The La Plata County Democratic Party should not appoint a Republican to replace Clyde Church as county commissioner. The arguments presented by the Herald’s editorial board are, in a word, ludicrous.
According to this very editorial (Herald, June 27), replacing Commissioner Church is an important decision because commissioners must “grapple with an already strapped county and future reduced revenue from property taxes and federal funding.” Ongoing conversations regarding the lodgers tax and sales tax are crucial to ensure La Plata County continues to provide exceptional resources to the county’s residents. As a result, I am led to wonder exactly why the editorial board thinks now is an appropriate time to nominate someone from a party known for “limited government and lower taxes.”
To address Commissioner Church’s mandate: It is true he didn’t win by a landslide – but he won. It is undemocratic to overturn the will of the people and nominate someone from an entirely different party. Furthermore, Republicans are elected to the White House, CD3 and SD6. Don’t pretend that they are unrepresented in Western Slope politics. Don’t try to subvert the will of the people of La Plata County because of some ill-defined version of fairness.
If Republicans would like to sit on the Board of County Commissioners, they need to present a vision for La Plata County worth voting for.
Stephen Ponzer
Durango
