We’re sharing an op-ed this morning by Melinda Burrell that includes this comment:
During the primary season, when candidates are seeking our votes, we can and should demand speech and action from them that will rebuild trust in our institutions. Some of the things to analyze include: do candidates discuss their policy plans fully (openness) or rely on vague slogans?
Candidates are indeed seeking our votes this primary season, including local candidates for two contested County offices: the County Commissioner seat for District 1, currently held by Republican Alvin Schaaf, and the office of County Sheriff, currently filled by Rich Valdez, who is not running for re-election.
In my humble opinion, these are the two County offices — Commissioner, and Sheriff — that provide the greatest opportunities to benefit our community through creative and thoughtful administration… and, at the same time, the ability to allow or cause harmful consequences. Most County offices — Clerk, Treasurer, Assessor, Surveyor, Coroner — are limited in their authority and are tightly constrained by state statutes. But the Commissioners and the Sheriff are allowed fairly wide latitude in many situations, and as a result, serious mistakes can be made. Significant progress can also result.
Which of the candidates running for the office of Sheriff and Commissioner have intentions that will benefit our community, and the ability to put those intentions to work?
Which candidates are willing to discuss their policy plans fully and openly, in a public forum?
In years past, the League of Women Voters held candidate forums and invited local candidates and issue committees to share their perspectives by answering questions posed by the League or by the audience. But the League has become inactive over the past several years. Who could step up and organize an open, public forum, to which all current candidates would be invited?
If not me, then who?
When I began planning tonight’s candidates forum — which will be held at the Tennyson Event Center tonight at 7pm — I began by enlisting the help of two prominent local businesses as co-sponsors, and by contacting all of the Sheriff and Commissioner candidates with an invitation to attend. All of the candidates that we were aware of, that is.
Two Commissioner candidates — Alvin Schaaf and Veronica Medina — have declined to participate.
Sheriff candidate Mike Le Roux also has declined to participate.
Why these three candidates for public office are hesitant to answer questions in an open, public forum, I cannot say.
Two Sheriff candidates — Republican Boyd Neagle and Unaffiliated candidate Wayne Bryant — have expressed a willingness to share their policy ideas, and answer some hard questions. Unfortunately, I did not know until yesterday that two other Unaffiliated candidates for Sheriff are also circulating petitions: Rob Keating and Monica Medina. They are both invited to join us tonight — although I have not been able to make contact with either of them, as of this morning.
One County Commissioner candidate — Unaffiliated candidate Rachel Suh — has agreed to face the music tonight.
I reached out to various people whom I respect, seeking a moderator who will pose questions to the candidates in a fair and non-partisan manner, and was unable to talk anyone into playing that role. So I will be the moderator to tonight’s forum.
The forum will begin with each candidate making a five-minute statement, giving us an overview of their main concerns and intentions. They will then be posed questions about their particular office, as well as more general questions about the future of Archuleta County and what role the County government ought to play in that future.
Registered voters in Archuleta County should have received their mail ballots already for the primary election, which includes statewide offices as well as local candidates. Voters registered as Republican received the Republican primary ballot; Democrats received the Democrat’s ballot. Unaffiliated voters (like myself) received both primary ballots, but are allowed to choose and submit only one of the two ballots. The last day to vote is June 28.
The Tennyson Event Center is located at 197 Navajo Trail Drive, next door to Boss Hogg’s Restaurant. The forum will begin at 7pm. Doors open at 6:40pm.
Admission is free. The Event Center accommodates about 150 people.