(Answers reported in this article do not reflect everything said by the candidates. Please contact the candidates for more information.)
Commissioner Candidates - Primary Election
Mark Dowaliby, candidate for Park County Commissioner, District 3, is currently the Mayor of Alma and serving as Vice Chair of the Park County Planning Commission. Dowaliby started by talking about his love for Park County. "We took a fun trip to the southern part of the county on Saturday," he said, talking about the Meet the Candidates tour through Guffey, Lake George, and Hartsel on July 22nd. He also spoke about the Town of Alma and the efforts to "grow the town" and make it more self-sufficient. Dowaliby went on to explain his involvement with the county planning commission and his participation in writing the Land Use Regulations. "We spent many hours in tiny rooms," he said in discussing the work. Dowaliby spoke about remembering President Kennedy's call to "ask not what your country can do for you," as he was thinking of how to address the group. Instead of each person complaining about individual problems, "we need to get together and figure out how to get things done," Dowaliby said. If elected, he said, "I will take care of this county. I am a good steward."
Doc McKay is currently the Chief Building Official for the county and running for the office of Commissioner to represent District 3. He talked about his work history with Englewood Fire Department, from which he retired after 28 years, as well as his employment in Park County government for the past seven years. In addition to working for the county, McKay said he is serving as Deputy Chief of the Jefferson-Como Fire District and President of the Board of Directors for the district. McKay said that he is very familiar with the budgeting process for Park County, having presented several budgets in his position as a department head. "We are under our budget every year," McKay said. "We watch how we spend our money." He said that the building department works very closely with businesses and citizens around Park County and has developed good relationships with them. In regard to development, McKay said, "We need to plan carefully for the future or we will end up with problems in infrastructure." He also stressed water protection as one of the most important issues facing the county and recommended support for the renewal of the 1% sales tax currently collected for land and water protection. McKay pledged a common sense approach to government, and said, "I will work for the citizens, not the other way around."
Questions for Candidates
How can we get the Land Use Regulations (LUR) enforced?
Mark Dowaliby responded by saying that he had been involved in working very hard to write the LUR and that he thought it was a good document. He said that they were enforceable but that the government should exercise a level of tolerance. Dowaliby stated that the county needed to work on implementing a fair and even system of enforcement of the regulations and that people should be given time to get the problems corrected - perhaps six months or a year.
Doc McKay told the audience that enforcement mechanisms were already in place for the LUR and had also been strengthened by recent legislation from the state level. He said that Sheriff's officers will contact people who are in violation after a complaint is signed. McKay added that the Sheriff's Office can enforce the LUR, but it will take time.
Sheriff Wegener explained that a deputy will respond to complaints on LUR violations. An official letter from the county would follow the contact from the deputy, and enforcement would proceed from there.
Should the government take land from private owners for the use of other private owners, such as businesses? (Referencing the U.S. Supreme Court 'Kelo' Decision)
McKay simply answered with an emphatic "No! The answer is No."
Dowaliby explained how the Town of Alma would use eminent domain for such needs as getting water to the town, but eminent domain should not be used for private purposes.
(end candidate responses)
The candidates stayed after the meeting to talk with attendees, and County Clerk Green explained new voting equipment to interested members of the audience.
The August 8th primary election will decide two contested county races for Republican candidates. For District 3 Commissioner, voters will choose between Republicans Doc McKay and Mark Dowaliby. The winner of the primary will go on to run against Democrat Robert Porter. In the Treasurer's race, Susan Pullman or Michelle Miller will be chosen as the Republican candidate in the primary, but, as of now, will face no opposition from another party in the November general election.
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Mark Dowaliby, candidate for Park County Commissioner, District 3, is currently the Mayor of Alma and serving as Vice Chair of the Park County Planning Commission. Dowaliby started by talking about his love for Park County. "We took a fun trip to the southern part of the county on Saturday," he said, talking about the Meet the Candidates tour through Guffey, Lake George, and Hartsel on July 22nd. He also spoke about the Town of Alma and the efforts to "grow the town" and make it more self-sufficient. Dowaliby went on to explain his involvement with the county planning commission and his participation in writing the Land Use Regulations. "We spent many hours in tiny rooms," he said in discussing the work. Dowaliby spoke about remembering President Kennedy's call to "ask not what your country can do for you," as he was thinking of how to address the group. Instead of each person complaining about individual problems, "we need to get together and figure out how to get things done," Dowaliby said. If elected, he said, "I will take care of this county. I am a good steward."
Doc McKay is currently the Chief Building Official for the county and running for the office of Commissioner to represent District 3. He talked about his work history with Englewood Fire Department, from which he retired after 28 years, as well as his employment in Park County government for the past seven years. In addition to working for the county, McKay said he is serving as Deputy Chief of the Jefferson-Como Fire District and President of the Board of Directors for the district. McKay said that he is very familiar with the budgeting process for Park County, having presented several budgets in his position as a department head. "We are under our budget every year," McKay said. "We watch how we spend our money." He said that the building department works very closely with businesses and citizens around Park County and has developed good relationships with them. In regard to development, McKay said, "We need to plan carefully for the future or we will end up with problems in infrastructure." He also stressed water protection as one of the most important issues facing the county and recommended support for the renewal of the 1% sales tax currently collected for land and water protection. McKay pledged a common sense approach to government, and said, "I will work for the citizens, not the other way around."
