Meet the candidates

Rematch for state rep; sheriffs talk enforcement; budget key to commish race

Election Day might be a couple weeks away, but here in Colorado it’s already time to vote.

Under the state’s new election rules, which include mail-in ballots and polling centers opening Oct. 20, voters can start marking their ballots this week.

With that in mind, the Durango Telegraph asked the candidates vying for office in three prominent, local races about themselves and the issues that matter.

Check it out Election Day: Tues., Nov. 4 To find out about voting, registration and more, visit one of the Voter Service and Polling Centers: - La Plata county Clerk Office, 98 Everett St., Suite C, starting Mon., Oct. 20 - La Plata County Fairgrounds, starting Sat., Nov. 1 - Bayfield Town Hall, starting Mon., Oct. 20. For more: co.laplata.co.us or www.govotecolorado.com.

Perhaps the most contested race in La Plata County is for the Sheriff’s office. Incumbent and Republican Sydney Duke Schirard faces Democratic challenger Sean Smith.

Topping much of the debate are the changes made to state gun laws in 2013. Some of those changes include limiting the capacity of magazines sold after July 1, 2013, to no more than 15 rounds and requiring background checks for all gun sales at the buyer’s expense.

The big question for anyone sitting in the Sheriff’s seat: “How would enforcement work?” It’s also the question that pops up most often when the candidates get together. 

Another county seat up for grabs is the only vacant one on the La Plata County Board of Commissioners, which Republican Brad Blake and Democrat Cynthia Roebuck are looking to fill. The winner of this race joins Democrats Julie Westendorff and Gwen Lachelt on the three-member board.

In La Plata County, one of the key issues concerns budget shortfalls from low property tax revenues and a decline in natural-gas prices.

Market values for homes in La Plata County were at a low point during the time period this year’s property assessments were based upon. Things didn’t start to pick up until that period ended, so even though the housing market has improved, the assessed values and tax revenues those values bring in will remain low until they are recalculated in another two years.

Combine that with declining natural-gas revenues, and the county is left with a shrinking budget that either candidate will need to address in the coming years.

When it comes to the Colorado House of Representatives, it’s a rematch for District 59.

In 2012, Republican J. Paul Brown lost his seat after one term to Democrat Mike McLachlan, who’s looking to hold on to that seat after serving one term. With a host of legislative matters on the minds of voters, like the future of water in the Southwest or oil and gas regulations across the state, the candidates got the chance to voice which one mattered most to them.

Here are the responses:

 

County Commissioner

 

Name: Brad Blake
Occupation: Business owner and entrepreneur for 20-plus years
Hobbies: Touring remote spots in the mountains and desert Southwest
Dream vacation: Northwest Territories in the fall
Favorite local hangout: Gazpacho’s and Griego’s restaurants.

If your music player got stuck on “repeat,” what would it be stuck on?
Most anything with Bob Seger or the Eagles.

How should La Plata County tackle the decline in natural-gas revenues affecting a budget already suffering from low property tax values?
If the county were to be more friendly to business and industry coming into the county, we would see an increase in revenue for the county. Many businesses have come into our area and found that it is extremely difficult to make their business plan work because of unnecessary regulation and overreach by the county government. Helping business and industry to be successful will help the county with more money in the coffers. This won’t solve all the problems, but it is a start. Successful business and industry, and the people that work for them, build successful counties and communities.

 

Name: Cynthia Roebuck
Occupation: Land use, planning and entitlement professional with Ted C. Wright, PC
Hobbies: Hiking, skiing, rafting, reading, travel
Dream vacation: I would like to go to Greece and sail the Mediterranean
Favorite local hangout: Rochester Secret Garden

If your music player got stuck on “Repeat,” what would it be stuck on?
Traffic – “Low Spark of High Heel Boys” and/or “John Barleycorn Must Die.”

How should La Plata County tackle the decline in natural-gas revenues affecting a budget already suffering from low property tax values?
There are many ways to address our budget shortfalls and declining revenues. First, we should streamline the existing budgets by department and eliminate duplication of services using updated technologies and best management practices. 

We will also need to identify new sources of revenue such as Road Impact Fees and develop innovative means such as Public Improvement and other Special Taxing Districts to fund our roads and other infrastructure.

We can leverage available state and federal tax dollars to provide jobs, county road improvements, mining-pollution mitigation and improve the water quality in the Animas River. And by amending our current Land Use Code to provide a predictable development process and user friendly regulations, we can promote healthy growth and protect our natural resources and property rights and values.

It is important that we continue county support of the Durango Public Library, Fort Lewis Mesa and Sunnyside branch libraries, 55 Plus Center, Regional Housing Alliance, and the Regional Airport and Economic Development Alliance before approving any new capital improvements.

 

State Representative

 

Name: Mike McLachlan
Occupation: State Representative District 59; lawyer
Hobbies: Reading, writing and fly fishing
Dream vacation: I would like to go back to Zaragoza, Spain, with my wife, Barbara, and revisit the Air Force Base where I lived from 1959-63
Favorite local hangout: By the Animas River

If your music player got stuck on “Repeat,” what would it be stuck on?
“There are Places I Remember” by The Beatles.

What would be the first piece of legislation you would bring to the state house?
Education reform To include preschool for all Colorado kids.

 

Name: J. Paul Brown
Occupation: Rancher
Hobbies: Saving our country from slipping into full-fledged socialism
Dream vacation: Working in Denver in the State Capitol as a legislator
Favorite local hangout: Home with my wife

If your music player got stuck on “Repeat,” what would it be stuck on?
“The Star Spangled Banner.”

What would be the first piece of legislation you would bring to the state house?
I haven’t decided yet, but probably a bill that will prioritize water storage on the Front Range.

 

La Plata County Sheriff

 

Name: Sean Smith
Occupation: Deputy Sheriff
Hobbies: Skiing, ski biking, road biking, hiking, hanging out at the lake, spending time with my kids and watching them play sports
Dream vacation: Taking a month to travel around Europe
Favorite local hangout: Cukoos Chicken House

If your music player got stuck on “Repeat,” what would it be stuck on?
Train – Greatest Hits

How do you plan to enforce the state’s gun laws, including limiting the capacity of magazines sold after July 1, 2013, to no more than 15 rounds and requiring background checks?
I think each of these statutes has its challenges when it comes to enforcement. For instance, the 15-round magazine capacity limit grandfathers all existing magazines owned by an individual on July 1, 2013. In addition, magazines manufactured outside of Colorado do not have serial numbers or dates of manufacture on them. However, Section 1, sub paragraph (c) states that if the high capacity magazine is used in the commission of a felony or a crime of violence, then the use of the magazine can be charged as a separate felony.

The new background check statute is intended to expand the existing checks required for sales by those who possess a Federal Firearms License (FFL) to private party transfers. This is difficult for law enforcement because there is not a national registry of firearms. However, if law enforcement is made aware of a transfer that occurs outside the provisions of the statute, there are civil and criminal remedies that can be enforced.

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Name: Sydney Duke Schirard (Duke is my real name)
Occupation: Sheriff since 1995
Hobbies: Hunting, shooting, gun collecting
Dream vacation: Fishing and hunting in Alaska
Favorite local hangout: Colorado Trading Co., 225 E 8th Ave.

If your music player got stuck on “Repeat,” what would it be stuck on?
C&W, Willie Nelson.

How do you plan to enforce the state’s gun laws, including limiting the capacity of magazines sold after July 1, 2013, to no more than 15 rounds and requiring background checks?
It is practically impossible to enforce those laws. If a person or business was openly selling them, of course, I would intervene. It is impossible to know when a person in possession of one obtained it.

All commercial gun sales are covered already by federal laws enforced by the ATF. Private sales are legal 20 miles south of here in New Mexico, so the parties drive down there and exchange the firearm on the side of the road. OK! You can’t loan a gun to a family member or friend for more than 72 hours. What about an extended hunting trip? Gift to a cousin or step son or daughter? The Sheriff’s Office can’t even give a recovered, stolen gun back to its rightful owner or issue a firearm to a deputy. Ridiculous!!