Paul Black jumped into the race at the last minute, after another Republican was disqualified for not living in the county. His platform? Deregulate everything.
For affordable housing, Black’s solution is to reduce fees. Yet, our county needs over 700 affordable housing units annually, and his fee reductions would raise mere pennies. This won’t address our housing crisis and would do nothing to help middle-class families.
On roads, he proposes small taxing districts that only help those who pay into them, while opposing impact fees that could generate $500,000 a year to address our $10 million road budget shortfall. Shouldn’t growth pay its own way?
Black’s big push to deregulate the land-use code, especially Chapter 90 on oil and gas, could roll back hard-fought protections. This means allowing oil and gas wells closer to homes, schools and child care centers – at the expense of public safety and the environment.
It’s clear Black’s campaign to deregulate the land-use code is for his own benefit. As a businessman, he stands to profit by removing oversight and making it easier for his own developments to skirt regulations that protect the public. His run for office is nothing more than a way to serve his own interests and those of his wealthy allies, not the people of La Plata County.
Paul Black’s cronyism is dangerous for our county’s future. We need a commissioner who will fight for the community, not their own bottom line. Vote Matt Salka for County Commissioner.
Bob Over
Bayfield
