Earle Bidez earns another term as Minturn mayor while council election results in a tie
If tie isn't broken by absentee ballots, candidates may draw a card from a deck, with the high card receiving a four-year term
High Five Media/Courtesy photo
Mayor Earle Bidez was re-elected in Minturn on Tuesday, earning 137 votes to challenger Hawkeye Flaherty’s 91 votes.
The election also saw Gusty Kanakis re-elected to the Town Council with 198 votes. Council member Eric Gotthelf was also elected, earning 157 votes. Gotthelf is a former council member who was appointed to his most recent term.
Brian Rodine and Tom Priest tied for the next two council spots, earning 109 votes apiece.
The tie vote will be resolved once a 7-day period for the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act passes. If that period expires and the tie is not broken, the town will call the two candidates together for what’s called “a game of chance,” which is allowed by state election code.
Town Clerk Jay Brunvand said that the game of chance will most likely involve the candidates drawing a card from a deck of cards, with the high card receiving a four-year term on council and the low card receiving a two-year term.
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If that’s the case, “the lot drawing will be done in a public session under public scrutiny,” Brunvand said. The state law requires reasonable notice and we fully intend to abide by the law.”
