In the race for Arapahoe County Commissioner District 2, Republican Nancy Sharpe won against Democrat Rebecca McClellan. Sharpe edged out McClellan by about 20 percent. Sharpe said she was excited about her win. "We ran a positive campaign on the messages and issues that were very important to Arapahoe County citizens, and that's what they really saw," she said.
McClellan, a Centennial City Councilwoman, said she congratulates Sharpe on her win, and will continue to serve her residents. “The issues in this election remain serious ones for our district, and residents will be looking to each of their local officials to protect their interests and put them first,” McClellan said in an e-mail. “I look forward to continuing to work toward protecting citizens and property owners."
The race was tight as of press time between Republican Bob FitzGerald and Democrat Nancy Jackson, who are vying for Arapahoe County Commissioner of District 4. FitzGerald, an Aurora City Councilman, was leading by 50.14 percent, while Jackson, a Community College of Aurora professor, was leading by 49.86 percent at press time.
Democrat Rhonda Fields won the House District 42 seat, beating Republican Sally Mounier by about 20 percent. At press time, Fields said she was elated and relieved. "The journey to get to this final destination has been extremely difficult," Fields said. "But I'm built for the road ahead, and I'm excited to serve Aurora and House District 42."
Fields’ son, Javad Marshall-Fields, was killed along with his fiancée in 2005 before he was set to testify as a witness in the murder of his best friend. She said her name recognition helped her a bit in her campaign, but mostly she won because she listened to voters' concerns. "I think I won because I took my race seriously," she said.
Fields said she never thought she’d be involved in politics, but former state Rep. Karen Middleton tabbed Fields as her replacement when she left the race to accept another job. Mounier could not be reached for comment.
Incumbent Democrat Su Ryden will be serving a second term as House District 36 Representative. Ryden edged out Republican Gary Marshall by about 10 percent at press time. "If we are successful, it's certainly due to the tremendous outpouring of volunteer support we've had this year," Ryden said. "Going around, knocking on doors, calling people, talking to people, and finding out what's on their mind and responding to their needs and hopes is really what this is all about." Marshall said he didn't want to comment because the final results were not tallied as of press time.
Incumbent Republican Kevin Priola will be serving a second term as House District 30 Representative. He edged out Democrat Laura Huerta by about 20 percent at press time. Although the final tally was not announced yet, Priola said he was hopeful that he would win the election. "It's been a long campaign with a lot of concerns, and I'm just really hopeful that I'll have the honor to head back down to the Capitol," he said. He will focus his next term on creating jobs and improving the economy. Huerta said she didn't want to comment because the final results were not tallied as of press time.
Republican Erik Hansen was up by a comfortable margin at press time against incumbent Democrat Larry Pace in the race for Adams County Commissioner District 3. Hansen, mayor of Thornton, was leading by about 53 percent to about 47 percent at press time. "I feel pretty good," Hansen said. "I don't think we're quite ready to declare victory yet, but I would say we have a nice margin at this point." Pace has held the post for two terms.
Aurora resident Barbara Deadwyler was leading in the race for Regional Transportation District Board of Directors for DIstrict B. She was up by about 47 percent, compared with Aurora resident Miller Hudson, who gained about 35 percent of the votes, and Aurora resident Melvin Bush, who gained about 18 percent of the votes. "I'm really surprised we pulled it off," Deadwyler said. "We were kind of the underdog, so it's very exciting." Bush said he hoped to gain more votes by the end of the evening.
Arapahoe and Adams County voters were split on whether to allow medical marijuana dispensaries within Aurora's city limits. At press time, about 49 percent of voters in Adams County voted to prohibit dispensaries within city limits, compared with about 51 percent who voted to allow them.
In Arapahoe County, about 53 percent voted to prohibit dispensaries, while about 47 percent voted to allow them.
Amendments 60, 61 and Proposition 101 were defeated by a large margin in Arapahoe and Adams Counties. At press time, about 77 percent of voters in Arapahoe County voted to oppose Amendment 60. About 75 percent of voters in Arapahoe County opposed Amendment 61, and about 70 percent of voters in Arapahoe County voted no for Proposition 101.
About 74 percent of voters in Adams County opposed Amendment 60, about 72 percent of voters in Adams County opposed Amendment 61, and about 66 percent of voters in Arapahoe County opposed Proposition 101.
