National elections suck the “air out of the room.” In our age of hyper politics, it’s easy to get caught in the cult of personalities and ignore the real issues.

But what our local government and the county commission does impacts us far more than what comes from Washington.  

What are some of the key services our county government and the commissioners are responsible for providing? Assessor’s office, motor vehicles, licenses, building inspection, open space/trails, health and public services, 911 and emergency management, housing, libraries, public works, roads and bridges, landfill and recycling, and the Summit Stage. This isn’t a complete listing, but you get the idea. Don’t these services touch us all daily? Who sits on our county commission matters!

I’ve worked with many of them over the years frequently. I’ve found them to be approachable, thoughtful about finances, attuned to our community’s needs and dedicated public servants. Do they get it right every time? No. Do a number of voters find fault with them? Yes. Can they do better? Yes. Do they listen? Yes.  

In a meeting with a commissioner recently I was shocked at their knowledge of our specific community. We had communications issues with some county departments. They got addressed quickly. Listening is one thing. Taking action to solve a problem is another. In my book, that is a good public servant.