Stories for November 7, 2006

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Voters react to long lines

Following are comments of residents who waited in line for hours to vote Tuesday:

Democrats gain ground in governors' races

Democrats reclaimed governors' offices from the Northeast to the Rockies to the South on Tuesday, putting them on track to take a majority of the governorships for the first time in 12 years.

GOP on defensive as Colorado Democrats seek to gain House seats

Firebrand Republican Rep. Marilyn Musgrave was in a dead heat for a third term Tuesday while a Democrat opened an early lead in the expensive and high-profile battle for a GOP-held seat in suburban Denver.

Democrats make move in Senate

Democrats took Senate seats away from Republicans in Ohio, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania on Tuesday but the GOP battled hard to retain its control of the chamber.

Democrats win 18 GOP-held districts in race for House control

Democrats won 18 Republican-held districts in nearly every region of the country to move within striking distance of retaking control of the House on Tuesday as voters demonstrated their disenchantment with a war, a president and scandals on Capitol Hill.

Democrats challenging for control of Congress

Resurgent Democrats swept toward control of the House and grabbed Republican Senate seats in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Rhode Island Tuesday in midterm elections shaped by an unpopular war in Iraq and scandal at home.

John Salazar cruising

Ritter alos leads

Incumbent Democrat John Salazar appeared headed for another term in Congress Tuesday night. With 14 percent of the precinct reporting, Salazar led Republican Scott Tipton 56 percent to 42 percent. Libertarian Bert Sargent had 2 percent.

Early voters back pot, minimum wage increase, domestic partnerships

Early voters in Routt County supported legalizing marijuana and giving benefits to partners in same-sex relationships. They also backed raising the minimum wage.

Routt County leans Democratic

Early voters in Routt County cast strongly Democratic ballots. According to the 2,486 early ballots counted Tuesday night, representing just over 16 percent of registered voters in Routt County, Democratic candidates have an early lead in Routt County in nearly all statewide and regional races.

Kerrigan rolling in race for assessor

Democrat Mike Kerrigan has a big early lead in the race for Routt County Assessor. Of the 2,486 early votes, representing just over 16 percent of registered voters in Routt County, Kerrigan tallied 1,396 votes, or 57 percent.

Voters supporting teacher pay raise

Steamboat Springs School District voters are supporting a pay raise for teachers. As of 8:30 p.m., 1,259 voters, or 59.92 percent, voted yes for Referendum 3C, while 842 people, or 40.08 percent, voted no.

Mitsch Bush leads Strong

In the race for Routt County Commissioner, Democrat Diane Mitsch Bush is leading Republican Paul Strong by 17 percent after early voting results Tuesday night.

School construction issue getting approved

Referendum 3D, a $29.7 million bond issue for Steamboat Springs schools, had a sizable lead according to early voting numbers reported Tuesday.

Wall leads Wiggins in early returns

Gary Wall, the Routt County Democratic candidate for sheriff, is leading his opponent, Republican Garrett Wiggins by 283 votes, with 5,211 votes counted.

Democrats pick up Senate seats in Pennsylvania, Ohio

Democrats, seizing on voter unrest over the Iraq war, defeated incumbent Republicans in Ohio and Pennsylvania on Tuesday in a bid to take control of the Senate.

Colorado congressional races at a glance

Colorado congressional races at a glance:

Judge rejects request to extend voting hours in Denver

A judge turned down Democrats' request to keep polls in Denver open for two extra hours Tuesday night after balky computers, the longest statewide ballot in decades and unfamiliar new voting machines delayed voting for thousands of people.

Democrats grab Ohio Senate seat

Two-term Republican Sen. Mike DeWine, undone by state and national scandals and a sour state economy, was trounced Tuesday by Rep. Sherrod Brown in a race long ago abandoned by the GOP.

Abortion, gay marriage among many hot topics in state ballot measures

Banning abortion and gay marriage, boosting minimum wages and tobacco taxes, and legalizing marijuana were among the options Tuesday as voters in many states considered ballot measures addressing an array of the nation's most divisive social issues.

Democrats challenge GOP for control of Congress

Resurgent Democrats grabbed a Pennsylvania Senate seat and an Indiana House seat long in Republican hands Tuesday night, challenging for control of Congress in midterm elections shaped by an unpopular war in Iraq and scandal at home. Democrats also elected governors in Ohio and Massachusetts for the first time in more than a decade. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania became the first Republican senator to fall to the Democrats, losing his seat after two conservative terms to Bob Casey Jr., the state treasurer.

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Swamped in Steamboat

Hourlong waits, long lines reported at vote centers

Routt County voters faced long lines and computer malfunctions Tuesday in an arduous election day. When polls closed at 7 p.m. at the Steamboat Pilot and Today, one of eight voting centers in the county, there were still more than 150 people waiting to vote on one of the four electronic voting machines at the site. Dozens and dozens of voters gave up and left without casting ballots. Some voters waited nearly four hours to vote.

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Video: Morning News Update

Voting got under way at 7 a.m. this morning at voting centers around Steamboat Springs. Gary Wall, the Democratic candidate for Routt County sheriff, received significantly more financial contributions than Republican Garrett Wiggins in the weeks leading up to today's election. Construction crews used a backhoe Monday to tear into the Harbor Hotel at Seventh Street and Lincoln Avenue. In Sports, the annual Rocky Mountain Rumble takes center stage at Howelsen Ice Arena this weekend. Brought to you by Coleman Cook and Sharon Pace-Ward of Colorado Group Realty in Steamboat Springs.

Hockey rumbles onto ice

Youth tourney this weekend

For three days this weekend, Ski Town USA will be more like Hockey Town USA as the annual Rocky Mountain Rumble takes center stage at Howelsen Ice Arena.

Forensics team talks good game

The Steamboat Springs High School forensics team opened its season on a strong note Saturday, with each team member taking home an award.

Board updated on survey

Results from a climate poll conducted in the spring revealed overall satisfaction with the Steamboat Springs School District, but district administrators and two district directors discussed areas that need to be addressed and how they plan to do it during Monday's School Board study session.

Grant applications to be prioritized

Routt County and the town of Hayden are preparing to ask the state for more than $1.5 million in grant money.

Nothing basic about ski base

Steamboat City Council to discuss complex URA issues

Base area redevelopment is the focus of several meetings at Centennial Hall today.

The Record for Nov. 5

1:25 a.m. A bus stop on Weiss Drive reportedly was vandalized.

Briefs for Nov. 7

The Tread of Pioneers Museum will be closed Wednesday through Friday for Festival of Trees preparations. The museum will reopen Saturday at 11 a.m. for viewing of the trees. The museum will be open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (including Sunday and Monday) for viewing through Nov. 19. The last day to view the trees is Nov. 20, when the museum will close at 4 p.m.

Wall finishes campaign strong

Finance reports show big push for Democrat in sheriff's race

Gary Wall, the Democratic candidate for Routt County sheriff, received significantly more financial contributions than Republican Garrett Wiggins in the weeks leading up to today's election.

Harbor Hotel torn down

Tim Kohl watched with mixed emotions as a backhoe tore through the Harbor Hotel building Monday morning in the heart of downtown Steamboat Springs.

Tom Ross: Technology changes election night all-nighters

High-tech voting machines are taking all the adventure out of election night.

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Officials: Go to polls prepared

Large turnout, lengthy ballot could create lines for voters

A limited number of electronic voting machines and a potentially large number of voters could result in lines at Routt County polls today By 8 a.m., the line was out the door at the Steamboat Pilot & Today, one of the eight voting centers in the county. "It could be a problem," Routt County Clerk and Recorder Kay Weinland said Monday. "People could have to wait in line. If people are in line by 7 p.m., they will be able to vote, no matter how long we have to stay there."