Tom Boyd is the likely winner of primary election for open Eagle County commissioner seat

Edwards resident Tom Boyd looks like Eagle County’s newest commissioner based on the results of Tuesday’s Democratic primary election for the open District 2 seat.

As of 10: 15 p.m., Boyd leads former Avon Mayor Sarah Smith Hymes by 152 votes — 2,616 to 2,464. Preliminary results remain unofficial, but the 10:15 p.m. release was the final one from the Eagle County Clerk and Recorder’s office on Tuesday. Boyd opened up an early lead of fewer than 100 votes in the first release at 7 p.m. and continued to add to his lead throughout the night.

Both Democrats are running for the seat currently held by Eagle resident Kathy Chandler-Henry. Chandler-Henry was first appointed to the seat in 2013 when she replaced former commissioner Jon Stavney.

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There’s no Republican candidate for the District 2 seat.

In District 1, Avon resident Gregg Cooper, a Republican, is challenging incumbent Democrat Matt Scherr of Minturn.

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While no Republican is currently running in District 2, Eagle County Clerk and Recorder Regina O’Brien said a Republican could seek the seat via a write-in campaign. That requires submitting an affidavit of interest to the clerk’s office no later than July 18. That candidate’s name wouldn’t appear on the November ballot.

Unaffiliated or minor-party candidates can petition their way onto the November ballot. The window for those candidates is open now and closes July 11. To earn a spot on the ballot, a candidate must submit petitions with the valid signatures of 560 registered Eagle County voters.

All results are preliminary, with the last batch of results expected after 11 p.m. Tuesday.

If Boyd’s lead holds, he’s the likely next commissioner from District 2.

Boyd, speaking by phone from a friend’s home, said he feels good about the campaign, no matter if the 9 p.m. numbers hold up or not.

“I’m grateful for all the connections I’ve made,” he said, adding that he’s learned “what’s important to the community.” That, he said, is that people, whether in the Roaring Fork Valley, Gypsum or Vail, want to be listened to, and want someone who will “show up” for their interests.

Boyd complimented Smith Hymes and Geoff Grimmer, who withdrew from the race earlier this year, on the races they ran, saying “they’re going to do incredible things for their communities.”

In the months before swearing-in in January, Boyd said he intends to “absorb as much wisdom from people as I possibly can.”

With votes still to count, Smith Hymes was still waiting for results to come in. But if the 9 p.m. numbers hold up, she said “Good for him… he ran a great campaign.”

Smith Hymes added that it was good to have a contested race for the seat, noting that it’s “good for the community” to have competition for elective offices. She also complimented Grimmer, who was the first to jump into the race about a year ago.

“He brought a lot of energy” to the race, she said.

“We all worked hard for the last year,” Smith Hymes said. “And Tom did a great job.”