In probably the Republicans’ most hotly contested Arapahoe County race, Doug Clark and Nancy Doty will face off in the June 26 primary election that will determine the party’s candidate for Arapahoe County Commissioner in District 1.

That was decided at the March 17 Arapahoe County District Assembly at Powell Middle School in Centennial.

Near the end of the assembly, a total of 248 delegates or alternates from precincts in District 1 cast secret ballots to select a candidate. The final tally determined that Doty, Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder, received 140 votes and Clark, former Littleton mayor, received 108. Since both Clark or Doty received more than 30 percent of the votes cast, the outcome of the primary now will be the party candidate in the November election. The two are vying to replace term-limited Susan Beckman.

That was one of the actions taken during the assembly held to elect party candidates for state House and Senate districts entirely within the county boundaries and for county commissioner seats.

All candidates’ decisions were made in individual assemblies of delegates and alternates from the precincts in that particular district.

The district assemblies are held even is there is only one Republican nominated for the post. For example, the House District 38 assembly selected incumbent Kathleen Conti by acclamation to run for a second term against an opponent that will be named in late March at the Arapahoe County Democratic Assembly.

Also, the delegates and alternates selected David Kerber, the only declared contender, as the party candidate to oppose incumbent Democratic state Sen. Linda Newell in District 26.

November will mark the first election since district boundaries were redrawn based on 2010 census results. While many districts changed little, one major change was the boundaries of House District 3.

Much of the district used to be in Denver, which has a majority of Democrat voters. The new boundaries are completely within Arapahoe County and those nominating Brian Watson noted it is the opportunity to win a seat held by Democrats for the last 20 years. Watson was selected as the party candidate by acclamation and will likely face incumbent state Rep. Daniel Kagan.

The fact a political meeting was being held at the middle school was evident because, like a well-tended flower garden, political signs sprouted up on every available grassy area while there were banners on fences and even some on the baseball backstop.

There were speeches and a number of voice votes on general issues like the rules governing the assembly and acceptance of several committee reports. Party officials also noted there will be additional assemblies to choose party candidates for offices that have boundaries reaching into more than one county.

For example, the 18th Judicial District extends over four counties. There are currently four Republicans who have declared as candidates in the district attorney race and the delegates and alternates at the March 31 assembly will determine whether or not the decision will be made in the primary.