In Tuesday’s municipal elections, Cortez voters approved a measure to extend and reduce the sales tax that funds the Cortez Recreation Center, and voted in board members for local towns, including a new mayor for Dolores.
Cortez voters approved Ballot Issue 2A, with a vote of 1,009 to 465, which allows a modified sales tax to continue funding the rec center past its planned sunset date of Dec. 31, 2021. The sales tax will be reduced from the current tax rate of .55 percent to .35 percent.
In Cortez, eight candidates, including two incumbents, ran for five open seats on the City Council.
Incumbents Orly Lucero and Jill Carlson were both re-elected, receiving 972 votes and 760 votes, respectively.
Voters also elected new council members Michael Lavey with 633 votes, Gary Noyes with 630 votes, and Sue Betts with 624 votes.
Mancos voters re-elected two incumbents along with two new board members.
Incumbents Cindy Simpson and Fred Brooks were re-elected. Simpson received 124 votes, and Brooks got 136 votes.
Voters also elected new board members Betsy Harrison 176 votes, and Brent McWhirter, who had 168 votes.
In Dolores, voters elected Chad Wheelus for mayor. He earned 154 votes to Jerry Whited’s 119. Wheelus will serve a two-year term.
The winning candidates for the four positions on the Dolores Town Board are: Tracy Murphy, 139 votes; Jennifer Stark, 127 votes; Melissa Watters, 113 votes; and Val Truelsen, 106 votes.
