Dear Editor:

I have lived in Ouray County for 25 years. My reasons were probably the same as many of yours: the incredible landscapes and community.

I soon learned that this was not a given. There were repeated efforts to give the upper hand to people who tried to remove the protective rules that preserved the common good. Their goal was to enable profitable development that benefi ted a few at our expense.

I became a county planning commissioner to prevent that from happening, and later joined other groups. There were many challenges, primarily from the Republican Party and from developers, but we successfully kept the delicate balance between preservation and growth.

Until now. Today, we face a much bigger challenge. The current Republican candidate for county commissioner, Michael Perkovich, is extremely well-funded.

His biggest financial supporters are some of the same people who have tried, again and again for decades, to undo these protections. It seems obvious to me that they know what to expect in return if they manage to get Mr. Perkovich elected.

I believe this is why his promotional material has been eerily silent on the issues of preserving the land use code and the master plan, the “lifeblood” of our incredible landscapes.

His emphasis on cutting taxes in our bare-bones county government, which would likely slash needed services and the personnel to implement them, is also disturbing and unrealistic.

Last week’s letter to the editor about Mr. Perkovich’s MAGA connection further raised my level of concern.

I am aware that Mr. Perkovich is a respected and appreciated member of the community. He volunteers at the Log Hill Fire Department and elsewhere.

My concern is policy and consequence (saving what we have and keeping us safe), not personality.

Fortunately, we have a long-term, proven county commissioner, Lynn Padgett, who has spent 12 years in that position.

She is a candidate for this same county commissioner seat.

Lynn’s record is well-known and respected. Colorado has 64 counties: she was chosen to be Colorado’s County Commissioner of The Year.

Like Mr. Perkovich, Lynn supports EMS and agriculture. But she has also worked tirelessly to preserve our landscapes on our behalf. No one can question her commitment to protecting us from unwanted changes while keeping our fiscal house in order with minimal taxation. Her hard work and steady hand is a major reason we can still travel through our county and enjoy our preserved beauty, while accomplishing smart growth.

I strongly recommend, if you feel the same way, that you vote for Lynn Padgett.

Howard Greene

Ridgway