Former Montrose County Commissioner Bill Patterson, also a former city councilmember, is running against former state Rep. Ray Rose for the at-large city council seat vacated by Erica Lewis Kennedy, who decided not to run again. Rose defeated Patterson in 2002 for the state office.
Four people have picked up petitions so far for three open seats. Candidates’ petitions must be turned in with an adequate number of signatures by Feb. 8. Potential candidates can still pick up petitions and information packets for the election, which will be held April 6.
Another Patterson foe, Brent Wallace, a former employee of Patterson’s nemesis, JetAway Aviation, is running for the District I seat, held by Mayor Jose Abeyta, who also decided not to run.
Wallace’s former boss, Steve Stuhmer, ran attack ads against Patterson when he was commissioner, and tried to have him recalled from office in a dispute with the county over private jet service at the county-owned Montrose airport. The recall was unsuccessful, but Patterson lost his bid for re-election to the county post in 2008.
Rose also had a hand in an attempt to recall Patterson, announcing at a Republican fundraiser two years ago that he had hand-delivered documents to the district attorney proving malfeasance by Patterson. The case was later dropped and Rose distanced himself from the recall effort. Patterson is a Democrat, but all city races are nonpartisan.
Carol McDermott picked up a petition to run for the District II seat being vacated by Ed Ulibarri, who is term limited. The two district seats are for four-year terms, while the at large seat is a two-year term.
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