Mason to not seek second term

Plans to end 12 years of public service


Roland Mason at a meeting of Gunnison County Commissioners.

Gunnison County Commissioner Roland Mason announced Tuesday that he will not seek a second term as one of the county’s top elected officials. Mason wrote in a letter addressed to the county that it was “an enormously difficult decision to make.”

“I am deeply grateful for the support, trust, and even the occasional criticism during my time in office. Our community is simply amazing, and I have great faith that we will find no shortage of dedicated and talented leaders to continue carrying the torch,” the letter read.

Unless another Democrat steps up to run for Mason’s seat on the Board of County Commissioners, Mason’s decision clears Mt. Crested Butte resident Laura Puckett Daniels’ path to the Democratic nomination for the position. Daniels announced her candidacy last week. She is on the leadership team at the Crested Butte Nordic Center, is chair of the county planning commission and has been serving as secretary of the Gunnison County Democratic Party.

Mason served on Crested Butte’s town council before winning a seat on the Board of County Commissioners in 2018. A Democrat, Mason campaigned on “smart” and “thoughtful” economic growth, transportation and affordable housing. Mason’s district as commissioner, District 3, covers most of the county north of Round Mountain.

During his tenure on the board, Mason has played a large role in the county’s response to COVID, the county’s purchase of the Whetstone property for future affordable housing, transportation issues, broadband and collaboration between the county and municipalities.

“At the end of 2022, I will have had the honor of being a public servant for 12 years. Each term I served held its own joys and unique challenges, but when I ran for Commissioner in 2018, nobody could have predicted the unprecedented challenges our community would face. The pandemic has changed all of our lives, and recently I’ve taken the time to evaluate and reconsider my priorities as a public servant, father, husband, and local business owner,” Mason wrote.

Throughout his time as commissioner, Mason has stayed involved with his construction business, RAM Construction, though he sold the snow removal part of the enterprise last year. He is also a husband and father of three girls. The Mason family lives in Crested Butte South.

“This reflection has brought into sharper focus what I wish to prioritize in my life,” Mason wrote. “With three young girls at home, I have had to make difficult adjustments and sacrifices for my family, business, and my role serving the citizens of Gunnison County. My family has offered relentless and loving support for me over the last three years, and I feel it’s time that I refocus my energy on being an involved spouse and father. As a family, these are precious years that we will not be able to get back.

“I am deeply honored to serve the public as a County Commissioner. My service has given me a chance to build on the great work of the numerous public servants in our beloved County, and it is through this work together that we have made this such a special place to live, raise a family, and call home.”

Mason’s term continues through the end of the year. He said he plans to keep working on issues facing the Town of Marble, water quality related to the uranium mine near Sargents, and he said he would like to move forward plans for affordable housing at Whetstone and gain more community buy-in around the project.

“I’m sad to see him go,” said Gunnison County Commissioner Liz Smith. “I have an awful lot of respect for how selfless this decision is for him. It’s not that he doesn’t care; it’s that he doesn’t have the time to put into it.”

“Things out of his control have changed since coming into office,” Smith said, citing the way the pandemic has increased the commissioners’ workload.

Chair of the Board of County Commissioners Jonathan Houck wrote in an email to the Times that he respects Mason’s decision and the demands the job places on family life. 

“I respect that decision. I look forward to continuing to push forward over the next year with Roland and Liz to advance the community’s priorities. His thoughtful and collaborative nature will be missed but his time on the board has had a positive impact for the citizens of Gunnison County,” Houck stated.

After learning of Mason’s announcement, Daniels said Tuesday that she was grateful for his service to the county, especially through the pandemic.

“I deeply respect him and hope to have a positive relationship with him going forward and to listen to his experience,” Daniels said.

For her campaign, Daniels said the potential lack of a primary contest “brings a little relief, but it’s also a mindset shift.”

“The race becomes very different for me. The timeline becomes much longer,” she said.

Rather than focusing on outreach to Democrats to succeed in a primary, Daniels said she now plans to have more conversations with all county residents.

Daniels held a kick-off event in Crested Butte last week at the Brick Oven Pizzeria and Pub. She held a happy hour event on Zoom Wednesday evening after press time.

So far, no Republicans have stepped up to run for the District 3 commissioner seat, according to Gunnison County Republican Party Chair Stu Asay.

“I have not heard anything firm at this point,” Asay said Tuesday. “My hunch is there is going to be a candidate, maybe two, at caucus time if not maybe before.”

Both county Democrats and Republicans will hold their caucuses and county-wide meetings on March 5. The Republican caucus will be at the Fred Field Center at the Gunnison County Fairgrounds.

(Sam Liebl can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or editor@gunnisontimes.com.)

 

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