Elections culminate on November 5

by David Boyle
News Director

Election Day is less than a week away on November 5 and over one-third of registered voters in San Juan County (39.2%) have already cast their ballot. That percentage is among the top 5 counties in the State of Utah which statewide has seen 24.7 percent of ballots processed.
San Juan County residents are voting on a variety of candidates and issues during the 2024 election season.
Local county wide races will include a contested contest for the County Recorder position, with Incumbent Republican Cindi Holyoak hallenged by Democratic candidate Stacey Steele.
In other county non-partisan races, the San Juan School Board district 1 seat will be between Fritz Lloyd Pipkin Jr. and Ron Nielson. The seat is currently held by Lori Maughan, who is not seeking re-election.
Candidates for School Doard district 4 seat include Lucille Cody and Luanita M. Etsitty. The seat is currently held by Steven Black, who is not seeking re-election.
San Juan County residents will also cast votes for Utah House District 69 seat. The Utah State House seat representing San Juan, Kane, Wayne, Garfield, Grand and parts of Emery county include two Blanding candidates, Republican Logan Monson and Democratic candidate Davina Smith. The seat is currently held by Republican Phil Lyman, who is running a write-in campaign for Governor.
Lyman was defeated by Incumbent Spencer Cox in the June Republican Primary.
The Lyman campaign has filed an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to appeal adecision by the Utah Supreme Court to dismiss a petition contesting the need for a Republican primary after Lyman won the GOP convention.
The petition claims Cox did not collect the needed number of signatures to secure a spot on the primary ballot.
While Lyman is running a write-in campaign, the ballot also includes Incumbent Republican Spencer Cox and Democratic challenger Brian King.
San Juan County residents will also cast ballots for federal races, including US House District three with Republican Mike Kennedy going against Democrat Glenn Wright.
The seat is currently held by Republican John Curtis, who is running for US Senate. Curtis will face Caroline Gleich representing the Democratic party and Carlton Bowen of the Independent American Party.
San Juan County voters will also cast ballots in the Presidential Election, with Donald Trump representing the Republican Party and Kamala Harris for the Democratic Party. Six other tickets are also on the ballot.
In the non-partisan school board district two race Incumbent Nan Barton is running unopposed.
Republican candidates appear on the ballot uncontested in four county races, including Lori Maughan for Commission District one, Rick Meyer for Assessor, Glenis Pehrson for Treasurer, and Brad Bunker for Surveyor.
Ballots must be postmarked by November 4, and can also be dropped off at drop-box locations throughout the county. Early voting is also active in the county.
On November 5, county residents will be able to cast ballots at the Montezuma Creek Diné Building, Monument Valley Welcome Center, Navajo Mountain Chapter house, White Mesa Community Health Building, the Blanding library and the county building in Monticello.