The Grand County District 3 race is heating up for the position of Grand County Commissioner, with District 3 commissioner Gary Bumgarner having declared he is not running again, but two candidates throwing in their hats for the primary election.

Two-term Commissioner Bumgarner said on Monday, March 17, that although he will miss the position, he is declining to run again to keep his original campaign promise to voters that he would only run for two terms.

Since then, Grand County Planning Director Kris Manguso, of Kremmling, has declared she wants the job, as well as Hot Sulphur Springs resident, former trustee and mayor and former fire chief George Davis, owner of Maple Street Builders. Both are running as Republicans.

At present, there are no Democratic candidates vying for the position.

Grand County Assemblies

The Republican Grand County Assembly takes place at 1 p.m. this Sunday, March 22, at the Middle Park High School Auditorium.

So far, there are no challengers to any of the Republican-held Grand County offices. Incumbent Sara Rosene is running to keep the office of county clerk; incumbent Christina Whitmer is running to keep the office of county treasurer; Tom Weydert is running to hold his position of county assessor; Rod Johnson is running for another term of county sheriff; and Brenda Bock is again running for coroner. Grand County Surveyor Warren Ward has yet to publicly announce his candidacy.

“There is not a whole lot of enthusiasm,” said Grand County Democrats Chair Sandy Doudna, saying in light of voting outcomes of the last and past elections, potential Democratic candidates in Grand County have become “discouraged.”

The Democratic Grand County Assembly takes place at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25, at the Granby Library. Registered Democrats and unaffiliated voters still have chances to throw hats into races, whether by the Assembly or as write-in candidates.

Voter info

Voters can register up until and including election day prior to voting. A voter must be a resident in Colorado for 22 days to be considered eligible. 

To vote in the June 24 primary election, voters must  be affiliated with a party or declared unaffiliated at least 30 days (by May 23) before the primary election. 

There is flexibility built into the Colorado election system to allow for greater voter participation in the primary. Here’s how: Affiliated or unaffiliated voters may officially declare unaffiliated status by May 23, then may pick an affiliation last-minute at the time of receiving a June 24 primary ballot. The voter then can change back to his or her preferred affiliation as early as the following day after the primary election. This allows for a voter to assess races up to the last minute before choosing for which party to cast a ballot. It also shortens the time a voter must call himself or herself a Republican or Democrat during the crossover to a different party. As one voter told the county clerk and recorder, no Republican wants to die a Democrat, or vice versa.