"I think any citizen would like to see someone in (the clerk's office) who's not a Democrat or a Republican," he said. "I think a person like that could bring a nonpartisan approach to the position."

In other county races, assessor Lee Gardner, Republican, faces a challenge from Josie Valdez, Democrat; auditor Sean Thomas, Republican, is seeking re-election against Jeff Hatch, Democrat; and incumbent treasurer Larry Richardson, Republican, is running against Kelton Baker, Libertarian, and Billie Gay Larson, Democrat.

Reid Demman, the county's chief deputy surveyor, is the lone candidate to succeed surveyor Vaughn Butler, who opted not to seek re-election. Democratic candidate Kim Lundeberg was eliminated from the surveyor's race in September for not filing a financial disclosure form on time.

---

E-mail: jpage@desnews.com