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Of conflicts and candidates

Dear Editors,

A recent letter by William Furse raised some questions about possible conflicts of interest that Mayor Sidny Zink might have regarding her clients. Because she has home-building clients, he contends that Mayor Zink should turn over her CPA firm’s client list for scrutiny. Mr. Furse is obviously not familiar with the code of professional ethics that guides the behavior of certified public accountants. If a CPA were to publicly divulge a client list, without the clients’ permission, that CPA would be guilty of an ethics violation which could result in revocation of the practitioner’s license.

I personally witnessed how Mayor Zink handles potential conflicts when Habitat for Humanity had a project before the council for consideration. Mayor Zink announced that Habitat was an audit client and that she would not vote on the matter. Working on a case-by-case basis has proven effective, particularly when you are dealing with a person with such integrity.

However, I am pleased that Mr. Furse brought up the issue of conflicts of interest, because there is one council candidate who deserves some additional scrutiny, Scott Graham. Graham’s house backs up against the new Dalla Mountain Park, which the Open Space Advisory Board recommended for the City Council to acquire. I’m not kidding! You can obtain his address from the phone book and check it out on the satellite maps.

Imagine the effect on his property values with that newly acquired open space as his back yard. But did Graham refuse to vote due to a conflict of interest? Did he even raise the issue? Instead he announced it was one of the reasons he wanted to be a member of the Advisory Board. He didn’t even consider it an issue.

So I am glad that Mr. Furse has brought this issue to the forefront for further examination.

– Dick Imig, CPA, Durango


A call for full disclosure

Dear Editors,

Two weeks ago, City Council voted to approve the Comprehensive Plan. Since changes to the plan affect many substantial interests, I asked City Council if they had first done an inquiry about any possible conflicts of interest with City Council members. This question was met with blank stares.

The mayor, Sidny Zink, is an owner of a CPA firmthat target-markets to the development community. Her firm’s ad in the local Builder’s Directory states that4 they have “built (their) firm to focus on your industry.” The firm’s website indicates that Ms. Zink is the owner in charge of firm “marketing.” When I asked Ms. Zink to provide a client list as a matter of open disclosure under the City Charter, she refused.

Given that Ms. Zink’s firm is large and markets itself as a specialist in the construction and development business, it may be presumed that the firm has a number of clients with interest in current or future changes in the Comprehensive Plan. Since Ms. Zink refuses to provide disclosure, the number and extent of her conflicts that arise when modifications to the plan are at issue remain unknown to both the council and the public.

The city, and at a minimum, City Council, should be informed of Ms. Zink’s firm client list in order to make their own judgment as to whether Ms. Zink has a conflict in voting on changes to the Comprehensive Plan. If there are clients that have an interest in changes set forth in the Comprehensive Plan, Ms. Zink has a conflict and should recuse herself from voting on further amendments to the plan.

– Tom Williamson, Durango


Following Telluride’s example

Dear Eds,

Shan Wells’ endorsement of Meigs, Graham and Rendon in the City Council race is brilliant! Using our neighbors to the north, San Miguel County and the Town of Telluride as examples of local governments run by liberal socialists and hard core environmentalists, we can expect a reduction in services, higher real estate prices and what little affordable housing we have now will be gone here in Durango when these people are elected.

I fully expect at least a 15 percent increase in the value of my property after these do gooder liberals screw up the market with restrictions and new regulations. Has anybody ever wondered why the majority of homes in the Mountain Village listings are 4,990 square feet? Simply because some bleeding heart liberals rammed through a regulation stating that all homes over 5,000 square feet must provide employee housing that would go into a pool run by the county housing authority.

Thanks again, Shan.

– Dennis Pierce, former resident of the People’s Republic of Telluride


Stairway to the state house

Letter to the Editors: Let’s all give the Durango Telegraph a big “Thumbs Up” for giving Ellen Roberts a “Thumbs Down” for comparing John Denver to Led Zeppelin. After all, Led Zeppelin is the greatest rock and roll band that ever existed. Their timeless lyrics and riffs, even when digitally remastered, are the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Instead of voting Grandmaster Flash into the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame, if the judges had any idea what rock ’n, Roll really was, they would have inducted Led Zeppelin a second time. While Denver crooned “Almost Heaven – West Virginia,”  Jimmy Page and Robert Plant offered us the haunting  “Stairway to Heaven.” All I can say is, “Thank God I’m NOT a country boy!” Have you ever been to West Virginia? Sheesh! For angst-ridden youth trying to drown out the John Denver-esque voices in their head, there’s nothing like a loaded bong, “Houses of the Holy” and a pair of Koss headphones.

– Wade Nelson, via e-mail


Mr. Mashaw weighs in

To the Editors,

As a former 22-year resident of La Plata County who has been away a few months (and might return someday!), and cares deeply for Durango, I encourage the election of Sidny Zink, Tom Howley and Linda Geer to the City Council. I’ve known and worked with all of them on many community projects over the years and know them to be very capable and dedicated peers who would bring much-needed balance and good judgment to the council. The City Council needs thoughtful, balanced leaders to help make Durango a place where families can live and work; not a playground for the rich and selfish. Please elect Sidny Zink, Tom Howley and Linda Geer.

– Bill Mashaw, LaConner, Wash.


Fairness, balance and integrity

Dear Editors,

We are writing in support of the candidacy of Linda Geer for Durango City Council.  Among all the candidates, Linda has prepared herself to make an in-depth and informed contribution to the governance of this community. Most visibly, Linda has served on the Durango Planning Commission where she has studied and worked on many of the concerns that consistently affect our common future. Behind the scenes, she has also worked cooperatively on many community improvement projects and initiatives to better those around her.

Linda will bring a fair-minded and inclusive perspective to the Durango City Council. A vote for Linda Geer will ensure an appropriate balance to both the day-to-day operations and the long term health of the city. Her strongest traits are fairness, balance and integrity. Coupled with her ability to examine issues of local government in a comprehensive manner, Linda offers a commitment to service and a focus on mutual problem solving with the whole community.

– Kathy and Sam Burns, via e-mail

Vision for future, respect for past

Dear Editors,

I have listened to Leigh Meigs speak at various venues and have been very impressed with her agenda for Durango. I have also recently visited her home and met her lovely family. They live on the same avenue that my wife and I lived on when we raised our children. We are in our 30th year in Durango and have seen many changes. Though our children have moved more than 1,000 miles away, they still carry on the values, education and lifestyle instilled here in Durango.

Leigh Meigs has a vision for the future, but she4 holds strong to traditions and values that have passed the test of time. She realizes that Durango is a place worthy of preservation, and that because we have such an appealing community, growth is inevitable. In her words “for a better Durango… not just a bigger one.” Most of the changes my wife and I have witnessed in Durango, like the Rec Center, Trails 2000, and playing fields have been an improvement on a better community.

Governments at all levels serve vital functions to share the responsibility for infrastructure, safety, education and other services individuals cannot provide, but that are necessary for a healthy community. It is our responsibility as citizens to select leaders like Leigh Meigs who have the vision and skills to provide the leadership necessary to serve us in ways that contribute to the well-being of our entire community.

– James P. Mooney, Durango

Uninspiring open space work

Dear Editors,

The gentleman from the Parks and Forest Advisory Board writes to tell us not to worry, the money for open space is being spent intelligently; if we doubt, we can come and watch. What I see makes me nervous, because the management does not appear prudent. Where is the open space administrator, where is her office, where is the budget and where is the money? Right now open space money is being managed by council, by boards and by part-time administrators and is being spent in lumps.

Good management is proactive. I would like to see the open space administrator at work, developing relationships, knowledge, positioning us to receive donations, negotiate conservation easements, establish the value of development rights (and make purchases), thinking years ahead. Take the money and give it to someone? No. No.

Our current City Council’s management style for open space makes me nervous; it is not husbandry.

– Thank you,  Frank Leuthold, via e-mail


The obvious choice

To the Editors,

Michael Rendon is the obvious choice for Durango City Council. He is the candidate with a track record of bringing people together to face the issues. He is a common sense progressive who will provide leadership. Anyone can talk about the issues, but Michael has experience acting on them and organizing solutions.  

Michael’s greatest strength is his ability to listen and bring people together. I worked for Michael at Fort Lewis College for four years when he was the coordinator of the Environmental Center. He has an uncanny ability to create partnerships between the various interests in our community. Michael has lived in Durango for more than 14 years. He shares the values of our community and will work to create a better Durango.

As a bookseller at Maria’s Bookshop, Michael knows the importance of supporting the businesses that keep Durango vibrant. Michael will support the businesses that drive our economy. Economic prosperity is not something that happens on its own and Michael recognizes the need to foster and develop our Downtown District.

Michael will work to integrate open space and ridgeline protection with business support and affordable housing. Michael is a good thinker who will be able to create policies that benefit all of us.

Michael has the foresight to see that the city should play a role in the health-care solutions. He knows we are all sick of hearing people talk about affordable housing and wants to see some real action. Michael is willing to bring all the players to the table, including the county, the state, and the private and nonprofit sectors to work toward a common sense vision of our future.

The common sense approach Michael talks about means going beyond the obvious issues that make the paper are start looking at doing more for our community. Michael knows that family support and youth development are important aspects to our community. He will find creative solutions that bring people together and make a difference in our community.

The difference between Michael and the other candidates is his common sense approach to progressive politics. Check out Michael Rendon’s website at: www.votemichaelrendon.org.

– Julie Levy, Durango

A grassroots candidate

Dear Editors,

Since I am not a Durango resident, I can’t vote for Jerry Swingle, but I would like to suggest that your readers check him out.

In the past, Jerry has worked very hard, I mean long hours, long days, much travel, on issues that are vital to those of us, both city and county residents, who love what’s left of the pristine beauty of our part of the world. Here’s a short list of what the groups he’s been a part of:

- Air Quality Advisory Board

- State of Colorado Utility Consumer Board

- Train Smoke Task Force

- La Plata County Oil and Gas Task Force

- San Juan Citizens Alliance

- Western Colorado Congress

Many of these are grassroots organizations that are dedicated to representing our local issues in front of the “big dogs,” e.g. Colorado Legislature, U.S. Senate and House, and the U.S. Forest Service.

Jerry has been a virtually tireless voice for you as a member of all the groups and chairman of the last two. He is an effective communicator and has the ability to relate to a really broad range of people/interests: ranchers, homeowners, builders, and oil & gas folks with a reasoned, friendly and effective approach that makes for cooperation rather than negation.

– Steve Kish, Bayfield


 

In this week's issue...

January 25, 2024
Bagging it

State plastic bag ban is in full effect, but enforcement varies

January 26, 2024
Paper chase

The Sneer is back – and no we’re not talking about Billy Idol’s comeback tour.

January 11, 2024
High and dry

New state climate report projects continued warming, declining streamflows