Numerous special districts in Archuleta County will be holding Board elections this coming spring, and registered voters in the community, and Colorado voters who are also property owners, are welcome to nominate themselves.
Self-nominations must be submitted by February 24, for all special districts… unless you are running as a write-in candidate, in which case the deadline is February 27.
The elections will be held on May 2, 2023.
Qualified candidates for special districts include registered voters living within the district, as well as registered Colorado voters who live outside the district but own property within the district. These are the same qualifications for voters.
Upper San Juan Health Service District (Pagosa Medical Center)
The USJHSD will be electing three directors for four-year terms. The seats that are up for election are currently held by Matt Mees, Jason Cox and Dr. Jim Pruitt. Both Mr. Mees and Dr. Pruitt are termed out and are not eligible for re-election.
Self-nomination and acceptance forms are available on the Pagosa Medical Center website, from the front desk at Pagosa Springs Medical Center, or can be emailed by contacting Designated Election Official (DEO) Heather Thomas at DEO@psmedicalcenter.org; they must be submitted by 4:30pm on February 24. For write-in candidates, an affidavit of intent must be submitted by February 27.
The election on May 2 will be via mail ballot. The walk-in location to obtain a new or replacement ballot and to drop off voted ballots will be located at Pagosa Springs Medical Center where a ballot box will be located at the front vestibule to the clinic and will be open from 8:00am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday, beginning at least 22 days prior to the election, and then open from 7am to 7:00pm on the day of election.
DEO Heather Thomas can be reached at 95 S. Pagosa Blvd., by phone at (970) 507-3815, and by email at DEO@psmedicalcenter.org.
Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District (PAWSD)
PAWSD will have five seats open on its volunteer Board of Directors; 3 seats will be for 4-year terms, and 2 seats will be for 2-year terms. Nomination forms are available on the PAWSD website, or from the PAWSD office at 100 Lyn Avenue.
The election will be via mail ballot; ballots can be returned via mail, or dropped off in person at the PAWSD office. For questions about the PAWSD election, you can contact Designated Election Official Renee Lewis at deo@pawsd.org
Pagosa Fire Protection District
Up for election are two director seats with four-year terms. Self-nomination and acceptance forms are available from Designated Election Official (DEO) Tomi Bliss and must be filed with her by 5pm on February 24. Bliss can be reached at 165 N. Pagosa Blvd., by phone at 970-731-4191, or by email at tbliss@pagosafire.com.
The PFPD election will be held via in-person voting on May 2 from 7am – 7pm at the PFPD offices, 165 N. Pagosa Blvd. This is not a mail ballot election.
Five local Metropolitan districts are also holding elections on May 2, from 7am and 7pm. Contact each Metro District office for more information about those elections.
Alpha Rockridge Metropolitan District
The Alpha Rockridge Metropolitan District is electing two directors to serve for three-year terms.
Aspen Springs Metro District
The Aspen Springs Metro District is electing three directors to serve for three-year terms.
Loma Linda Metropolitan District
The Loma Linda Metropolitan District is electing three directors for four-year terms.
Piedra Park Metropolitan Improvement District
The Piedra Park Metropolitan Improvement District is electing two directors for four-year terms and three directors for two-year terms.
San Juan River Village Metropolitan District
The San Juan River Village Metropolitan District is electing three directors for four-year terms and two directors for two-year terms.
Bill Hudson began sharing his opinions in the Pagosa Daily Post in 2004 and can’t seem to break the habit. He claims that, in Pagosa Springs, opinions are like pickup trucks: everybody has one.