Steamboat Pilot & Today

Hayden — The Hayden mayoral and trustee elections are now contested.

Several candidates seem to be playing a game of musical chairs -- two planning commissioners are running for trustee spots, as is the current mayor. All of the candidates have served before on either the Hayden Town Board or planning commission.

Petitions were due on Fridayo get on the ballot for either trustee or mayor. Former mayor Richard "Festus" Hagins and trustee Joe Schminkey are running for mayor.

Former trustee Jim Haskins has entered race for three open trustee spots, along with Hayden mayor, Charles Grobe. Grobe cannot run for mayor again because he is term limited. Two planning commissioners, Tom Rogalski and Andrea Hayden also are running for trustee.

Schminkey, who owns Ironhorse Automotive in Hayden, is finishing up his first four-year term as trustee and said he wanted to stay involved with the board but not for four more years. The mayor serves a two-year term.

The candidates think Hayden is headed in the right direction, particularly when it comes to growth -- and they want to make sure it stays that way.

"I'm not here to rock the boat," Schminkey said. "I just want to stay involved and make sure we keep a steady course."

Hagins, a 16-year resident of Hayden, was mayor from 1996 to 1998 and served two terms as a trustee on the Hayden Town Board. He is the chairman of the Parks and Recreation board and has worked for the Wagner Equipment Company for 27 years.

"I've stayed up with all that's been happening since the two years I've been off the board, and it's been an eye-opening experience seeing it from the other side," Hagins said.

Although interest in three open trustee spots was initially lackluster, there are now enough candidates to have an election.

Haskins, who has served two terms on the board, is the most recent candidate to register.

"With all the development and stuff that is going on, I just thought it was a good time to get back in the saddle again," said Haskins, a district wildlife manager for the Colorado Division of Wildlife.

Although Friday was the last day for candidates to submit petitions, write-in candidates can submit the paperwork until March 14.

The last day to register to vote is today.