<\/p>\n
After a call to open Tuesday night\u2019s GOP caucus meeting at Precinct 9 in prayer went unmet, the assembly started instead, with the Pledge of Allegiance.<\/p>\n
About 30 Republican voters convened Tuesday, March 4, at the Montezuma Valley Presbyterian Church to start the 2014 election process. Those in attendance heard directly from two Montezuma County sheriff hopefuls, including incumbent Dennis Spruell and challenger Diane Fox.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy goal has always been to be the sheriff of Montezuma County,\u201d Spruell said.<\/p>\n
Spruell outlined a handful of achievements from his inaugural term as sheriff, ranging from allowing inmates to watch the National Geographic Channel because he\u2019s a \u201cnice sheriff\u201d to his stance to defend the \u201cfederal government from encroaching\u201d on Second Amendment rights.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to be sheriff for four more years, because I still have a lot of work to do,\u201d Spruell proclaimed.<\/p>\n
With camera bulbs flashing, Spruell closed his remarks with a warning about news coverage.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe newspaper is here taking my picture,\u201d he said. \u201cDon\u2019t let the liberal media decide your sheriff.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fox was more reserved, stating that she was running for sheriff as a vow to her mother.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy mother passed away on Sunday, and she made me promise not to give up,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Fox outlined her career with the Cortez Police Department, saying she was able to fulfill her longtime dream when she took her oath of office with the police force on March 11, 1993.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I was in school, a little boy told me that girls couldn\u2019t be police officers,\u201d Fox recalled.<\/p>\n
A breast cancer survivor, Fox was forced to retire from the police department, but said she now has a new motto for her life: no regrets. If elected, she vowed to remain committed to public safety, professional standards, financial transparency and a safe and efficient jail, to name a few.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love public safety,\u201d Fox said. \u201cIt\u2019s my passion.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to the two candidate speeches at the caucus, a total of 13 people initially nominated themselves to serve as delegates to the county assembly later this month.<\/p>\n
In the end, Precinct 9 selected eight county delegates and eight alternates. At the March 21 county assembly, the delegates help determine which GOP candidates make it onto the ballot.<\/p>\n
Jan Gardner described Tuesday\u2019s meeting at Precinct 9 as a \u201csmall turnout.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a quiet caucus,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Correspondence from potential candidates were also read at the caucus \u2013 including letters from another sheriff candidate, Steve Nowlin; potential commissioners Donnie Tanner and James Lambert; coroner candidate George W. Deavers; and county clerk candidate, Kim Percell.<\/p>\n
After about 90 minutes, the caucus closed Tuesday with a secret straw poll of potential GOP candidates for governor and U.S. senator.<\/p>\n
Results from the poll were to be released on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Other GOP candidates hoping to make the ballot in the upcoming election include Jim Candelaria, commissioner; Cynthia Claytor and William Davis, assessor; Sherry Dyess, treasurer; Michael Hall, coroner; and Ernest Maness, surveyor.<\/p>\n