District 3 County Commissioner Candidate Wilson

District 3 County Commissioner Candidate Wilson

Oct. 21, 2000

by Jim Mimiaga
Journal Staff Writer

Incumbent county-commission candidate Glenn "Kelly" Wilson points to his record as a reason for seeking re-election.

In his nearly four years as a commissioner representing District 3, Wilson, a Democrat, has dealt with controversial issues ranging from zoning and health care to national monuments and raging wildfires. That experience, he says, has given him the know-how to take on future challenges.

"I feel ready, and understand the issues," Wilson said.

He faces independent candidate Darrell Veach on Nov. 7.

In April 1998 the commissioners helped stop a financing scheme that would have built a four-story medical office building adjacent to Southwest Memorial. The commission, believing default on a $10 million revenue-bond package was probable within a month, filed for a court-ordered injunction against it.

The move allowed time for new elections, and a revamped hospital board promptly quashed the project.

"That was a big moment where we stepped in to protect taxpayers," Wilson said. "Later it took a lot of negotiating to bring together the two (hospital-management) boards, and now it is on a smoother track."

Wilson also cited his experience forming the unique Landowner-Initiated Zoning system that gives neighbors the opportunity to zone collaboratively based on community values.

Recognizing that the new Canyons of the Ancients National Monument is here, Wilson said the issue was handled as best as possible considering the reality of a federally-mandated decision.

"Now it is essential that we continue to work towards having a seat at the table to form the management plan," he said. "That is where we can have some influence in the details and hopefully preserve the multiple-use philosophy we all worked towards but did not totally get."

A quick lesson in fire science during the wildfire that consumed one-third of Mesa Verde National Park this summer has led Wilson to pursue more logging in the area as a economical way to thin forests.

"When I see the watershed of the Dolores River, I wonder what would happen to our water source if there was a big fire that took out the forest and then a big rain washed all the soil away, jeopardizing our drinking water," he said.

"The Mesa Verde fires, I think, showed us the value logging has on preventing this."

Wilson’s wants to focus on pitfalls in the welfare-to-work program that he says punishes the working poor by forcing them off welfare when there is no better economic opportunity.

"The working poor need better-paying jobs and that means better economic growth here so they can get a job that pays enough to make a living." That means expanding agriculture and industries such as oil and gas drilling, and logging, he said.

"We need to diversify our economy beyond just tourism. Look at what happened when Mesa Verde was closed," he said.

Wilson said more agricultural dollars need to stay in the community, a possibility if more processing of farm and ranch products is done here. He suggested feedlots and milling industries be expanded to pick up that portion of the market.