Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Turnout for the primary elections in Routt County was nearly triple that of 2006 as of Monday afternoon, and votes will continue to be counted until polls close at 7 p.m. today.

Routt County Clerk and Recorder Kay Weinland said the mail-in ballot system likely contributed to the turnout of about 44 percent of Republicans, 31 percent of Democrats and 16 percent of Libertarians among active registered voters.

Overall, about 3,200 ballots have been cast of the 9,000 sent out. Voters have until 7 p.m. today to vote at the downtown Routt County Courthouse.

At stake is one local race — the Republican primary for Routt County sheriff — along with the high-profile state races of Ken Buck versus Jane Norton for the Republican primary for Senate and Michael Bennet and Andrew Romanoff on the Democrats' side.

For Republicans, Scott Tip­ton also is facing Bob McConnell for the 3rd Congressional Dis­trict, and Dan Maes is facing Scott McInnis in the Repub­lican gubernatorial primary.

Libertarians are choosing between Maclyn “Mac” Stringer and John Finger for the senator’s seat, and between Dan “Kilo” Sallis and Jaimes Brown for the governor’s office.

Sheriff’s race

For the sheriff’s office, Steamboat Springs Police De­­partment Detective Nick Bo­­sick is facing All Crimes En­­forcement Team Cmdr. Gar­rett Wiggins.

Both men were out with their families Monday afternoon with signs along Lincoln Ave­nue.

According to the most recent campaign finance reports, filed by candidates by the Aug. 6 deadline, Wiggins received far more in donations since the last reporting period July 20 but spent no money.

Wiggins got $5,350 in donations during that period, including a $2,000 donation from Joe Bishop and $2,500 from his father, the second such donation from his father in the election. Wiggins returned one $100 donation because it came from a corporation — Rich Hall Steamboat Investigators.

During that same time, Bosick raised $1,142 from a few contributors, including $500 — the largest single donation to his campaign during the period — from Susanna Jones. Bosick spent $1,135, mostly in advertising, during that time.

Wiggins still had $5,217.92 on hand at the end of the reporting period because he started the period about $32 down. Bosick ended the period with $2,646.67.

Predictions

Both men said they are cautiously optimistic about the primary race, but with no polling in the county, there is no predictable outcome.

“Everywhere I go, I hear nothing but positive feedback,” Bosick said. “I can’t sit here and tell you I think I have it in the bag definitely.”

Wiggins said he, too, has heard positive feedback, but he’s not counting it as a win yet.

“People I’ve been talking to have seemed a little bit more confident than I am about winning it,” he said. “I think it’s going to be close.”

— To reach Zach Fridell, call 871-4208 or e-mail zfridell@steamboatpilot.com