Tim Sarmo is a former regional manager of the Colorado Department of Local Affairs. He is also the former administrator of Palisade and Silverton/San Juan County. He was a longtime Democrat but is now unaffiliated.

Bernie Buescher is former CEO of West Star Aviation. He served two terms in the Colorado General Assembly, and went on to become Colorado’s Secretary of State. He is a lifelong Democrat.

Norma West is a retired Certified Public Accountant. During her career she specialized in healthcare
finance, and retired from HopeWest Hospice. She is registered as an independent.

Thea Chase is a Palisade trustee, small business owner and consultant, and former director of Grand Junction’s business incubator. She is a former independent candidate for Colorado House District 54 and remains politically independent today.

Dennis Kirtland is a retired Shaw Construction executive and former Grand Junction City Council
member. He was a lifelong Republican until 2017 but is now unaffiliated.

George Orbanek is the former editor and publisher of the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel (1985-2008).

He is a center-right Independent.

Kirk Rider is a retired Grand Junction attorney and Western Slope native. He has been active in local
affairs for over 49 years. A longtime Republican, he became unaffiliated in 2016.

Dave Murphy is Founder of The Alpine Group, an Executive Search firm, and Board Chair of Grand Valley Peace & Justice. He has been a centrist, unaffiliated voter for many years.

Jim Brown has practiced law in Delta, Colorado for over 49 years and has been active on numerous community board’s in the Delta and Montrose areas. He is a former Republican, now registered unaffiliated.

​Janalee Hogan is retired after a 30-year career in the financial industry and almost 15 years in local government for La Plata County. She is an active community volunteer Durango serving with numerous non-profit agencies. She was a life-long Republican until, becoming disappointed with both political
parties, she register unaffiliated.