Court denies stay for election appeal
With a deadline approaching before the filing period closes on March 15, races are beginning to develop for elected office.
All three positions on the San Juan County Commission and all five seats on the San Juan School Board are on the November 6 ballot. This is in addition to county-wide races for Sheriff, Attorney, Clerk, and Assessor.
There are also positions in state government, including the Utah House of Representatives seat held by Mike Noel. Phil Lyman has announced that he will seek the seat.
The Commission and school board races are on the ballot after new voting districts were created by Judge Robert Shelby.
On March 12, the U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a San Juan County motion for a stay on the plan for all eight races. The court stated that the county has “failed to show that it is likely to succeed” in its appeal of the judge’s ruling.
As of the press deadline on March 13, Bruce Adams, Logan Monson, Kelly Laws, Maryleen Tahy, Willie Greyeyes, Harve Holiday, and Rebecca Benally have filed to run for Commissioner.
In addition, Kenneth Maryboy and Tara Benally have signaled they will submit a petition to seek a seat on the Commission.
School board candidates who have filed to date include Lori Maughan, Merri Shumway, Steven Black, and Melvin Capitan, Jr.
Cal Dean Black and Jason Torgerson have filed for Sheriff.
Candidates for Bluff Mayor are Josh Ewing and Marcia Hadenfeldt, while Bluff Council candidates include Jim Sayers, Brant Murray, Amer Tumeh, Luanne Hook, Linda Sosa, and Jennifer Davila.
Neighborhood caucuses will be held on March 20 at 7 p.m. There are 13 precincts under the new voting districts. Confusion is anticipated on caucus night because of the new precinct boundaries, particularly in the Blanding area. Contact officials from local political parties for more information.
In Blanding, Republican neighborhood meetings are planned at all three public schools and the county library.