Two dozen candidates vie for 12 open seats in four towns
Post Independent Staff
Glenwood Springs, Colorado CO
In four Garfield County towns, a hotly contested political season is shaping up for the April 3 municipal elections.
Two married couples are among those running for trustee seats in Silt and Parachute, and a former mayor is hoping to be voted back onto the Parachute board.
As of Wednesday, 24 people have taken out nominating petitions to run for 12 open town board seats in Carbondale, New Castle, Silt and Parachute.
Petitions can still be taken out by hopeful candidates in three of the towns – Carbondale, New Castle and Silt – until the Thursday, Feb. 23, deadline, which is also the date when they must be returned with the required number of signatures by local electors.
For candidates in Parachute, the deadline is Friday, March 2.
In Carbondale, 11 candidates taking out petitions for three seats so far include incumbents John Hoffmann and Pam Zentmyer, as well as Stacy Stein, John “Doc” Philip, Lorey Esquibel, Bill Lamont, Sean Keery, Allyn Harvey, James Breasted, Red Cunningham and Marty Silverstein, according to Town Clerk Cathy Derby.
Candidates for three town council positions in New Castle include incumbents Patrick Stuckey and Mary Metzger, as well as former council members Bob Gordon and Merle Means.
In the town of Silt, where three trustee seats are up for election, the only incumbent to take out a petition so far is Sonny Fernandez. Also taking out petitions were Jeff Lavalla, Leanne Richel, Keith Richel and John Mainguy.
The list of candidates for three open seats in Parachute so far includes incumbents Juanita Williams and Sherry Loschke, as well as former trustee Travis Sproles and former mayor and trustee John Loschke.
John Loschke resigned his position as trustee a couple of years ago, when he had to move out of town temporarily for a job, according to Town Clerk Denise Chiaretta.
In three of the towns – Carbondale, New Castle and Silt – the elections will be by mail-in ballots, while Parachute will conduct a traditional polling-place election.
The deadline for registering to vote in all four towns is March 5, and mail-in ballots are to be sent out during the week of March 12.
Registration is available either at the respective town clerk’s offices, at the Garfield County Clerk’s office in Glenwood Springs, or at the courthouse annex in Rifle.
The county clerk’s office can be reached at 945-2377. The town clerks can be reached at 963-2733 in Carbondale, 984-2311 in New Castle, 876-2353 in Silt or 285-7630 in Parachute.
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