October 6, 2016
The 2016 General Election is down to the wire. With just over a month to go, there seems to be no bottom to the nasty tactics and untruths coming from my opponent’s campaign. Since this spring, my opponent’s campaign has filed several open record act requests with the county seeking everything from my county travel expenses to my communications with untold numbers of people from Congressman Jared Polis to Dan Olson, executive director of the San Juan Citizens Alliance. What were they looking for? I have no idea. But it cost the county a tremendous amount of staff time and[...]
Read MoreAugust 22, 2016
Durango Herald, August 20, 2016, by Josh Joswick Opponents manufacture issues based on innuendo and misrepresentation of facts Chad Fox’s letter to the editor (Herald, Aug. 14) is typical of what readers can expect from opponents of La Plata County Commissioners Gwen Lachelt and Julie Westendorff in this year’s election: manufactured issues based on innuendo and misrepresentation of facts. Fox attempts to create a scenario in which the current county commissioners are seen as having been unthinkingly profligate in their use of taxpayers’ dollars. He attempts and fails, and here’s why: Such a keen observer of county decisions and direction[...]
Read MoreFebruary 8, 2016
While I've greatly appreciated the Herald's endorsement of several county issues the past 3 years, the January 1, 2016 article on county salaries got it wrong. Setting the record straight: County commissioners can't set their own salaries. The Colorado State Legislature is responsible for establishing county and state elected officials salaries. No current elected official is eligible for a salary increase. They are eligible only if they are re-elected in 2016 and beyond. The Legislature has not allowed salary increases in 10 years. Senate Bill 2015-288 is the first salary bill to pass since 2006. The established amount reflects what[...]
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