Quoting The New York Times editorial board, “Staying home on Election Day carries a heavy cost.” This exhortation to vote reverberates as loudly in La Plata County as elsewhere.

In 2010, Democrats and unaffiliated voters sat out the election; the tea party favorite, J. Paul Brown, became state legislator. Will Brown capitalize on midterm election apathy once again and head to Denver to represent only an extreme faction of the population? Will we forget that Scott Tipton and Cory Gardner voted lockstep with Republican obstructionists hell bent on thwarting any efforts by the Obama administration?

Not just big issues like immigration reform and Obamacare, but veterans’ bills, student loan relief, bringing outsourced jobs home and the farm bill. Do we forget they voted to shut down the government, costing our communities millions in tourist revenues? Retire both Gardner and Tipton; vote for Mark Udall and Abel Tapia to represent the interests of Colorado.

Locally, we have similar choices. Will we grant the tea party four years on the county commission? Mild-mannered, friendly Brad Blake is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. As a founding member of the Durango tea party, his assertion that he would be a conservative voice is an understatement. His presence at meetings and forums, where he could educate himself on issues important to La Plata County, has been nonexistent. We need thoughtful, intelligent representation: Cynthia Roebuck.

Bobby Lieb would have us trust him to steward the county’s money as the next county treasurer. Will we forget that he was integral in dumping the comprehensive plan, after years of work and community involvement at the behest of a vocal minority, squandering hundreds of thousands of our county tax dollars? Lieb’s touted business acumen is also questionable.

He ran a sportswear shop in Rhode Island for three years, the family’s Durango Threadworks (now out of business), and a still nonexistent airport business park. I’ll be voting for Morrissey. And then there’s Duke Schirard. I’ll be voting for Sean Smith. Voting is easy. Your ballot is in the mail. Oh, and vote Neguse, so voting remains easy.

Denise Bohemier

Durango