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Samson, Martin re-elected to BOCC

John Stroud
Post Independent Staff
Glenwood Springs, Colorado CO
Kelley Cox Post Independent
ALL |

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado – Republican Garfield County Commissioners Mike Samson and John Martin were both re-elected over their Democratic challengers, according to unofficial results in Tuesday’s election.

As of the latest vote tally early Wednesday morning, Samson was defeating Aleks Briedis for a second, four-year term in the District 3 commissioner seat, 12,487 votes (56 percent) to 9,969 (44 percent).

Martin’s successful bid for a fifth term in the District 2 seat against Sonja Linman was a bit closer.



Martin had 11,852 votes (52 percent) to 10,955 (48 percent) for Linman, according to the preliminary tally.

“I will do my very best to live up to the expectations of everybody,” Martin said late Tuesday night as it appeared he would pull out the election win.



“This race for me was about honesty, and being straight-forward with everyone,” he said. “We don’t hide anything, never have, and there’s always room to get everyone together on any issue that’s in front of us.”

Linman had remained confident that the final votes might turn in her favor, as Garfield County Democrats gathered at the Glenwood Canyon Brew Pub up until closing time Tuesday night.

She could not be reached for comment once the latest round of numbers came in at 1 a.m.

Briedis, meanwhile, conceded the election to Samson when it appeared his lead was too big to make up.

“Mike ran a clean race,” Briedis, the longtime city of Rifle recreation director, said.

“I’m very appreciative that I had a high percentage of voters who voted for me,” he said. “I hope some of the issues I brought up will make it to the county commissioners’ table.”

Samson, who will be sworn in for his second, four-year term, was also appreciative of the voter support he received.

“I’m very grateful to the people of Garfield County who see fit to retain me for another four years,” Samson said. “I ran four years ago with a goal to improve communication between the cities and the county.

“I feel confident that if you ask any mayor in the county if that has happened, they would say that’s the case,” he said.

jstroud@postindependent.com


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