The Durango West 1 Metropolitan District elections Tuesday are a battle between change and the status quo, according to three “change” candidates.
Seven people are competing for three board of director seats in the 254-home subdivision, 6 miles west of Durango on U.S. Highway 160. The “change” candidates expressed concern about the subdivision’s financial stability and competency of the existing administration after the state nearly dissolved the district in 2019. The incumbents are focused on increasing property values, building community and keeping utility fees low.
“The board is composed of five people,” said newcomer Chris Hamilton, a business owner and attorney. “If there are not three new voices, then the folks who are committed to the status quo will continue to be committed to the status quo, and there won’t be any change.”
Along with Hamilton, Molly Hamilton, Chris’ wife, and Angela Howell are running as self-identified change candidates. They face incumbents, Lisa Myers, Pete Merkel and Matt Nesbitt. Tom Phelps, who is married to a district staff member, listed priorities that aligned more with the incumbents. Nesbitt did not reply to multiple requests for comment.
“If Angela, Chris and I all get on the board, then we would have the majority vote. We could actually change things,” said Molly Hamilton, who co-owns WJ Doyle Wine and Spirits in Durango with Chris.
Residents can request absentee ballots until Tuesday afternoon and vote in person at polling stations from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, voters will receive fresh pens and gloves, and election judges will wear personal protective equipment.
The Hamiltons and Howell, an occupational therapist, became candidates to address lingering concerns about financial stability, transparency, communication and a 2019 dissolution notice sent to the metro district by the state of Colorado.
The Colorado Department of Local Affairs administratively dissolved the Durango West Metro District because staff members had not filed budgets, audits and election documents, as required by the law, for several years, said Natriece Bryant, DOLA spokeswoman.
DOLA dissolved 12 metropolitan districts, out of 1,900, in 2019. The district is no longer at risk of dissolution, Bryant said.
“The board has become complacent ... or they would have filed their audits,” Molly Hamilton said. “They’re not doing what they’re supposed to be doing. There’s not the accountability that we need.”
The board made some changes in response to the dissolution, said Myers, an incumbent candidate and board member since 2012. It receives more formalized updates from staff members. It hired a new certified public accountant and corrected staff members regarding filing requirements.
“The board is to blame for some of that ... for trusting that (the document submission) was happening. We’re trying to do the best we can to stay on top of it,” said Myers, who teaches in Aztec.
Merkel, who has been a board member since 2016, plans to focus on fire mitigation for the subdivision and keeping water rates low. He wanted to preserve property values by having people keep up their lots.
“We don’t want any dilapidated homes. When first-time homebuyers come up here, we want them to want to live here,” he said.
That, however, is a key concern for the Hamiltons. They say the board has been overstepping its duties by “policing” where people can park boats on their lawns, house painting, sheds on properties and more.
While the subdivision’s service plan focuses on basic services, the board passed a resolution in 2013 allowing it to regulate some home conditions to preserve property values.
Myers and Merkel also emphasized keeping water, sewer, road and trash fees as low as possible while increasing property values.
Phelps, a newcomer candidate who works in regional public safety communication, focused on low fees as well as improving drinking water, affordable housing and road maintenance.
The Hamiltons and Howell said their top concerns are financial stability in the district and accountability. They became concerned about district finances after hearing the budget is running at a deficit.
The Water Fund has run at a deficit for many years and still does, said Janet Anderson, district manager. The overall budget ran at a deficit in 2018 but is now breaking even, she said.
Howell said she is also concerned because Durango West 2, a neighboring subdivision, seems to have more homes but runs on a smaller budget.
As a board member, Phelps would oversee district staff, including his wife, Kathy Phelps. Phelps plans to recuse himself from any votes concerning his wife’s employment.
“I don’t have a conflict of interest there at all,” he said.
The district has a conflict of interest policy, and his plan to recuse himself would comply with the policy, Anderson said.
The Hamiltons have received pushback from community members who question the couple’s decision to run at the same time.
“A lot of people are calling it an ethical problem ... we’ve been called a power couple,” said Molly. She and her husband would have no issue working together as a couple, she said.
Although people might be concerned they would vote identically – a valid concern, Chris said – the pair knows how to have disagreements and work together.
“We’d rather not have both of us have to do this. We spent months trying to find a third (candidate), and nobody would do it,” Chris said.
smullane@durangoherald.com
