Local issues easy to overlook

Local issues easy to overlook

Nov. 4, 2000

By Jim Mimiaga
Journal Staff Writer

Get prepared, voters, because this year’s ballot is flat-out huge.

And how the complexities of several constitutional initiatives are interpreted by Mr. and Ms. J.Q. Public have monumental consequences for all Coloradans.

So these critical decisions should not be taken lightly and probably require more time to study than the well-intended (but greatly understated) signs around town reminding people to "take a few minutes and vote this year."

According to the Montezuma County clerk’s office, voters will be restricted to 10 minutes in the ballot booth. So here, to allow you to go prepared, is a quick recap of local candidates and issues.

County commissioners: In District 3, which includes Mancos and the McElmo Canyon area, Democrat incumbent Kelly Wilson faces independent challenger Darryl Veach. In District 2, which covers Cortez, Republican incumbent Kent Lindsay is running against Democrat Tony Valdez. Although commissioners represent specific districts, they are chosen by the county at large.

Wilson touts his experience gained during his term in dealing with the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, new zoning regulations, fire disasters and health-care damage control. Veach, a private property-rights advocate, claims he can better represent the unincorporated areas of the county and wants to see the county fight to overturn the monument designation.

Lindsay, a volunteer with the Cortez Fire Department, is counting on his knowledge of local issues and skills as a mediator, while Valdez has been campaigning on public-transportation issues and telecommunications to attract businesses.

District attorney: Democratic incumbent Mike Green faces Republican challenger Joe Olt in this race in the 22nd Judicial District. Green says during his term there have been fewer repeat offenders and that his and his staff’s innovative approach to administering a huge case load on a small budget has been successful.

Olt says he will be tougher on criminals and will make fewer plea bargains, and will work hard to create new courts such as a drug court to take the load off the district-court system. He wants tougher sentences and more trials scheduled so criminals are held more accountable.

There are also three local ballot questions:

Referendum 1A (Remove term limits on Montezuma County elected officials): Right now, by state law, local elected officials are limited to two terms. Those for lifting the ban say it is unfair to force incumbents out if they want to run again, noting that it is up to voters to oust ineffective officials. Restricting terms for more technical positions like the county clerk and tax assessor through term limits also disrupts government efficiency, if those people are doing a good job, critics say.

But term-limits advocates say limits prevent incumbents from becoming entrenched and give challengers a better chance.

Referendum 1B (Permission to opt out of Amendment 24): Amendment 24 would require yearly voter approval or denial of growth areas in the county identifying future development areas for counties, cities, and towns. Full disclosure would be required of proposed developments’ impacts, costs and effects on surrounding utility infrastructure.

The Montezuma County commission is asking voters if they want to exempt themselves from the requirements set forth in the controlled-growth amendment in case it passes Tuesday. Counties with populations below 25,000 can ask this of voters, but once that threshold is reached, Amendment 24 would have to be followed.

Referendum 3A (Re-1 mill-levy continuation): A 5.1-mill levy approved by voters in 1996 was used to finance a now-completed and paid-for expansion as well as the Cortez Middle School. The Re-1 school board is requesting that 5.0 mills be retained for three more years to directly fund (without debt service) repairs to aging buildings and technology needs for the 3,350-student district. If the measure passes, $2.7 million would be collected over three years, at which point the mill would sunset.