In order to get all the 2012 election letters in prior to the Nov. 6 election, deadline for all candidate or ballot initiative endorsements is Mon., Oct. 15. Letters will be run in the order they are received. Please email all correspondences to: telegraph@durangotelegraph.com.

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This Bud Light is for Texas
To the editor,
(Note: This letter is in response to a letter from a man from Texas that ran in the Durango Herald recently. The man, who visited after a 12-year hiatus, lambasted Durangoans for being rude and not offering Bud or Bud Light on tap, among other transgressions.)

 

Texas you are in trouble. Tourism in Texas from Durango is probably nonexistent. I have never visited Texas and never plan to. Also, if you don’t go somewhere in over a decade, news flash: it’s going to change. Are you the same person you were 12 years ago?

 

Not everyone likes Bud or Bud Light. Sure, it’s cheap and tastes like water, but that’s not what we are about here. Durango is all about local. Try the local food, local stores and most importantly, local beers. If you visit Durango, that’s what you get, so please don’t expect our small business owners to keep cheap, mass-manufactured beer on tap in ranks with our high-quality, locally brewed glasses of heaven. And guess what, we live here, this is the beer we drink every day, not every 12 years. Get over it.

 

But really, if the main disappointment of your trip is not having Bud Light on draft, please just stay in Texas.

 

Tipton ‘too busy’ to debate
To the Editor,
This week, Congressman Tipton chose to join his party leaders for a lavish fund-raiser and partisan rally instead of defending his own record in front of the people of Durango. I believe this is just another example of how out of touch his priorities are and why I believe we need new representation in Congress.

Voters in Durango deserve to hear where their congressman stands on the issues and to have the chance to hold him accountable for his votes. This is why I accepted an invitation from Fort Lewis College to debate Congressman Tipton. I’m proud to defend my record and the residents of Durango should be able to see their Congressman defend his.

 

Unfortunately, even though FLC first offered to host a debate back in March, Tipton has repeatedly claimed that he just can’t find the time to defend his record.

But it seems that he could find the time to host a glitzy fund-raiser this week with Speaker Boehner – the leader of the most partisan, least effective Congress in modern history. It seems he could also find the time to join his party’s Vice Presidential nominee for a political rally at the very college that had invited him to a debate with me. He certainly has had enough time to write negative ad after negative ad to distort the truth about my record while papering over his own. In fact, it seems as though he’s been able to find plenty of time to do just about everything except talk openly about his record in front of his own constituents.

This is all too predictable coming from Rep. Tipton. For his entire career in Congress, he has advanced a partisan agenda that has done nothing to provide real solutions to our nation’s problems. He has twice voted for the radical Tipton-Ryan Budget, a bill so extreme that even Newt Gingrich called it “right-wing social engineering.” He has refused to support a bill to protect and preserve the Hermosa Creek watershed. He has done nothing to extend the Wind Energy Production Tax Credit, threatening thousands of layoffs in Colorado and jeopardizing our sustainable energy future.

Unsurprisingly, Congressman Tipton is now flying in his party bosses in the hope that they will bail out his faltering campaign. It’s why Grover Norquist’s ultra-partisan Super PAC is spending $1.3 million in out-of-state money to support Congressman Tipton and smear my record.

This is not the kind of leadership that can get things done in Washington. We deserve better.

I’m proud of my record working across party lines to get things done for Colorado. In Colorado we know that it’s only when we work together that we are able to tackle our biggest problems. Unfortunately, our congressman seems more interested in fighting to keep his party in control than working together to get something done.

– Sal Pace, Democratic candidate U.S. House District 3 and FLC Class of ’99

Time to stop topsy-turvy Tipton
To the editor,
It is a topsy turvy world when your congressman:

- Votes to defund government support for those who need help the most and protect largesse for those who need it least. Like slashing prenatal and childhood nutrition programs while voting 18 times to protect the subsidies and tax loopholes for Big Oil. Like preferring Fat Cats to Big Bird and malnourished children;

- Calls himself an “environmental steward” while voting in excess of 100 times to either defund or otherwise weaken protections for our air and water, like throwing open our Roadless and Wilderness Study Areas to logging and any other exploitation the corporate mind can imagine. Like stripping any environmental review from the mine permitting process. Like ignoring or opposing any effort to deal with global warming;

- Promises “no cuts, no privatization” to Medicare, then votes twice to privatize Medicare by converting it into a voucher system, deeply cut Medicaid (health care for our poorest children and nursing home care for our poorest elderly) while providing a massive tax cut for those who are already doing quite well;

- Joins the popular call for monument status for Chimney Rock but would not fund it. Like asking the President to declare it while working on legislation to prevent his being able to make that declaration.

- Constantly objects to the presence of government in our lives and then votes to have government monitor the private lives of women, with a new, narrow definition of rape.

- Promises to represent us, but then ignores the fact that democracy requires constructive compromise. Like bringing debate to an acrimonious standstill, so that the current congress rates the least productive in 70 years and with the lowest approval rating of all time.

We must stop this standing on our heads before serious brain damage occurs. It is time to replace Scott Tipton with Sal Pace, a man of moderate world view who has already demonstrated he can and would replace rigid ideology with careful analysis and constructive compromise.

– Christopher Isensee, Durango

Lachelt, Baxstrom go together
To the editor,
I believe we’re pretty lucky concerning the county commissioner election. There are two candidates who have tons of common sense, are honest, earned a record of hard work, and understand the county and its issues. They both respect private property rights and support gas development with appropriate safeguards concerning the environment, health and property. They believe planning is necessary with a strong diversity of participants.

They will both examine the issues independently and not automatically vote the party position.

The two candidates are Harry Baxstrom and Gwen Lachelt. If both were commissioners, they would complement each others’ performance out of mutual respect.

I believe most solutions to problems are found somewhere in the middle – rarely the extremities.

If you believe that common sense and integrity are often missing in the political scene, please check out these two candidates who are anchored to reality and are not beholden to anyone or anything.

Please vote for Gwen Lachelt and Harry Baxstrom.

– Dave Thomson, Ignacio

Gwen is all-around awesome
To the editor,
I’m writing this letter in support of Gwen Lachelt for county commissioner. Gwen comes from a long line of farmers, ranchers and miners, and has lived in La Plata County since 1981. As the founder and executive director of Earthworks Oil and Gas Accountability Project, she has worked hard for land owner property rights, and clean air and water. Through this position, she has learned how to successfully work with private property owners, the oil and gas industry and with government entities at all levels. She knows how to build coalitions with diverse allies for the betterment of the entire community.

I have worked with Gwen on the Board of Directors of the San Juan Citizens Alliance for the last six years and have found her to be smart, decisive and thoughtful. She thoroughly analyzes issues before making a decision. She has managed nonprofit organizations and has experience in fund raising, job creation, staff management, goal setting, strategic planning, and creation and implementation of budgets.

 

Gwen believes that long-range planning is important to provide certainty to businesses and to enhance property values. She will work to develop our local foods industry and to protect our environment so that people will always want to visit our beautiful county. Gwen is the mother of two sons and would like to see them be able to stay here and find good jobs. She will work with local and regional economic development organizations to grow and attract new businesses.

I think Gwen will always have an open door as a county commissioner and will value input from the community. I have a lot of respect for Gwen Lachelt. She has integrity and is strong, honest and dedicated to making La Plata County a better place to live. She would make an awesome county commissioner!

– DeeDee deHaro-Brown, Durango

No UN plot – just common sense
To the editor,
Two candidates; two very different views for La Plata County. Under Kellie Hotter, we saw the Comprehensive Plan discarded. This multiyear effort – comprised of over 50 community meetings, years of county staff time and a cost of $750,000 – was derailed because of outlandish concerns by the Hotter-appointed Planning Commission and a handful of its radical supporters. Her folks thought that “sustainability” and “bike trails” were part of a UN plot to take over the USA. It was this sort of radical extremism that led Hotter and Lieb to discard the Comprehensive Plan.

“Sustainability” benefits La Plata County. Providing more food locally through local agriculture; conserving and producing more energy so that we are not dependent on foreign countries; creating more jobs through developing our own renewable sources … these are classic ideas of sustainability. Gwen knows sustainability. UN plot or common sense?

The “world class” bike trails make La Plata County a “biking destination” bringing tens of millions of dollars into the local economy. Gwen knows biking. UN plot or good for the economy?

For the last 30 years, Gwen Lachelt has been involved in starting great community organizations like San Juan Citizens Alliance, Bear Smart and Durango Community Access Television…to name just a few. She also founded the now national Oil and Gas Accountability Project (OGAP), dedicated to protecting landowner rights, water, and air quality from irresponsible energy development. Certainly no stranger to getting things done, she also worked with Representative Ellen Roberts to develop, promote and pass into law the Colorado Landowners Protection Act.

As we have seen both in Washington and locally, polarization gets us nowhere. Elect Gwen, who has made her living bringing opposing viewpoints to the table and developing consensus on actionable and forward-thinking policies that help to better our lives and strengthen our community.

Gwen is a doer not a talker. There has never been a better candidate for the job of county commissioner than Gwen Lachelt. Vote for common sense, vote for Gwen!

– Brian Brown, Durango

Hotter wrong for La Plata County
To the Editor;
Once again the Herald gets it wrong. Endorsing Kellie Hotter for county commissioner was wrong.

As far the process of the Comprehensive Plan “going awry,” oh please. The fact is that Hotter caved to a vocal minority that believes, among other things, that there is a secret world conspiracy out there to take over La Plata County. She also had a part in stacking the citizens planning review board with representatives from these conspiracy theory folks. In the process she, along with Bobbie Lieb, flushed $750,000 of tax payer money down the drain, not to mention the countless hours that a majority of residents invested in the plan.

By the way, Commissioner White was in support of the comp plan all along. (Wrong again, Herald.)

Hotter also touts that she single-handedly balanced the county budget. That must have been hard with $750,000 of wasted money. No wonder there was some downsizing of county personnel. Gotta make up that $750,000 somewhere.

I cannot vote for someone who shills her responsibility to an irresponsible self-serving minority. I am voting for a person who will represent and be responsible to the all of citizens in the county and will be truly the best choice. That person is Gwen Lachelt. She together with Julie Westendorff will bring some much-needed balanced and accountable leadership to our county.

– Ed Lehner, Durango

Franchise fee benefits Durango
To the editor,
Many important votes are coming up Nov. 6, one of which is the LPEA Franchise Fee. Being a citizen of Durango, I strongly encourage everyone to support this fee. For simply paying $0.12 a day on your bill, numerous benefits await the community. Each dollar spent goes toward improving infrastructure, keeping valuable programs and hiring people to do services for the city. Due to the 2009 recession, 37 men and women employed by the city were laid off. These people and other city employees are our neighbors and vital to Durango’s community.

Without a “yes” vote, policemen, snowplow drivers, library personnel and many others could be let go. If the LPEA franchise fee fails, the cuts will be across the board, from Parks and Recreation to the police force. As a frequent visitor to the Durango Public Library and the Rec Center, I clearly see the possible downfalls, which will affect both youth and adults. With better roads, more materials, the continuation of great programs, and secure city personnel, the community can continue to flourish.

Everyone needs to ask themselves, “Am I willing to cut wonderful parts of Durango when I don’t need to?” As a tight-knit and truly unique community, when you look at the ballot this November, realize the positive implications it holds.

Finally, something everyone will love is, there is no sales tax on the $.12 per day. By city residents paying a small amount, everyone from Main Ave. residents to county residents can benefit from a better Durango, complete with vital employees, beneficial programs, better infrastructure and services to push Durango into a new year of improvement.

– Jocelyn Zemach, Durango

Deficit a holdover from Bush II
To the editor:
Who is responsible for our $16 trillion debt? A recent book, Red Ink, by New York Times journalist David Wessel, provides details on the debt development. It began under Reagan with tax cuts and increased defense spending. Alarmed with the rise in the deficit, even Reagan raised taxes to slow its growth. Under Bush I, the debt continued to grow and again there was an attempt to slow its growth via tax increases. Cooperation between Clinton and Republican leaders resulted in both tax increases and spending cuts. Surpluses resulted. The federal debt reached $5.6 trillion with Reagan and Bush I accounting for $3.1 trillion and Clinton $1.6 trillion. In January 2001, the Congressional Budget Office projected elimination of the debt by 2011 if policies at the end of 2000 were continued.

With encouragement from Fed Chair Greenspan, Bush II cut taxes, especially capital gains taxes. Bush II also raised defense spending over $300 billion by 2009. After the recession caused by the housing bubble collapse, the debt reached $13.5 trillion by the end of 2010. With the current slow economy, the deficit is running over $1 trillion per year, at least $750 billion is due to the continuation of Bush II’s policies (increased defense spending, unpaid drug benefit, tax cuts and interest payments of $250 trillion). The rest of the deficit results from reduced revenues (Obama’s averaged 15.4 percent of GDP per year; Reagan’s 19.2 percent; Bush I’s 17.9 percent; Clinton’s 19 percent and Bush II’s 17.6 percent), increased spending due to the recession, and increased social security/medicare payments to retiring baby boomers.

Now who is really responsible for the $16 trillion debt and trillion dollar deficits? Tax-and-spend Democrats or tax-cutting/defense-spending Republicans and Bush II’s policies? A lion’s share of blame belongs to Grover Norquist and his strangle hold on Republican tax policy. To get our deficit and debt under control we need cooperation to cut spending and raise revenues. Something that’s not going to happen in a Romney administration with his proposed tax cuts and increased defense spending.

– Tom Hannula, Bayfield