Rio Grande County, CO elected officials: county commissioners, sheriff, school board and cities

Who holds every elected county, school board, city and special-district office in Rio Grande County: 9 seats on 7 elected bodies. 7 seats were on the November 3, 2026 ballot; they update once the county certifies its results.

Board of County Commissioners

Rio Grande County Board of Commissioners

Each member is elected by the voters of their district.

OfficeWho holds it nowNext term
County Commissioner, District 1Scott Deacon Republican source
County Commissioner, District 2Tyler Ratzlaff Republican sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
County Commissioner, District 3Gene Glover Republican source

County officers

OfficeWho holds it nowNext term
AssessorJ.J. Mondragon Republican sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
Clerk and RecorderCindy Hill Republican sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
CoronerStephen Hunzeker Republican sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
SheriffAnne Robinson Republican sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
SurveyorVacant sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
TreasurerCaricia Johnston sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet

How many local governments Rio Grande County has

The Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments counts 20 local governments in Rio Grande County. This page lists the ones whose offices are elected.

Kind of governmentCensus count (2022)Listed on this page
County government11
Cities, towns, villages and townships30
School districts (school boards)30
Special districts (elected boards)130

Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Government Units Listing (census.gov).

About these counts

The Census Bureau counts every independent local government once, in the county it assigns it to: the one it mostly serves or where it's based. A city or district that crosses county lines is counted in only one county, so it may be listed on this page but counted elsewhere, or the other way around. Many special districts, such as housing authorities, have appointed boards, and some places have more than one elected body, so the two columns measure different things. School systems run by a county, city or the state aren't counted as separate governments, though their boards may be listed here; in some states the Bureau counts community or state colleges as school districts. The counts are as of 2022.

Who lives in Rio Grande County

11,321people
41.7median ageU.S.: 38.9
$64,411 household incomeU.S.: $80,734
18%below the U.S.: 12.5%
34.5%of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degreeU.S.: 35.7%
$239,500median home valueU.S.: $332,700
10.1%unemployed (of the labor force)U.S.: 5.2%
3.8%born outside the U.S.U.S.: 14.1%
6.7%of adults are veteransU.S.: 6.2%
10.7%U.S.: 8.4%
38.8%of renting households pay of income on rentU.S.: 51.1%
32.1%of homeowners with a mortgage pay of income on housing costsU.S.: 28.1%

Race and Hispanic origin: Hispanic or Latino 40.7% · White 54.7% · Black 0.3% · Asian 0.1% · Other or more than one race 4.2% (Hispanic or Latino people can be of any race; the other groups are non-Hispanic.)

Census Bureau, 2020–2024 5-year estimates (data.census.gov).

About these figures

The American Community Survey asks about 3.5 million households a year about who lives there, their work, income, schooling and housing. The 5-year estimates pool 2020–2024 answers so that every county and district has enough of them. They're estimates with a (larger for smaller places), and they're different from the once-a-decade census count. "Median" means half are above and half below. Household income is before taxes and includes everyone in the household. The unemployment share here is the survey's five-year average, so it differs from the monthly rate in the BLS jobs report. Race and Hispanic origin are as people describe themselves.

Health insurance means any coverage, private or public (such as Medicaid or Medicare), when people answered; the share is of everyone except people on active military duty and people living in institutions such as prisons and nursing homes. The housing shares are of renting households, and of homeowners with a mortgage, for whom the Census Bureau can compute them (households with no income, or renters who pay no cash rent, are left out). Rent here is gross rent, rent plus utilities; owner costs include the mortgage, property taxes, insurance, utilities and fees.

Jobs in Rio Grande County

4.7%September 2026, preliminary. A year earlier: 4.0%. Colorado: 4.4%.
236people unemployedSeptember 2026, preliminary.
4,781people employedSeptember 2026, preliminary. Counted where they live, not where they work.
5,017in the September 2026, preliminary.
Unemployment rate, yearly average, Rio Grande County 0.0%1.9%3.7%5.6%7.5% 20162018202020222024

Yearly average unemployment rate, 2016–2025.

Every month, last two years
MonthRateUnemployedEmployedLabor force
September 2026 (preliminary)4.7%2364,7815,017
August 20265.0%2594,9665,225
July 20264.7%2404,8215,061
June 20264.0%2054,8775,082
May 20263.6%1834,9005,083
April 20263.4%1714,7894,960
March 20264.1%2014,6874,888
February 20265.1%2524,6424,894
January 20265.2%2484,5214,769
December 20253.8%1884,7554,943
November 20254.2%2074,6944,901
October 2025not collected (2025 federal shutdown)
September 20254.0%2064,9175,123
August 20254.1%2145,0595,273
July 20254.6%2384,9905,228
June 20254.4%2335,1125,345
May 20254.0%2125,1075,319
April 20254.2%2205,0085,228
March 20254.7%2454,9715,216
February 20255.6%2934,9005,193
January 20255.9%3004,7985,098
December 20245.4%2834,9445,227
November 20245.4%2764,8115,087
October 20244.7%2515,1385,389
Yearly averages
YearRateUnemployedEmployedLabor force
2025 (11 months)4.5%2324,9375,169
20245.1%2745,0515,325
20234.1%2145,0505,264
20224.4%2274,9685,195
20217.1%3714,8805,251
20206.7%3614,9975,358
20194.0%2175,1815,398
20184.6%2475,1065,353
20174.0%2145,1335,347
20164.7%2444,9265,170

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, : BLS publishes county figures only that way, so they rise and fall with the seasons; compare a month with the same month a year earlier rather than with the month before. Colorado's figure above is on the same basis; seasonally adjusted, as in BLS's monthly state release, it was 4.1% in September 2026. The latest month is preliminary and is revised the next month, and BLS revises earlier years each spring. People are counted where they live. October 2025 wasn't collected during the 2025 federal government shutdown, so 2025's yearly average covers 11 months.

Crime reported in Rio Grande County

100.9 per 100,0002025. Colorado: 421.7.
1,869.7 per 100,0002025. Colorado: 2,143.6.
0murders2025, 13 violent crimes in all.
Earlier years
YearViolentRatePropertyRate
202513100.92411,869.7
202432245.42311,771.3
202232243.02702,050.6
202137278.62611,965.5
202025189.63402,578.7
By police agency (5)
AgencyYearViolentPropertyPeople served
Rio Grande County Sheriff's Office20227655,153
Monte Vista Police Department202592123,976
Center Police Department202311391,933
Del Norte Police Department20212271,528
South Fork Police Department202214495

Crimes to the county's city and county police agencies (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, Return A), per 100,000 people they serve. Years with incomplete reporting are left out. Crime in Colorado · the U.S.

Police staffing

3.14 per 1,000 residents2024, 5 agencies serving 13,041 people.
41sworn officers2024, full-time, as of October 31.
27civilian staff2024, full-time.

2024 is the latest year every agency here sent the FBI its staff count.

Agencies counted (5), 2024
AgencyOfficersCiviliansPeople served
Rio Grande County Sheriff's Office13225,204
Monte Vista Police Department1424,011
Center Police Department611,922
Del Norte Police Department511,399
South Fork Police Department31505
Earlier years
YearOfficersPer 1,000CiviliansAgencies
2024413.14275
2023302.29415
2022362.73385
2021443.31395
2020423.19425
2019403.02435
2018564.21165
2017302.24365
2016413.05305

Full-time employees of the county's city police departments and sheriff's office, as each reported them to the FBI (Uniform Crime Reporting, Law Enforcement Employees), per 1,000 people in the areas those agencies serve (the FBI's population figures). A year is shown only when every one of these agencies sent a count; a count under half or over double the agency's own counts in nearby years is treated as not sent. Towns policed under contract by another agency are counted through that agency. State police, campus and other agencies aren't included. Sheriffs' offices often also run the county jail and courthouse security, so their staff counts include those jobs.

Quick answers

Who is the Rio Grande County Assessor?
J.J. Mondragon (Republican) is the Assessor of Rio Grande County, Colorado. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Rio Grande County Clerk and Recorder?
Cindy Hill (Republican) is the Clerk and Recorder of Rio Grande County, Colorado. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Rio Grande County Coroner?
Stephen Hunzeker (Republican) is the Coroner of Rio Grande County, Colorado. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Rio Grande County Sheriff?
Anne Robinson (Republican) is the Sheriff of Rio Grande County, Colorado. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Rio Grande County Surveyor?
The office of Rio Grande County Surveyor is vacant. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Rio Grande County Treasurer?
Caricia Johnston is the Treasurer of Rio Grande County, Colorado. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who are the Rio Grande County commissioners?
Scott Deacon (District 1); Tyler Ratzlaff (District 2); Gene Glover (District 3).
What is the population of Rio Grande County?
About 11,321 people, with a median age of 41.7; the median household income is $64,411 and 18% live below the poverty line (Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
What is the unemployment rate in Rio Grande County?
4.7% in September 2026 (preliminary): 236 people unemployed in a labor force of 5,017, against 4.0% a year earlier (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted).
How many local governments are there in Rio Grande County?
20 in the Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments: 1 county, 3 municipal, 3 school district and 13 special district governments.

Officeholders as of November 6, 2026, from the Colorado Secretary of State's 2023-2024 Biennial Abstract directory of county officers, with districts and parties from the Secretary of State's certified 2022 and 2024 general election results; officials appointed since it was published may differ; each name links to its source. Officials change between elections (appointments, resignations), and the body's own website is the authority. Party is shown only for offices elected on a partisan ballot.

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