Westendorff vying for White’s seat
Durango lawyer and real estate broker Julie Holligan-Westendorff has announced her candidacy for the La Plata County Board of County Commissioners. A Democrat, Westendorff is running for the District 3 seat, currently held by Democrat Wally White.

She kicked off her campaign Jan. 31 with appearances in Bayfield and Ignacio and wrapped up her day at the Rochester Hotel, where she was joined by 75 supporters. Following an introduction by County Commissioner Wally White, Westendorff told those gathered that she considers the campaign a “job interview with 51,000 people.”

A 17-year resident of La Plata County, Westendorff practiced law for 11 years, served as a prosecutor for the Southern Ute Tribe and as a Bayfield town judge. In 2006, she became a real estate broker with Coldwell Banker but also maintains her law license. She said her experience as a litigator will serve her well in finding common ground among her constituents. “As a prosecutor, you focus on what people can agree on and move forward from there,” she said.

To familiarize herself with the position and local issues, Westendorff has been attending county meetings, visiting with staff and making the rounds at area events, including a gathering of the La Plata – Archuleta Cattlemen’s Association.

Outside of work, Westendorff serves on the boards of the La Plata County Humane Society and Women’s Resource Center. She is also active with Alternative Horizons, Durango Daybreak Rotary and coaching high school mock trial and youth baseball.

Westendorff is married to businessman and restaurant owner Bill Westendorff. Her parents are Ron and Janet Holligan, of Durango.

Poll finds positive conservation outlook
Coloradoans love their rugged, outdoorsy state and overwhelmingly support helping to keep it that way, a recent poll of state voters found.

Conducted in early January, Colorado College’s 2012 State of the Rockies Project surveyed 2,400 registered voters in Ariz., Colo., N.M., Utah, Wyo. and Mont. on attitudes about conservation in the West. According to the poll, Colorado voters were nearly unanimous in the view that the state’s national parks, forests, monuments and wildlife areas are an essential part of the economy and quality of life. Furthermore, the poll found voters believed the economy and protecting Colorado’s natural resources are not mutually exclusive, with eight in 10 viewing a strong economy and land and water protections as compatible.

“Coloradans love this state because of the outdoor recreational opportunities, including hunting, fishing and wildlife-watching,” said Suzanne O’Neill, director of the Colorado Wildlife Federation. “Protecting our land, clean air and streams requires balancing energy development on public lands with safeguards for important wildlife habitat and open space for all of us to access and enjoy.”

However, it wasn’t just environmentalists responding favorably to land protections. According to pollsters, Colorado voters across the political spectrum – from Tea Partiers to “99 Percenters” – view Colorado’s parks and public lands as essential to the state’s economy and want to see clean air, clean water, natural areas and wildlife habitat funded and protected.

In an effort to gather bipartisan results, the poll was conducted by two polling firms, Public Opinion Strategies, a Republican firm, and Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates, a Democratic firm.

Durango’s Kirk Komick, owner of the Rochester Hotel and Leland House, who was quoted in the results, spoke to the emerging link between good business and good environmental practices. “We know that visitors come to Durango because of all of the outdoor opportunities they can experience in our back yard,” he said. “For our business, protecting land and the Colorado River is part of our business model.”

In addition to protecting the environment, two-thirds of Colorado voters said they wanted to see a reduction in America’s dependence on fossil fuels through expansion of clean, renewable energy – which was seen as a job creator. The same percentage of voters also do not want corporate profit and development of public lands to limit public access. Three in four want to see regulations that protect Colorado’s land, air and water upheld, and see these regulations as having a positive impact on the natural beauty of their state and their quality of life.

The survey also tested voter attitudes on local issues and elected officials. Sixty-seven percent of Colorado voters voice support for the job being performed by Gov. John Hickenlooper. More than eight in 10 agree that despite state budget problems, investments in Colorado’s parks, water and wildlife should be maintained. Seventy-six percent want state Lottery funds to continue to be used to protect parks, wildlife habitat, natural areas and school construction, instead of being redirected to the general state education budget. Sixty-six percent support protection of some of the lands in the Arkansas River Canyon as a national monument.

“Sportsmen put their money where their mouth is when it comes to funding conservation,” said David Nickum, executive director of Colorado Trout Unlimited. “We were pleased to see that overwhelming majorities of Colorado voters recognize the importance of funding protection of our land, water and wildlife even in the face of state budget problems. In particular, Coloradans remain deeply committed to using lottery funds to support our state’s natural areas.”

The full survey and individual state surveys are available : http://www2.coloradocollege.edu/stateoftherockies/conservationinthewestsurvey_e.html.

Agencies, 9-R partner for winter break
Working parents scratching their heads over what to do with their kids over the upcoming February break now have an option other than “bring your kids to work week.”

Anticipating the need for child care the new week of vacation would create, Durango School District 9-R has partnered with local agencies and formed the Community Coalition for Kids. The program will provide a variety of affordable, quality activities for students the week of Feb. 20-24 in a” fun, rich and safe learning environment.”

Community Coalition for Kids participants include the Durango Arts Center, Stillwater Foundation, Girl Scouts of Colorado, Del Alma/Program of DAEC, La Plata County 4-H, Durango Parks and Recreation Department, and Boys and Girls Club. Plans include swimming, music, art, 4H activities, cultural enrichment, ice skating, gymnastics and Girl Scout programs. Activities will be held at the Recreation Center, Boys and Girls Club and the La Plata County Extension building.

Complete activity schedules may be found by going to the Durango School District 9-R website, http://durangoschools.org/news/2011-2012-winter-break-set-february-20-24-2012 , and clicking on “Winter Break Activities Offerings.”

A limited amount of financial assistance is available and due in part to funding from BP.

– Missy Votel