Election results
Mayor
Frank Huitt 429
Paula Davis 225
Trustee
Brad Casto 477
Dan Eddy 363
Joseph Nielsen 288
David Way 284
Darlene Feller 134
John Perry 129
Rene Diane Harden 95
Frank Huitt will be the new mayor of Rangely after defeating incumbent Paula Davis by more than 200 votes. A recount was needed to determine the third trustee, which featured seven candidates running for three seats.
“I want to thank everyone that supported me,” Huitt said after the final results were announced. “I believe I ran a positive campaign and was supported because of what I did in the past. I hope I can live up to their expectations.”
Mail ballots were delivered to 1,550 voters and 661 were cast, of which Huitt received 429 and Davis gathered 225.
A recount was needed because less than five votes separated two of the trustee candidates. Town clerk Chris Brasfield and election judges John and Teresa Sims hand-counted the ballots and determined Joseph Nielsen received 288 votes, four more than David Way.
“If I would have know it was between us, I would have given it to him,” Way said jokingly, to avoid the additional time it took for the recount.
Incumbent Brad Casto received the most votes of any candidate, garnering 477.
“I’m thankful for the support and thanks to everybody who participated in the race,” Casto said. “I want to do a good job for our community.”
Former trustee Dan Eddy was elected again with 363 votes.
The newly elected candidates will join Clayton Gohr, Lisa Hatch and Elaine Urie on the town council.
“I’m really appreciative of all the interest from the candidates who put their names out there, I’m thankful for their time and effort,” town manager Peter Brixius said. “This seemed like a long election period but I think it was because we had so many passionate candidates.”
