By james art As a candidate for Fremont County Commissioner, I believe I am the best person for this position and I will answer to you, the citizens of all of Fremont County.
The government employee protection job and the PERA pension fund are at the top of my list. Providing affordable homeowners insurance and advocating for Fremont County to the Colorado Insurance Commissioner is just as important. I will be the voice of ranchers to preserve our stocking ponds, not only as water for cattle/wildlife, but also to minimize flash flood damage and resources to fight wildfires in rangelands.
As a Fremont County Commissioner, I will fight to legally intervene in the case of Black Hills Energy with an excessive 18% increase. A rate hike of this magnitude would devastate the elderly, attack the working class and likely cause commercial businesses to struggle at a closing rate. A BHE rate increase like this will be off-putting to any other business considering locating in Fremont County. I will take the actions my opponent has not taken to protect us. It’s time for BHE shareholders to share the risks with us, the customers, instead of valuing us.
As the former chair of transportation and energy in the Colorado State Legislature, I can ensure better outcomes for our community, including CDOT, especially on US 50, Col. 115, Colo. 67 and Colo, 9. We need to increase communication and transparency as with CDOT. We also deserve a renewed focus on Fremont County’s roads and bridges. This will ensure that safety is our priority.
It is not a leader’s job to blame others, rather it is my job to find solutions regardless of the problem.
It goes without saying: I will ensure that Fremont County complies with Colorado law and submits timely audits to the State of Colorado. The current Fremont County Commissioners’ failure to complete legally required audits starting in 2020 is costing the county, and ultimately taxpayers, tens of thousands of dollars. Fremont County has not yet submitted our 2023 audit, although it was due several months ago.
Fremont County funds 51% of the 11th Judicial District Attorney’s budget. The last four years have been a fiasco without an oversight. My opponent has been silent on all current issues and now our 11th District Attorney has been removed. Our ousted DA has also not completed his 2023 Colorado audit. I will work with the DA-elect to build a successful office and help restore the trust of our victims and our law enforcement agencies.
Patriotism is not just a word, but an action. More than 5,000 veterans live in our county. We must support our Veteran Service Officers as well as our Veteran Service Organizations such as the American Legion and VFW Posts. I will work with Congresswoman Brittany Petersen to build and staff a VA clinic right here in Fremont County.
It is long past time to force the hands of both the State of Colorado and the US Environmental Protection Agency to do their jobs. We will restore and clean up the 40-year-old Cotter Superfund site for the safety of our water, especially the Arkansas River, and the future of our communities.
As for the second amendment, I am the only candidate in my race who has had “the rubber meet the road” as they say. I was one of four people on my side of the aisle who voted for both SB03-024, Uniform Conceal Carry, and SB03-025, Uniform Open Carry. Yes, the City and County of Denver did sue us, but we prevailed. Later in my term, I was the only one on my side of the aisle to sponsor HB06-1246, Affirmative Protection for Business Owners, aka Make My Day Better. I work hard for collaborative solutions, but I also have the courage to stand alone when it’s the right thing to do.
After all, my opponent has been a county commissioner for eight years. It’s time for a change. Experience matters, and as our Fremont County Commissioner, I will continue to protect rural Colorado. I feel like the best person for this job. Together we will solve the problems!
Fremont County Commissioner Candidate Leanne “Buffy” McFadyen can be emailed at [email protected].