Candidates include local GOP, Dem. party leaders, ex-commissioner, newcomers
Following a tumultuous year in county government, more than a dozen candidates have entered the race for a seat on the Carbon County Commission.
Thursday was the deadline for the declaration of candidacy, and the declaration of intent to gather signatures for the 2018 election.
The field includes the Carbon County Republican Party chairwoman and the Carbon County Democratic Party chairman, a former county commissioner, one incumbent, a former commission candidate, and an outspoken critic of county government.
For the office of commissioner/surveyor, the candidates include incumbent Jake Mellor (R), John Jones (D), whom Mellor defeated to win the office in 2014, former commission candidate Tony Martines (R), former Price City Council candidate Joe Christman (D), Paul Riddle (R), and Melvin Coonrod who is running as an Independent American Party candidate.
Those in the race for commissioner include former Helper Mayor and Democratic Party Chairman Ed Chavez (D), Republican Party Chairwoman Kendra Seeley (R), Small Business Development Center Regional Director Ryan Murray (R), Larry G. Jensen (R), Jay D. Daugherty (R), and unaffiliated candidate Cheryl Lupo.
Incumbent County Clerk/Auditor Seth Oveson has announced he will resign the office to accept a position with the State Auditor’s Office in August. The County Democratic Party will select an interim clerk/auditor to fill the post until the successor, who will be chosen in General Election Nov 6, takes office in January.
Candidates who have declared for the office of county clerk/auditor include clerk’s office employee Sulika Laulu Merrell (D), and also David B. Petty (R), Glenna Etzel (R), and Seth Marsing (R).
In the race for Utah House of Representatives District 69, Carbon County Commissioner Jae Potter will challenge Christine F. Watkins for the Republican nomination. Democrats Danielle Pendergrass and Tim Glenn also filed for the seat.
Carbon County voters will also help elect a new U.S. Senator to replace retiring Sen. Orrin Hatch. The list of hopefuls in the race features high-profile candidate Mitt Romney (R), and 18 others, including 12 Republicans.
For U.S. House of Representatives District 3: incumbent John Curtis faces a challenge from eight other candidates, including a rematch with Chris Herrod, a candidate in the special election that Curtis won following the resignation of former Rep. Jason Chaffetz.
The list of candidates will change depending on the outcome of the conventions at the state and county levels, and the certification of signatures gathered by some candidates. The field will be pared down in the Primary Election June 26.