We have been Gwen Lachelt’s friends for 30 years, so it won’t surprise anyone that we support her effort to win a second term as county commissioner. Nevertheless, we have many reasons for this support that go far beyond our long-term friendship.
Lachelt has worked for the public interest in such areas as public health, protection of wildlife, agriculture, county governance and surface owner rights for more than three decades. During her years of experience as a community organizer, she has practiced the art of bringing people together to define and solve their common problems by making individual problems public. Many La Plata County residents can tell you how Lachelt’s work has helped them minimize the negative impacts of drilling for gas on their homes and neighborhoods.
When Lachelt and Julie Westendorff became commissioners county government was not functioning in a way to efficiently find and solve common county interests. Many residents, county staff and the planning commission were embroiled in useless arguments about unlikely issues (e.g. the secret plans of the United Nations.) It became impossible to even finish the long delayed comprehensive plan. All sorts of thoughtful, intelligent people were frustrated by their lack of ability to contribute to a sensible county vision.
When Gwen Lachelt was elected four years ago, she brought the same valuable skills to county governance that she had developed through years of work in the public interest: She listens carefully and takes extensive notes; she responds in detail to complaints, praise and new ideas; she is extremely open and democratic in her dealings with the public, staff and her friends. The result has been that Lachelt, Julie Westendorff and now Brad Blake have created a smart, bipartisan and compassionate government that serves the public well. That is why we will vote for our old friend – Gwen Lachelt.
Jim and Terry Fitzgerald
Bayfield
