I’m supporting Gwen Lachelt’s re-election for La Plata County commissioner, and I hope you will too. The county is on the right path forward in many crucial areas, in large part thanks to Gwen’s leadership.

She helped spearhead the response of communities downstream of the Gold King Mine spill and led the unwavering support for finally dealing with the legacy of mining contamination of the Animas River through a Superfund designation.

Lachelt has campaigned tirelessly for a desperately needed revision to our county land-use comprehensive plan to best serve the needs of business, neighbors and the community as we face burgeoning growth in the coming years. That land-use plan revision is on track for completion in the next few months after decades of inaction.

And Lachelt has been an unrelenting champion for private property owners to make sure their voices are heard and their financial investment in their homes, farms and ranches is respected in energy development decisions.

If you think Superfund clean-up of the Animas mines, protection of property rights and neighborhood values to balance energy development, and planning for the future are all good steps forward, then stay the course, and vote to re-elect Gwen Lachelt.

Mark Pearson

Durango