Chancy J. Gatlin-Anderson
Special to Colorado Community Media
The 2022 midterm elections have come and gone, leaving Elbert County with a new commissioner-elect, a new county clerk and recorder-elect, and decisions on several school district ballot issues. The Elbert County News spent Election Night at the Election Services Center in Kiowa to stay on top of the results as they came in.
The center was flooded with election judges working diligently to get all the incoming and remaining votes counted. Some of the judges were new to the process, while some have decades of experience, such as Republican Margie White, who has been serving as an election judge in Elbert County since 1983.
Newer Election Judge Ashley Pennington was excited to be a part of the process this year, sharing that she has always been interested in how the election process works.
“I started doing this because I wanted to see how the process works. Being involved is how you learn,” said Pennington. “Everybody here is very knowledgeable. I think the process in Elbert County is running very well.”
Dallas Schroeder, the current Elbert County clerk and recorder, ran in an uncontested race for District 2 commissioner, an area that encompasses the towns of Elizabeth, Kiowa, Simla, and Elbert. He will begin his role as commissioner in January 2023.
“I’m ready for the next challenge and I’m looking forward to being commissioner,” said Schroeder on election night. “I know I’ll have a good working relationship with Commissioners Thayer and Richardson. There are some vacancies that need to be taken care of and I’m happy to be a part of that and getting the county fully staffed. That is a priority we need to have.”
When asked if he’ll miss being Elbert County clerk and recorder, Schroeder responded by saying, “I’m proud of everything that’s happened here at the clerk’s office. I will miss it here because every day is different and that’s exciting. You never know what the day brings. I’ll also miss all the ladies I work with.”
Current Elbert County Elections Manager Rhonda Braun won her uncontested race for Elbert County clerk and recorder. When asked her thoughts on her win she said, “I’m excited. It’ll be cool and really different.”
Several Elbert County leaders will retain their positions in the government for another term. These include Treasurer Sherry Hewlett, Assessor Susan Murphy, Sheriff Tim Norton and Coroner Sandra Graeff.
County voters also weighed in on three school district funding questions that would raise property taxes. Both the Elbert County School District C-2 (Kiowa Schools) and Douglas County School District RE-1 attempts appeared to be losing late on Election Night. The Calhan School District RJ1 ballot question was losing 2-1 in Elbert County, but it appeared that support in the El Paso County portion of the district would result in a win for the school.
Elbert County residents voted overwhelmingly Republican for statewide races including governor, U.S. senator, secretary of state, state treasurer and attorney general.
For Elbert County election results, visit tinyurl.com/elbresults and tinyurl.com/ECElectionResults.
