Elections today for fire, hospital, and recreation districts

Story by Suzy BlackhurstPolls close at 7 p.m. this eveningToday is election day in the Estes Valley. Electors can voice their opinions about the individuals they would like to see represent their interests on three special district boards of directors.These boards encompass areas inside the Town of Estes Park and in specific areas of Larimer and Boulder Counties.Five representatives will be chosen to serve on the Estes Area Fire Protection District board, two board members will be selected for the Estes Valley Recreation and Park District, and two board members will be selected for the Park Hospital District.Where do you vote?The lower level of the Estes Park Community Center, 600 Community Dr., is the location for in-person voting for casting ballots in the recreation district and fire district elections.The hospital district is conducting a mail election, although ballots received at home addresses via U.S. mail and already completed but not returned by mail can be delivered to a drop box located at Estes Park Health, Prospect Ave.All ballots, including those mailed to the designated election official for the Park Hospital District election, must be received by 7 p.m. this evening.When will the results be announced?Once ballots have been collected, unofficial results from the fire district and recreation district elections are expected to be posted at the polling location later today.Unofficial votes in the hospital election are not anticipated to be released until Wednesday, May 7, when they are posted on the Estes Park Health website.Election results will be final, with election results being certified on May 20.Who are the candidates on the ballots?Scott Dorman, Steven Ferrante, Jeff Robbins, and Jon “Hippy” Smith are running for three four-year terms on the Estes Valley Fire Protection District board. Candidates for the two two-year terms include Christopher Buser, Ryan S. Leahy, Joshua Leeds, Robert H. Foster, and Sandra Ellen Smith.Dan Derman, Aaron Dorman, and Derek Vinge are the candidates for the two four-year terms on the Estes Valley Recreation and Park District board.Two new board members will be elected to the Park Hospital District board. Both will serve four-year terms. Tim Cashman, Tom Leigh, Max Salfinger, Ralph Strickland, and Janet E. Zeschin are on the ballot.Why are the elections on different ballots?The three special districts holding elections today in the Estes Valley are separate government organizations with their own physical boundaries, governing laws, and boards of directors.State law regulates special district elections. To conduct coordinated or combined elections—meaning that the elections would all be on one ballot—all the special districts must have exactly the same boundaries. Since the organizations are separate, they are each conducting separate elections.Visit Estesvalleyvoice.com