Chaffee County, CO – The first round of results is in from the 2025 Chaffee County Election, with races in Salida and Buena Vista drawing strong voter turnout and several competitive contests.

In Salida, voters are choosing a new mayor, are deciding on three city council races, weighed in on a school board election, and considered Question 2A — whether to close F Street during the summer months for the next three years.

Salida Mayor

  • Justin Critelli – 1,425 (48%)
  • Tracy Kachadourin – 1,043 (35%)
  • Ethan Smith – 500 (17%)

Salida City Council:

Ward 1

  • Joey Rovinski – 618 (65%)
  • Sage Kitson – 326 (35%)

Ward 2

  • Shelley Schreiner – 608 (65%)
  • Dan Bush – 331 (35%)

Ward 3

  • Wayles Martin – 467 (52%)
  • Salty Riggs – 336 (38%)
  • Adam Martinez – 87 (10%)

Salida School Board: (Too close to call – awaiting additional results. This race also includes portions of Fremont County.)

  • Joe Smith – 2,380
  • Tiffany Rhodes – 2,441

City of Salida Question 2A: Would close F Street for the summer for the next three years

  • For – 1,919 (63%)
  • Against – 1,124 (37%)

Voters appear to favor keeping F Street closed during the summer months.

Buena Vista Results

In Buena Vista, voters decided school board seats and two funding measures for the district.

Buena Vista School Board

District 10

  • Antonio Navarrette – 1,536 (40%)
  • Jermiah Johnson – 2,285 (60%)

At Large

  • Casey Martin – 2,161 (56%)
  • Jake Farber – 1,710 (44%)

Buena Vista School District Issue 4A

Mill levy increase for paying teachers

  • For – 2,311 (52%)
  • Against – 2,121 (48%)

Buena Vista School District Issue 4B

Continues a bond to raise money for capital improvements

  • For – 2,442
  • Against – 1,873

Both funding measures are currently passing by narrow margins.

Countywide and Regional Measures

Northern Chaffee County Library District 6A: Waives the 5.25% property tax limit for all future tax years

  • For – 58% – 2,485
  • Against – 42% – 1,817

Chaffee County Ballot Issue 1A: Would raise the county lodging tax from 4% to 5.9%

  • For – 4,216 (42%)
  • Against – 5,861 (58%)

Park County voters decided to raise lodging tax 4% with 64% saying yes.

Custer County voters joined Chaffee County and voted No on raising lodging tax.

These are initial results, with additional ballots, including mail-in and provisional ballots still being counted. Updated totals will be released later this evening and in the coming days.

Stay with Heart of the Rockies Radio for continued election coverage, both on-air and online, as results are updated throughout the election.