Voters split on taxes and party preference

By JoAn Bjarko
North Forty News

More than 115,000 county voters--or 74.5 percent--cast ballots in the 2006 General Election, putting some new and some familiar faces in office, crushing a tax for more jail space and embracing a property tax for libraries.

Voters countywide turned down the request for a 5-mill property tax to cover costs of the criminal justice system on a vote of 66,538 against and 39,286 in favor. A smaller group of voters approved a 3-mill property tax for the Fort Collins Regional Library District with a vote of 41,902 in favor and 23,485 opposed.

Voters in the Thompson School District approved a mill-levy override of up to 4.15 mills with a vote of 20,864 in favor and 16,659 against.

Timnath residents approved a home rule charter with a vote of 74 in favor and 8 opposed.

In a countywide race, Republican Kathay Rennels, with nearly 59 percent of the vote, defeated unaffiliated candidate Gerry Horak in the contest for the Larimer County Commissioner District 1 seat. Rennels will begin her third four-year term in January.

Republican Steve Miller, with just over 50 percent of the vote, beat out two opponents, Democrat Barbara Liebler and Libertarian Jesse Herron, in the race for county assessor. A former county assessor, Miller was term-limited four years ago and had to sit out a term before he could run again.

Republican Clerk and Recorder Scott Doyle, seeking a second term, gathered 76 percent of the vote to beat Libertarian opponent Arthur Trevethick.

Treasurer Myrna Rodenberger, Sheriff Jim Alderden, Coroner Patrick Allen and Surveyor Tom Donnelly, all Republicans, ran unopposed.

In races to represent portions of the county in the Colorado General Assembly, Democrat John Kefalas upset incumbent Republican Bob McCluskey in House District 52. Kefalas received 52.65 percent of the vote.

Running for an open seat in House District 53, Democrat Randy Fischer received 58.65 percent of the vote against three opponents - Republican Anne Yeldell, Libertarian Mark Brophy and Darren Morrison of the American Constitution Party.

Republican Kevin Lundberg retained his seat in House District 49 in a race against Democrat Sue Radford. The district also takes in a portion of Weld County. With both tallies combined, Lundberg received 55.56 percent of the vote.

In Senate District 15, which encompasses areas outside the city of Fort Collins, incumbent Republican Steve Johnson defeated Democrat Jennifer Miller. Johnson gathered 60.64 percent of the vote.

In a nationally watched race for a seat in the U.S. Congress, Republican Marilyn Musgrave won overall with less than 50 percent of the vote. She ran against Democrat Angie Paccione and Colorado Reform Party candidate Eric Eidsness. Paccione took a majority of the votes in Larimer County alone, while Musgrave took a majority of the votes in Weld County alone. The district encompasses eastern Colorado.