Your vote will have an outsized impact as down-ballot races are often overlooked. Let's talk about one little noticed, low-dollar race: Colorado Board of Education. Democrat Kathy Plomer has extensive experience as a school board member (Adams County, eight years), a member of the Colorado Association of School Boards (six years), and the mom of three publicly educated kids.

Plomer fought off Ascent Academy when it tried to privatize public education dollars in Adams – certainly something we're still facing in La Plata County, whether with Durango School District 9-R or Ignacio. Plomer is campaigning for an at-large seat that will set education policy and supervise nearly 2,000 public schools in the state.

She will fill the board as they consider Ascent, the creature of Betsy DeVos' attempt to privatize all schools. If you value a robust public education that embraces the full spectrum of American history, math and science, as well as lessons in how to be a good public student and a kind person, then, please, vote for Kathy Plomer.

Delores Schrage

Durango