Candidate Forum

Commissioner hopefuls sound off on the important stuff

Jack Turner

Day job: Location scout and manager – for film, television and commercials

On the weekends you can find

me: Some form of outdoor life-risking recreation, like skiing or biking. Or doing chores as a responsible, respectful domestic associate (i.e. husband).

One thing people may not know

about me: I’m left-handed. Requires one to be adaptable and innovative.

What song would you want your

music player to be stuck on? “The Rise and Fall of Bossanova,” by P C III (Google it).

Best Halloween costume you’ve

ever dressed up as? I invoke my 5th Amendment rights against self-embarrassment.

How would you address afford-

able housing? Our communities will not thrive if families, young adults, students, homegrown seniors and [your name here] cannot afford the basic cost of housing – that’s what the workforce is. If long-time locals are pushed out, our history and traditions are compromised. Nearly every business I know is compromised by a shortage of staff who are unable to find suitable, fairly priced housing. Our workforce is not lazy as some would have you believe, they are stressed to the limit.

Contributing solutions include: revise land use, building code and permit administration to fast-track sensible projects; public/private partnerships and incentives; infrastructure; and revising regulations for vacation rentals that remove housing from our workforce, students, families and seniors.

If elected, what issue would you

bring into the spotlight? If elected, one of my key goals is to inspire, persuade, cajole – and beg if needed – my elected colleagues and fellow citizens to acknowledge that we can’t maintain the same processes, traditions and behaviors that got us here in the first place. Our dedication must be to results, not process. Skeptics and the entrenched will find a way to criticize such lofty ambition, but it’s big thinking that changes the world, not surrender.

Aside from affordable housing, what do you see as the biggest issue facing La Plata County, and how do

you plan on addressing it? The “biggest issue” facing La Plata County is the willingness of elected officials, state/county/city staff, public agencies (fire districts, San Juan Basin Health, etc.), educational institutions, businesses, nonprofits and YOU to work together. Political status quo has failed to provide the incentives, openness, honesty and ambition to allow a path to a better way.

Turner Church

Clyde Church

Day job: La Plata County commissioner, volunteer with Rotary and on homeowners’ association Firewise Team.

On the weekends you can find me:

Doing fire mitigation and forest restoration work with chainsaw and tractor.

One thing people may not know

about me: I’m an ex-cowboy. Was a lousy team roper in jackpot rodeos in college.

What song would you want your

music player to be stuck on? “Star Wars Main Theme.”

Best Halloween costume you’ve

ever dressed up as? Pirate captain.

Blake

How would you address afford-

able housing? I would work collaboratively using county, state and federal funds to begin land-banking and expand infrastructure development. I’d use revolving loan funds to help leverage grants to reduce the cost of development and final sales price. I’d ensure we implement the recommended Land-Use Code Fast Track Process for attainable housing.

I’d continue to work on short-term rental taxation issues that would provide additional funds for new housing. In the land-use code, I’d provide density bonuses for developers building workforce housing. I’d work with innovative local companies to use locally sourced lumber and materials to design and build modular homes and tiny houses. Then I’d push to modify the land-use code to provide new locations for tiny home parks.

If elected, what issue would you

bring into the spotlight? The availability and distribution of water. This limits our growth. To the rural housing developer, it means proximity to wells and pipelines become limiting factors on growth. To the ag producer, it means shorter irrigation and growing seasons.

To our towns, it starts with conservation of the water we have. It pushes us to limit the size of lawns and to incentivize native and xeric plantings, encouraging the development of greywater systems for gardens.

Aside from affordable housing, what do you see as the biggest issue facing La Plata County, and how do

you plan on addressing it? Increasing our work in fire mitigation is essential to protect lives, property and our economy. We live in a fire-prone forest and need to become a fire-adapted community. This means we need to harden our homes to withstand or minimize fire damage, in town and out, and we need fuel breaks around developments and towns to minimize the chance a fire can grow so large that it is out of control for weeks at a time.

Brad Blake

Day job: Working on projects.

On the weekends you can find me:

Helping our kids, in the mountains biking and hiking in some of the most beautiful places in the Four Corners, or skiing at Purgatory.

One thing people may not know

about me: I studied finance and photography in college and worked in advertising after college.

What song would you want your

music player to be stuck on? Anything by Bob Seger or Eagles

Best Halloween costume you’ve

ever dressed up as? Gandalf.

How would you address afford-

able housing? Help with infrastructure and fees, and lower regulation so cost to build is diminished.

If elected, what issue would you

bring into the spotlight? The need for water in growth areas of the county.

Aside from affordable housing, what do you see as the biggest issue facing La Plata County, and how do

you plan on addressing it? Public infrastructure to the growth areas of the county, addressed through private/public collaboration.

Devo Dress Up & Ride Bikes, meet at Durango Rec Center at 4 p.m. and ride to Powerhouse Science Center for Halloween party.

Ska-BQ with Randy Crumbaugh, 5 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.

Durango Green Drinks, 5-7 p.m., 11th St. Station.

The Wild Roses Gang plays, 5 p.m., Union Social House, 3062 Main Ave.

Live music, 5 p.m., Diamond Belle & The Office, 699 Main Ave.

Bingo Night, 5 p.m., Fenceline Cider, Mancos.

Meditation, 5:30 p.m., Durango Dharma Center, 1800 E. 3rd Ave, Suite 109.

Trivia Night, 6:30 p.m., Powerhouse Science Center.

La La Bones plays, 7-10 p.m., 11th Street Station.

Stillhouse Junkies play w/Wood Belly, 7 p.m., Animas City Theatre.

Friday28

Fall Festival, pumpkin patch, corn maze and family activities, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Jack-A-Lope Acres, 7195 CR 318.

Bicycle Karaoke Celebration, part of Spoketober events, 8 p.m., 8th Ave. Tavern, 509 E. 8th Ave.

“Maleficent” movie showing, 8 p.m., Jack-A-Lope Acres, 7195 County Road 318.

DJ San Juan, 10 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main.

Saturday29

Durango Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-12 noon, TBK Bank parking lot, live music by Jackson Martin Project.

Animas River Fall Cleanup, 9 a.m.-12 noon, Santa Rita Park. Bring gloves, water and layers. Lunch provided for volunteers.

Fall Festival, pumpkin patch, corn maze and family activities, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Jack-A-Lope Acres, 7195 CR 318.

Haunted Hallow-Glean Community Apple

Harvest, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Durango/Hermosa area. RSVP at goodfoodcollective.org/events-volunteering.

Three Springs Fall Festival, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Three Springs Plaza. Live music by Black Velvet.

20MOONS presents “Boxes Branches and

Thread,” a living installation, 12 noon-8 p.m., Stillwater Music, 1316 Main Ave., Suite C.

DHS Troupe 1096 presents “Anastasia,” 2 p.m., Durango High School Auditorium. troupe1096.weebly.com

FLC Performing Arts Presents: “Cabaret,” 2 p.m., Mainstage Theater, durangoconcerts.com

Durango Chamber Singers present “Romani

and Roses,” 3 p.m., St. Marks Episcopal Church, 910 E. 3rd Ave.

Halloween Party, 5 p.m., Fenceline Cider, Mancos.

Live music, 5 p.m., Diamond Belle & The Office, 699 Main Ave.

Open Mic, 5:30 p.m., 558 Main Ave.

Nightmare on Elk Street Haunted House, 6 p.m., Durango Elks Lodge, 901 E. 2nd Ave.

Comedy Show, 6:30 p.m., American Legion, 878 E. 2nd Ave.

Rocky Horror Show, 7 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.

20MOONS presents “Boxes Branches and

Thread,” a living installation, 4-8 p.m., Stillwater Music, 1316 Main Ave., Suite C.

Halloween Party with “Ghostbusters” movie showing, 5 p.m., Weminuche Woodfire Grill, Vallecito.

Live music, 5 p.m., The Office, 699 Main Ave.

Jack Ellis & Larry Carver play, 5:30 p.m., Diamond Belle, 699 Main Ave.

Bluegrouse plays, 6 p.m., Fenceline Cider, Mancos.

Nightmare on Elk Street Haunted House, 6 p.m., Durango Elks Lodge, 901 E. 2nd Ave.

“Anywhere from Here,” a new ski film from Matchstick Productions, 6:30 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.

Lizard Head Quartet plays, 7-10 p.m., 11th Street Station.

Organist Kyle Osborne performs, 7 p.m., St. Marks Episcopal Church, 910 E. 3rd Ave.

Rocky Horror Show, 7 and 10 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.

Stillhouse Junkies play w/High Country Hustle, 7 p.m., Animas City Theatre.

Dreem Machine plays, 7-10 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave. Chad MacCluskey plays, 1-4 p.m., 11th St. Station.

Lawn Chair Kings play, Halloween costume party, 36 p.m., Mancos Brewing.

Fall Festival, 3 p.m., Durango Dance, 3416 Main Ave., Suite 101.

Live music, 5 p.m., Diamond Belle, 699 Main Ave.

Community Yoga, 6-7 p.m., Yoga Durango, 1485 Florida Rd. Donations accepted.

Nightmare on Elk Street Haunted House, 6 p.m., Durango Elks Lodge, 901 E. 2nd Ave.

Matt Rupnow plays, 6 p.m., The Office, 699 Main.

DHS Troupe 1096 presents “Anastasia,” 7 p.m., DHS Auditorium. Tickets at: troupe1096.weebly.com

Nu Bass Theory plays, 7-10 p.m., 11th Street Station.

Rocky Horror Show, 7 and 10 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.

Freak Show, Halloween party, The Garage, 121 W. 8th St.

Silent Disco, 10 p.m.-12:30 a.m., 11th Street Station.

Sunday30

Fall Festival, pumpkin patch, corn maze and family activities, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Jack-A-Lope Acres, 7195 CR 318.

Monday31

Downtown Children’s Halloween, 4 p.m., downtown Durango. Sponsored by BID.

Halloween Carnival, 4-6:30 p.m., TBK Bank, 259 W. 9th St. Hosted by The Hive, featuring games, pumpkin carving and live music.

Halloween Carnival, 4 p.m., First Baptist Durango, 332 E. 11th St.

Live music, 5 p.m., Diamond Belle, 699 Main Ave.

Live music, 5 p.m., The Office, 699 Main Ave.

Game Night, 6 p.m., The Hive, 1150 Main Ave.

FLC Performing Arts Presents: “Cabaret,” 7 p.m., Mainstage Theater, durangoconcerts.com.

Comedy Open Mic, 8 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.

Tuesday01

Live music, 5 p.m., Diamond Belle & The Office, 699 Main Ave.

Talk & Book Signing: Heather Hansman, author of “Powder Days,” 6 p.m., Maria’s Bookshop, 960 Main Ave.

Village Aid Project Celebration, 6 p.m., FLC Student Union Ballroom.