RBC I Both school districts in Rio Blanco County have new board members after the Nov. 1, 2011 coordinated election, which had a record voter turnout in the east end of the county
There are 4,426 total registered voters in the county, 2,629 in the Meeker RE-1 school district and 1,797 in the Rangely RE-4 school district. Of those 1,834 are active in RE-1 and 1,116 in RE-4. Active voters cast 1,190 ballots in the RE-1 election and 627 in RE-4.
Meeker’s Mindy Burke was the only incumbent reelected in Meeker. Challenger Marnell Bradfield received the most votes (703) and challenger Kurt Blunt had the second most (674). Incumbents Ed Coryell and current board president Mary Strang, who have both served on the school board for more than 20 years each, were not reelected.
“I’m grateful for the overwhelming community support, not only for me but all the candidates,” Bradfield said. “I’m really excited and committed to getting started, working hard for our kids and their education, and I’ll do my best to represent our community.”
Blunt was also thankful for his opportunity to serve the Meeker School District.
“I just want to thank everyone who voted and I hope that I can meet their expectations,” Blunt said after the unofficial results were posted on the county’s website. “Again, I’ll do everything I can to keep the business of the board as transparent as possible and always put the interests of the kids first.”
The new board members will take their seats with current members Jerry Oldland, Bill de Vergie, Paul Neilson and Iris Franklin at the Nov. 22 board meeting.
In Rangely, Kurt Douglas was appointed to the board earlier in the year when Matt Scoggins resigned and he received the most votes (375) in the RE-4 election.
“At the time I was appointed I wasn’t positive I would run but after seeing everything that was involved and getting ‘the other side of the story,’ I decided I needed to run or I would be wasting both my time and that of the board for the last three months,” Douglas said. “I am still learning the ropes and now that I know it is for four years, it will give me time to get adjusted to the duties and responsibilities and to hopefully make a difference in the district that has provided my daughters an education. Thanks to the people who voted, I appreciate their support and that I hope to be able to justify their confidence in me.”
Leslie Nielsen, who received 353 votes, and Jennifer Hill, were also elected to the Rangely school board.
Two seats were available on the Rangely Junior College District Board of Trustees. Rodger Polley was the top vote-getter with 489, Peggy Rector was reelected with 380 votes and Conrad Stanley, who was also on the ballot, received 207 votes.
The only state issue on the ballot was Proposition 103, which would have raised Colorado income and sales taxes to help fund K-20 education. Proposition 103 was soundly defeated in Rio Blanco County and the state.
Meeker School District RE-1
(four-year term)
Marnell M. Bradfield 703
Kurtis Blunt 674
Mindy R. Burke 634
Edward Coryell 526
Mary C. Strang 395
Rangely School District RE-4
(four-year term)
Kurt Douglas 375
Leslie Nielsen 353
Jennifer Hill 351
James W. Day 203
Victoria S. Berardi 187
Rangely Junior College District Board of Trustees (four-year term)
Rodger Polley 489
Peggy J. Rector 380
Conrad Ray Stanley 207
State of Colorado Proposition 103
No 1,308
Yes 454
