WRITE-IN CANDIDATES BATTLE DEMOS FOR 2 SEATS ON CARBON COMMISSION

Two write-in candidates have injected new life into two Carbon County Commission races after two Democrats eliminated the competition in the primaries.

Emma Kuy-kendall, who appeared to have won the 4-year commission post in the primary, and Lynda Critchlow Varner, who won the nod of voters for the 2-year commission seat, had seemed well on their way to making history as the first women county commissioners in Carbon County.But soon after the primary, J.R. "Bob" Olson announced he would be a write-in candidate for the 2-year commission seat. He said he had been narrowly defeated and the voting had been light. He did not think the will of the voters had accurately been represented.

Olson got 1,679 votes to Varner's 1,869. There are 10,351 registered voters in the county.

He resumed the campaign he had dropped shortly before the primary.

With only three weeks remaining before the election, Gary Rich, mayor of Wellington, announced he would be a write-in candidate for 4-year commissioner.

Olson and Rich have teamed together for some of their campaign ads, gone door-to-door together, and worked together to mail stickers with their names to all the registered voters in the county. The stickers, a separate one for each candidate, can be placed either on the ballot or preferably on the ballot envelope.

They also have plans to provide the stickers at the polls, although they or their representatives will be required to remain at least 150 feet from the polls.

County Clerk Norman Prichard said he asked that the stickers be removable so they will not mutilate the ballot if placed on it. Prichard said it will be necessary for the ballot counters to put corresponding numbers on ballots and ballot envelopes where there is a write-in vote to make sure the two can be matched.

A write-in vote can also be cast in handwriting if the voter indicates the office as well as the name of the candidate.

Rich, who has served six years as mayor of Wellington, said he wants to unify the county, improve its image and work for industrial development.

In making his announcement of candidacy, he said it is his dream to have enough jobs here for young people. Many of those who have moved away would return if there were jobs for them, he said.

Kuykendall, a retired Utah Department of Transportation employee, said she is able and willing to devote her full time to the county. She said she would run county affairs in an organized and businesslike manner.