RIO GRANDE COUNTY — Rio Grande County Clerk Cindy Hill announced that the 2021 election results have been certified.

For Center School District, there was one open seat with two candidates running and an unopposed seat open for the Center Board of Education Director in District 26JT. G. Lyn Bogle won the race for the open Board of Education seat against Miquel Rios in a 23 to 11 vote. Misty Palacios retained her seat as she ran unopposed.

Monte Vista Board of education had two seats open and four candidates running for the four-year position. They also had an unopposed seat open for a two-year term. Orlando DeHerrera D.O. came in with the most votes and won a single seat on the board with 650 votes. Kurtis Holland secured the second open seat with 626 votes. Angela Waggoner had 617 votes. Ruthanna Segar received 562 votes. Cliff Kincannon won the Board of Education Director seat unopposed for the next two years.

Sargent School District had three open seats and three candidates running for the Board of Education. Lorena Price had 269 votes, Michele Peterson received 265 votes and Matthew Smartt came in with 246 votes. The Sargent School Board of Education Director race came down to Nathan Burkhart winning the race with 193 votes and Clayton Mitchell falling just short with 136 votes.

The Upper Rio Grande School District in Del Norte had two vacant seats open on its Board of Education and six candidates. The two winning candidates were Bridget Kreutzer with 510 votes and Leroy Trujillo with 423 votes. Donna L. Velasquez was next with 419 votes, followed by Thomas Tichy with 373 votes, Fedele “Phil” Paccione Jr. with 242 votes and Nellianna Edelen with 271 votes.

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold announced Monday, Nov. 29, the certification of the 2021 Coordinated Election. 

“Colorado’s 2021 Coordinated Election again proves that our state’s election system is the nation’s gold standard,” said Secretary Griswold.  “Once again I’m proud that we conducted a seamless election and that over 1.5 million Coloradans made their voices heard.  Thank you to the Secretary of State’s Election Division and to county clerks across the state for another job well done.”