by Tracy Chamberlin

The presidential election might be front and center for voters, but the future of La Plata County is also on the November ballot.

Two seats are up for grabs on the county’s Board of Commissioners. With only three seats on the board, this election would decide the majority. The county is divided into three districts, but the commissioners are elected at large. Every voter in the county gets a say no matter what district he or she lives in.

Incumbent Kellie Hotter faces challenger Gwen Lachelt for District #2, which covers the highly populated areas around downtown Durango. Julie Westendorff and Harry Baxstrom are competing for the District #3 seat, vacated by Commissioner Wally White who was term limited. District #3 covers the eastern part of La Plata County, including Bayfield and Ignacio.

Commissioners are charged with legislative, budgetary and policy-making operations. They appoint the county attorney and county manager. The decisions made by commissioners shape the planning and future direction of the county.

One of the high-profile issues is the County’s Comprehensive Plan, which was shelved amid controversy in late 2011, leaving the 2001 version as a guide for governing decisions. Those elected in November will decide the fate of the plan and shape the future of La Plata County.

A candidate forum, hosted by the La Plata County League of Women Voters, is scheduled from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Mon., Oct. 15, at the Durango City Council Chambers. For more information visit, lwvlaplata.org.

District #3

Occupation: Veterinarian

If your music player got stuck on “repeat,” what would you want it to be stuck on?  “Midsummer in Sweden” by the Ray Coniff orchestra
 

What’s your dream vacation? Camping on the upper Pine River with my family and favorite fly rod
 

What’s your favorite local restaurant? Back Porch Barbeque in Bayfield
 

What are your hobbies? Fly fishing and horseback riding
 

If elected/re-elected as county commissioner, what will be at the top of your to-do list? At the top of my list is adopting and implementing a comprehensive plan that we can all live with. The second to-do is making changes to the current planning and permitting process to make it more reliable, timely, predictable, fair and efficient, thus establishing the county as a business-friendly county.

 

Name: Julie Holligan Westendorff

If your music player got stuck on “repeat,” what would you want it to be stuck on? “Family Reserve” – Lyle Lovett

 

What’s your dream vacation? Fishing on the Great Barrier Reef with my husband

 

What’s your favorite local restaurant? The nearest Sundown Bakery – Ignacio, Bayfield or Durango (who needs a whole restaurant if you can get a giant soft pretzel?)

 

What are your hobbies? Saltwater fishing, hiking

 

If elected/re-elected as county commissioner, what will be at the top of your to-do list? No. 1 on my to-do list is to finish the Land Use Code revisions to make the planning process more predictable and less cumbersome for businesses who want to expand or move into La Plata County.

District #2

 

Name: Gwen Lachelt

Occupation: Founder & Director, Earthworks’ Oil & Gas Accountability Project

If your music player got stuck on “repeat,” what would you want it to be stuck on? “Pachelbel’s Canon” probably wins the day.

What’s your dream vacation? Two parts: Going on a hunting trip in Alaska with my boys and my brother who lives in Wasilla (and not talking politics). Spending a month in a cabin on Montana’s Rocky Mountain Front in the fall, kayaking, cycling, reading, hiking and watching Grizzly Bears (from a distance).

What’s your favorite local restaurant? I love a lot of restaurants in Durango! All-around favorite: The Cyprus Café

What are your hobbies? Cycling, lake kayaking, camping, reading books, magazines and newspapers, and participatory democracy: getting people engaged in the decisions that affect their lives.

If elected/re-elected as county commissioner, what will be at the top of your to-do list? Restoring the public’s trust and confidence in county government. The Commission wasted nearly a million dollars rejecting the comp plan and sensible recommendations to conserve energy and improve air quality. Government should be able to: serve the people who elected them; mediate the competing interests of citizens, local businesses and nonlocal corporations; and inspire long-term thinking.

Occupation: La Plata County commissioner

If your music player got stuck on “repeat,” what would you want it to be stuck on? Local favorite “Colorado Girl” by La Plata County’s own High Rollers

 

What’s your dream vacation? Anywhere Shan Wells isn’t :)

 

What’s your favorite local restaurant? I could never pick a favorite as I have many good friends that own some of our finest and friendliest... Ken and Sues, Guido’s, Randy’s, Francisco’s, Palace, Mutu’s, Chimayo’s and my neighborhood favs – Bent and J Bos.

 

What are your hobbies? Reading, I cannot get enough, both for work and pleasure. I am often enjoying three to four books at any one time including something historical, political and of course the much-needed beach read to escape.

 

1. Number one priority is our economic health. We must diversify and strengthen our economics base. One of the most important roles of a local elected official is to create a climate conducive to doing business.

2. During my service as your county commissioner, La Plata County has become debt free and our credit rating rose to an A+. We need to keep this fiscally responsible focus on your money and how we deliver services.

3. Growth & Planning-We need to pursue a new Comp Plan. The entire Comp Plan subject has been blown so out of proportion. 1st- the figure of over $750, 000 is used repeatedly when we actually spent $300,000 on the consultants. 2nd –The Money Is Not Wasted, good grief! When a process becomes that politicized and polarized, it is wise to take a step back, assess the situation and allow calmer minds and to prevail. It will be re-addressed in 2013! In the mean time, we have been working on much-needed land use code changes and cleaning up our processes internally as well as with the City on our joint planning concerns. (Please note that almost all of the Planning Commission members were appointed unanimously, check the record.)