American hunters tend to vote Republican. As a lifelong hunter, I call on my fellow sportsmen and women to rethink the outdated and counterproductive “one size fits all” voting tradition this time around, specifically regarding the Lachelt-McKnight contest for La Plata County commissioner.

Southwest Colorado is a world-class destination for outdoor recreation for one reason: open public access to abundant public lands. It could hardly be simpler. If we want to hunt, we need access to wildlife. And to have wildlife, there must be habitat. Wildlife, habitat, access. There is only one place where all three coexist – public lands.

Consequently, if hunters vote for candidates who don’t champion keeping public lands in public hands, we are voting against ourselves. In the Lachelt-McKnight contest, there is no contest in this regard.

Gwen Lachelt is the hunter’s friend. Lyle McKnight is part of our worst nightmare. Lachelt’s support of public lands extends back decades and included, years ago, speaking out for the protection of National Forest roadless areas, essential elk habitat. More recently, Commissioner Lachelt eagerly responded to requests by local hunting and fishing groups to lead the La Plata County commissioners in voting to become only the second county in Colorado to go on record in opposition of transferring federal public lands into state hands, from where those lands – our lands – would soon pass into private control with public access denied.

Meanwhile, at the Sept. 22 Cattlemen’s Forum, McKnight went on record (in line with U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton and state Rep. J. Paul Brown) in support of transferring public lands to state control.

No matter our political affiliations, a vote for McKnight (or Brown or Tipton) is to vote against one of America’s most time-honored and essential freedoms: public hunting and fishing access to public lands .

Keep public lands in public hands. Set aside mindless party-line loyalties and vote for your own best interests. Vote to re-elect Gwen Lachelt as La Plata County commissioner. She has absolutely proven herself to be the hunters’ friend.

David Petersen

Durango