With the 2016 election heating up, it’s no wonder that misrepresentations, half-truths and flat-out lies are being bandied about. That’s just politics as usual; we expect these attacks in our presidential races.
Locally, though, La Plata County has had a strong record of civility and bipartisan achievement. Unfortunately, some people have decided to use the worst of our national political tactics to smear Gwen Lachelt and Julie Westendorff, who have provided strong leadership and thoughtful bipartisanship as La Plata County commissioners over the past four years.
It’s time to set the record straight on energy development. Oil and gas prices are down because of the national glut, not because of local politics. Since 2008, the price of oil has dropped from $151 per barrel to $46 per barrel. Similarly, natural gas prices have gone from $13 to $2.64 in the same time period.
Lachelt and Westendorff both support responsible energy development in La Plata County. Since both were elected in 2012, the county has passed no new gas and oil regulations. In fact, as county commissioners, both Lachelt and Westendorff have approved every new oil and gas permit that was brought up in front of them, as long as the permit was in order.
Additionally, under Lachelt and Westendorff’s guidance, La Plata County has supported Colorado’s 2014 air quality rulemaking and the Bureau of Land Management’s Wasted Gas Rule, which is regarded as a win-win for industry and the quality of our air.
There’s plenty to debate in this election, but let’s all work with the facts and reject the politics as usual that so many of us find distasteful.
Ben Marvin-Vanderryn
Durango
