Sometimes things aren’t as complicated as they are made out to be

Editor:

I don’t know Ian Billick at all but by what I’ve read in recent years he did a pretty good job running Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory and has done well enough as Crested Butte Mayor.

I’ve known Gunnison County Commissioner Jonathan Houck since he was about 17 years old when we lived near one another out east. I reckon Jonathan is as good a county commissioner as one could expect. He’s as knowledgeable of everything going on in our county as one could hope for and relates that knowledge at the state and national level.

I’ve known Crested Butte News editor Mark Reaman from the time he was a Gunnison Country Food Pantry Board member and I volunteered there. I also know Mark from, of course, the newspaper, where I always read his editorials, with which nearly all, I agree.

Sometimes things aren’t as complicated as they’re made out to be. All three of these folks opine that we need Senator Michael Bennet as governor because of the things he’s done for our region while in the U.S. Senate. 

Billick writes that he hasn’t met or seen Attorney General Phil Weiser working in Gunnison County. He must’ve missed the AG’s two visits to our county when he came to our Western Colorado University ballroom to hear our views on the Albertsons-Kroger merger. I was there both times as were dozens of people. AG Weiser was a participant in getting that proposed merger stopped and we still have two national grocery store chains here in Gunnison because of that.

Houck has worked hand-in-glove with Bennet’s office on the Gunnison Outdoor Resources Protection (GORP) Act, Red Lady, Sage Grouse habitat preservation, and preservation of our public lands for years, to our great benefit. Much of it behind the scenes. He’s testified before Senate committees on our behalf. Thank you, Jonathan. Jonathan once said to me, “I think Phil Weiser will make a good Governor but I think Michael Bennet will make a great Governor.” Well, if Bennet is so great, how about he finishes his term in the Senate doing great things? Seems pretty logical to me. Some things aren’t as complicated as they’re made out to be.

Mark Reaman writes that the Republican candidate list for Governor is a “clown car.” I nearly always agree with Mark’s views and I mostly do now, with one exception. I believe Barbara Kirkmeyer is a good choice for Republicans. She fits their espoused priorities such as anti-abortion and cuts to healthcare and social services. Scott Bottoms, to be civil, just isn’t smart enough. If you heard the recent 9News interview with reporter Kyle Clark, you’d know. As for Karl, oops, Victor Marx, he is indeed, well, to be kind, a loon. And he’s the current leader in trusted polls! But back to the Democrats. Mark writes about how much Bennet’s successes in securing funding for GORP, protecting Red Lady and our public lands, and working with Senator Hickenlooper and Representative Hurd have benefited us. Mark says there isn’t much difference between Weiser and Bennet. Then why doesn’t Bennet finish out his term doing good things for us in the Senate?

Honestly, I think Bennet has done a good job as our Senator and Phil Weiser has done a great job as our Attorney General. I think he has been on the ground here for the last eight years and knows our state. I believe Bennet has been in DC nearly twenty years and has nearly two and a half years left on his current term. If you don’t believe there’s much difference in the two candidates’ positions and policies, as is often reported, how about Bennet finishes his term in the Senate doing good things for Colorado at the national level and we have Phil Weiser continue here in our state doing great things for Colorado as Governor? After Michael finishes his Senatorial term he can then run for president, oops, I mean Governor! Sometimes things just aren’t as complicated as they’re made out to be.

Finally, if you’re a Democrat or Unaffiliated and haven’t yet cast your vote, how about casting it for Phil Weiser for Governor in this year’s primary? The last day to vote is June 30. And remember, if you’re a Republican and don’t trust the voting process, go ahead and stand in line to cast your vote on June 30.

Joe Dix

Gunnison