Competitors foundered while political newcomer Lew Gaiter III rode a rising tide of support to win appointment as Larimer County (Colorado) commissioner.

Gaiter said he would gradually transition into the District 1 position as he hands over responsibility for his information technology business to his son.

A devoted Republican and self-professed “Ronald Reagan conservative” on fiscal and social matters, Gaiter became the choice to fill the commissioner vacancy created with the resignation of Kathay Rennels. He will serve the remainder of her term through the end of the year and plans to run in the November general election. The job pays $87,300 a year.

Gaiter received the majority of the votes cast by those attending a Republican vacancy committee meeting Jan. 7 at Ridgeview Classical School. The event attracted 250 of those constituting the party’s 314-member central committee.

Lacking only balloons and confetti, the event closely resembled a small political convention. Campaign signs and banners adorned the stage. Republican office seekers appealed for support. Candidate allies distributed slick and professionally produced campaign literature. And GOP elected officials roused the crowd during the interludes as four rounds of votes were counted.

“We have to hold this seat,” thundered Rennels, who resigned to become director of economic development at Colorado State University.

Most candidates in their five-minute speeches proclaimed that they were best qualified to win election to a full four-year term in November.

The candidates also competed to convince delegates of their superior commitment to fiscal conservatism and preservation of private property rights.

A baker’s dozen of Republicans at one time or another expressed interest in the appointment, but the list was winnowed to nine by the time delegates gathered.

A trend emerged in the first round of voting that eventually would carry Gaiter to victory. He was among the top three vote-getters with 57 votes — trailing former county commissioner John Clarke with 72 votes and political operative Andrew Boucher with 63. Following that first round, three contenders dropped out, including Curtis Bridges and Roger Thompson. They urged their combined seven supporters to vote for fellow rural resident Gail Meisner.

Gaiter moved up a notch among the front three in the second round of voting. With 69 votes, he still trailed Clarke with 74 votes but slipped ahead of Boucher with 67 votes. Meisner and real estate agent Eric Kronwall then dropped out, asking their combined 37 supporters to vote for Gaiter.

The die was cast in the third round when Gaiter received 103 votes to Clarke’s 86 and Boucher’s 59.

Gaiter went over the top in the final round of voting. He received 135 votes to Clarke’s 72 and Boucher’s 41.

“I look forward to being the best county commissioner I can be,” Gaiter told exuberant delegates as they prepared to depart into the sub-zero night following the more than three-hour meeting.

“My next job is to keep the job in November,” he proclaimed.