3 p.m. Nov. 4

Election results 2021: Stieber keeps Fort Lupton mayor's slot -- barely

Dek: Voters aren't keen on marijuana tax

By Scott Taylor and Steve Smith

staylor@coloradocommunitymedia.com

ssmith@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Fort Lupton voters apparently have decided Mayor Zo Stieber should stay in office.

She led challenger Tommy Holton by 18 votes (498-480) as of midafternoon Nov. 4. City Clerk Mari Pena said the 18-vote margin is not enough to warrant a recount. To start that process, the margin has to be one-half of 1 percent of the total votes cast in the election, she said.

The other challenger was present Mayor Pro Tem Shannon Rhoda, who had 396 votes, or 29 percent.

That wasn’t the only item on the ballot. In Ward 1, Valerie Blackston held a seven-percentage point lead on Scott Tipton in results posted Nov. 4. Blackston had 148 votes to Tipton's 127. The winner replaces Rhoda on council.

Former city administrator Claud Hanes was leading in the Ward 2 race (the winner replaces Holton) with 42 percent of the vote (230 votes).  Jimmy Dominguez had 174 votes, for 32 percent. Tommy Martinez had 27 percent, or 147 total votes.

In Ward 3, where voters chose two councilors, Carlos Barron had 271 votes (40 percent), while Bruce Fitzgerald had 245 votes (36 percent). Incumbent Councilor Michael Sanchez had 163 votes, or 24 percent.

Voters were narrowly turning down Ballot Issue 2C. The margin was 51 percent against (706) and 49 percent (677) in favor.  The measure would have allowed the city to charge a 1.5 percent excise tax on the sale of marijuana and marijuana products. Council agreed to a fee structure for marijuana business applicants during its Nov. 2 meeting.

Pena wasn't sure if Weld County election officials finished counting all the votes Nov. 4. She said they have until Wednesday, Nov. 24, to certify the ballot.