Garfield commissioner incumbents hold leads

By Dennis Webb
Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Garfield County’s two incumbent county commissioners appear on their way to being re-elected, based on results from 68.5 percent of voters.

One-term Republican incumbent Mike Samson of Rifle had received 55 percent of votes to Democrat Aleks Briedis’ 45 percent, based on a count of early and absentee votes.

Four-term Republican incumbent John Martin of Glenwood Springs held a narrower lead of 51.5 percent to 48.5 percent over Democrat Sonja Linman.

A county open space tax measure was going down to defeat with just 45 percent approval. However, a Rifle sales tax measure to help pay for a new water treatment plant was enjoying 62 percent support.

Meanwhile, incumbent 9th Judicial District Attorney Martin Beeson, a Republican, was holding leads in Garfleld and Rio Blanco counties and losing in Pitkin County to Democratic challenger Sherry Caloia.