Election season arrives in San Juan County

by David Boyle
News Director
Election season is around the corner with ballots being mailed out to registered voters next week, and early voting starting on October 10. 
Election day is just over a month away on Tuesday, November 8. Among the contested races in San Juan County include school board, county, tribal, state, and federal races.
Ballots will be sent out by mail starting next week, in addition early voting sites will be operating throughout the county on each weekday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.
Early voting next week will be at the Red Mesa Chaapter House on Monday, October 10. The Navajo Mountain Chapter House on Tuesday, October 11 and Bluff Community Center on Wednesday, October 12.
Early voting will also take place at the White Mesa Community Center, Monument Valley Welcome Center, the Aneth and Mexican Water Chapter houses. The full schedule can be found on page A2 of this edition of the San Juan Record.
The San Juan Record is also publishing profiles of candidates ahead of the November 8 General election.
Among the elections occurring this November are non-partisan elections for the San Juan School District Three seat. Voters will be choosing between Colleen E. Benally and Sheila Stubbs Knight who each won a primary election in June.
Incumbent board member Nelson Yellowman was the only candidate to file for the District Five seat.
Other races in the county include two races for the county commission seat, the county sheriff, clerk/auditor, and attorney. 
Candidates for Commission District Two include Democratic Incumbent Willie Grayeyes and Republican challenger Silvia Stubbs.
Candidates for Commission District Three include Democratic Incumbent Kenneth Maryboy and Republican challenger Jamie Harvey.
Candidates for County Clerk/Auditor include Republican Incumbent Lyman Duncan and Democratic challenger Garrett Thomas Holly
Candidates for San Juan County Sheriff include Republican Lehi Lacy and Democrat Al James Whitehorse.
One candidate has filed as a write-in for the county attorney position, that’s Brittney Ivins.
Incumbent Sheriff Jason Torgerson and Incumbent County Attorney Kendall Laws did not file for re-election.
Also up for election in 2022 is a two-year term for the 69th District of the Utah House of Representatives.
The district includes all of San Juan County, as well as Kane, Garfield, and Wayne counties. During the 2021 redistricting process, Piute County, as well as portions of Beaver and Sevier counties, were removed from the district.
In exchange, all of Grand County, as well as parts of Emery County, were added to the district.
Incumbent (R) Phil Lyman is seeking re-election against (D) Davina Smith. Both candidates are from San Juan County.
Judicial retention elections include for Paige Petersen for the Supreme Court of Utah, Judge Don Torgerson and Judge George Harmond for the 7th District Court as well as Judge Lyon Hazleton for San Juan County, Monticello and Blanding Justice Courts.
The US House District 3 seat is also up for a two-year term. Candidates include Republican Incumbent John Curts, Democrat Glenn Wright, Libretarian Michael Stoddard, Constitutional party candidate Daniel Cummings, Independent American Party candidate Aaron Heineman.
One of Utah’s Senate seats is up for a six-year term. Candidates include Republican Incumbent Mike Lee, Unaffiliated Evan McMullin, Libretarian James Hansen, and Independent American Party candidate Tommy Williams
Candidates for State Treasurer includes Republican Incumbent Marlo Oaks, United Utah Party candidate Thomas Horne, Independent American candidate Warren Rogers and Libretarian Joseph Buchman.
Voters will also consider a Utah constitutional amendment.
In addition to Utah elections Navajo Nation elections are also being held this year.
Navajo Nation Council delegates are up for election this year. Davis Filfred and Curtis Yanito will be on the ballot for the seat representing Mexican Water, Tolikan, Teec Nos Pos, Aneth, and Red Mesa.
Navajo Nation Council Delegate Incumbent Nathaniel Brown will face off against Shaandiin Parrish for the seat representing Chilchinbeto, Dennehotso, and Kayenta Chapters.
Incumbent Herman M. Daniels will face challenger Henry “Hank” Stevens for the delegate seat representing Tsah Bii Kin, Naa’tsis’aan, Shonto Community, and Oljato chapters.
Navajo Nation voters will also cast ballots in a Presidential Election between Incumbent Jonathan Nez and Buu Nygren.

San Juan Record

49 South Main St
PO Box 879
Monticello, UT 84535

Phone: 435.587.2277
Fax: 435.587.3377
news@sjrnews.com
Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday