Democrats will have primary elections for two local races

By JoAn Bjarko
North Forty News

Delegate votes cast at the Larimer County Democratic Party Assembly on March 27 set the stage for two primary races in August.

Democrats Jay Harrison of Wellington and Alan Ohms of rural south Fort Collins tallied enough votes as candidates for county sheriff to get on the primary election ballot for Aug. 10. Both have experience with the sheriff's department.

Harrison, a patrol deputy and K-9 handler, has lived in Larimer County for more than 15 years. Through a small business, Harrison also trains dogs and handlers. Ohms worked for the sheriff's department from 1985 to 2002. He now owns a home improvement business.

Harrison received 353 votes to Ohms' 259, which gave both more than the 30 percent needed to stay in the race.

The primary election will be conducted through mail ballots, which must be returned by Aug. 10.

Two Democratic candidates for Senate District 15, the seat now held by Republican Kevin Lundberg of Berthoud, will also square off in the primary. Rich Ball of Loveland received 169 delegate votes and Torsten Eckstein of Fort Collins received 125 votes.

Ball's family moved to this area in 1889. He has been an attorney, small business owner and real estate broker and currently serves as business development officer and senior vice president for First Western Trust Bank.

Eckstein was born in East Berlin in 1961. He owns Eckstein Diagnostics and works with researchers at Colorado State University to develop diagnostics and treatments for infectious diseases.

In a contest to represent Democrats for the District 1 Larimer County Commissioner race, Adam Bowen of Fort Collins received 441 delegate votes. Kathy Gilliland of Livermore received 160 votes, which means she would have to petition to get on the ballot. A former Loveland mayor, she owns Diamond Valley Alpaca Ranch.

Bowen has lived in Larimer County for 12 years. He is director of business development for Poudre Power Systems, a solar energy company specializing in photovoltaic systems.

At this time, Democrats have no candidates for other county offices up for election this year.

The contest between two Democrats seeking a U.S. Senate seat sparked the most interest, according to party spokesman William Russell. Michael Bennet, who was appointed to the Senate seat last year, received 306 votes. Challenger Andrew Romanoff, who served four terms in the state legislature, drew 288 votes.

Russell said Larimer County's delegates to the state assembly will divide their votes accordingly when they meet in Broomfield on May 22.

The Democratic delegates by acclimation selected Karen Stockley as their candidate for state House District 49, John Kefalas for HD 52, Randy Fischer for HD 53 and Bill McCreary for HD 51, Russell reported.

Republicans will hold their county assembly on April 3.

At this time, two Republicans are seeking the nomination for county sheriff. Justin Smith is an 18-year veteran of the sheriff's office with the rank of major. His opponent, Carl Bruning, is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and served as a U.S. Air Force pilot and aircraft commander.

The sheriff's race also has an unaffiliated contender. Dell Bean started his law enforcement career with the Fort Collins Police Department in 1968. He worked for the county sheriff's office from 1979 to 1987. He will have to petition onto the ballot.

The following Larimer County offices are held by Republicans, who are running unopposed.

Assessor: Steve Miller served as county assessor from 1989 to 2002, when he was term-limited. He was elected again in 2006.

Clerk and Recorder: Scott Doyle is seeking a third and final term. Prior to his election in 2002, he served as chief deputy clerk and recorder.

Commissioner, District 1: Lew Gaiter III, who was appointed in January to fill the unexpired term of Kathay Rennels, will run in his first election.

Coroner: Dr. Patrick C. Allen is completing his eighth term in office and seeking re-election. He is exempted from term limits.

Treasurer: Myrna Rodenberger also is running for a third and final term. Prior to becoming county treasurer, she served as clerk and recorder for 16 years.

The Republicans have two contenders for governor, three for 4th District U.S. Representative and four for the U.S. Senate seat.