County coroner’s race now contested
Sheriff’s Office deputy announces candidacy
Larry Dalton, 60, a Republican, announced Monday his candidacy for Moffat County Coroner.
Dalton, a patrol deputy with the Moffat County Sheriff’s Office, said he would file his candidate papers today.
“I’m wanting to use my expertise in criminal investigation and move into another facet of my career,” Dalton said.
Dalton said the coroner’s office is appealing to him because he could continue to use his training, which he received during his tenure with the Sheriff’s Office, to serve the Moffat County residents.
This is his first time seeking public office. He will go through the Republican county assembly April 10 to be placed on the primary ballot.
Dalton has worked in law enforcement for 24 years, 12 of which have been with the Moffat County Sheriff’s Office and 12 with the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office.
He served for three years as the emergency management coordinator for the Moffat County Sheriff’s Office before the position shifted to different supervision.
“I’m the best qualified candidate with all the education that I have and my years in the business,” he said.
Dalton said he has thought about running for sheriff before but thinks the coroner’s office is an office he would serve well.
“In the coroner’s office, there is a lot of responsibility that a lot of people don’t realize,” he said. “You work closely with the sheriff, and you have a lot of responsibilities of criminal investigation and … you have that final say after all that investigation is done.”
Dalton has an associate degree in criminal justice from Arapahoe Community College.
Dalton will be running against Kirk McKey, 56, who is a local chiropractor and also a Republican.
This is also McKey’s first time running for public office.
K.C. Hume, 42, chief investigator for the Moffat County Sheriff’s Office and a battalion chief with Craig Fire/Rescue, had filed for the coroner position but withdrew his candidacy.
He announced at the Lincoln Day dinner Feb. 27 that he would not seek the office because of a potential violation of the federal Hatch Act.
Although there have been write-in candidates, the coroner position has not been officially contested in Moffat County since 1954, Moffat County elections supervisor Lila Herod said.
Dalton’s announcement marks the sixth contested race in November’s election.
Moffat County Treasurer Robert Razzano announced Friday that he will seek the assessor’s position.
Razzano, 49, a lifetime Craig resident and Republican, is term limited in the treasurer’s office after serving two terms. He will be running against Carol Scott, 49, also a Republican.
Elaine Sullivan, current Moffat County clerk and recorder, is running against Mike Brinks, an accountant with Bonaker and Associates, for Razzano’s position as treasurer.
Peter Epp, owner of Epp Associates Inc., is running against G.I. Buffham, owner of G.I. Buffham Surveying, for county surveyor.
Tami Barnes and Tony St. John are running against incumbent Audrey Danner for the District 2 Moffat County Commission seat.
Frank Moe is running against incumbent Tom Mathers for the District 3 county commission seat.
Tim Jantz is running for county sheriff, McKey is running for county coroner and Lila Herod is running for clerk and recorder.
The county assembly will determine which Republican candidates make it onto the ballot for the primary election in August.
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