For this we need to steer growth rather than be overwhelmed by it; create good jobs; protect our water supplies, which will come under increasing pressure from oil and gas consumption and contamination, population increase, and increasing droughts; and most importantly we need to preserve the things that make La Plata County such a great place to live.
This includes cleaning up the acid mine waste in the Animas River and eliminating the methane hot spot and other things that blight our air.
Gwen Lachelt is working tirelessly for these, for us and for our children.
In contrast, her opponent is keen to kill the golden tourism goose by disposing of the federal lands.
Even if the state chose to take them over, it would have to privatize to pay the enormous costs: ranchers would have to pay market rates for water and forage, and hunters, fisherman, and recreationists would likely be fenced out.
Visitors would go elsewhere. Stick with someone who has devoted her life to making the future better for us all. Vote for Gwen Lachelt for County Commissioner.
Gordon Rodda
Hesperus
