, CO Colorado

GARFIELD COUNTY, Colorado ” Getting elected town trustee this year will be tougher in Silt than in New Castle.

In Silt, five people are contending for four seats on the Town Board of Trustees. Incumbents Joe Sos and Bobby Hays have filed paperwork with the town announcing their intentions to seek re-election. Peggy Tibbetts, Sonny Fernandez and Nicky Leigh also entered the race. Trustees Jim Voorheis and Ron Morgan both decided not to run again, according to Silt Town Clerk Sheila McIntyre.

The last day to file the paperwork to get on the ballot was Friday, and write-in candidates would have had to file an affidavit of intent by Jan. 28 in order to run, said Town Administrator Betsy Suerth.



Voters will also decide the fate of Mayor Dave Moore, who faces a recall election. If he is recalled, a second ballot question will decide his replacement, with Rick Aluise as the only candidate. A majority vote against Moore would force him out of office.

The upcoming April 1 election for Silt will be held by mail ballot. Ballots will be mailed out by March 17.



Silt residents also must decide if they want to impose a 2.5 percent lodging tax. Another ballot question asks if voters want the town administrator to take over some responsibilities of the Board of Trustees ” mainly regarding personnel issues.

Perhaps the most significant change would be allowing the town administrator to hire staff positions like town clerk, treasurer, police chief and municipal judge. Currently, those positions are appointed by the town trustees, Suerth said. The town administrator and town attorney would still be appointed by the trustees even if the question were approved.

“It helps to separate the supervision of government operations from the policy making decisions,” Suerth said. “It gives the senior management clear direction from one person.”

In New Castle, incumbents Pam Bunn and Robert Gordon will fill two of three Town Council seats up for re-election.

“Those two will automatically take office,” said Town Clerk Lisa Cain. “But there’s always a possibility that someone could run as a write-in.”

The last day to file paperwork with the town to run as a write-in candidate is March 10. The town will conduct its April 8 election by mail ballots sent out between March 14 and March 24.

New Castle voters will also decide on whether they want to authorize the town to go into $8 million worth of debt to upgrade and expand the town’s wastewater treatment plant, Cain said. The town would sell bonds to be repaid over 20 years. Part of the funds could be repaid by raising property taxes, she said, and some funds would also come from water tap fees for new developments.

The amount the mill levy could raise would vary based on property values, Cain added. More information about the ballot question will be available at a meet-the-candidates night March 12 from 7-9 p.m. at the New Castle Community Center.

Contact Pete Fowler: 384-9121

pfowler@postindependent.com

Post Independent, Glenwood Springs Colorado CO

Silt Town Board of Trustees

– Mayor Dave Moore faces a recall election. Rick Aluise seeks Moore’s spot.

– Bobby Hays (incumbent), Joe Sos (incumbent), Peggy Tibbetts, Sonny Fernandez and Nicky Leigh compete for four town trustee seats.

New Castle Town Council

– Incumbents Pam Bunn and Robert Gordon, the only candidates running so far, will get elected to two of three open council seats.


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