Longtime Craig resident Angie Boss has announced her candidacy for the Moffat County District 1 County Commissioner seat, currently held by Tony Bohrer.

With a diverse background spanning business ownership, community involvement and a deep-rooted connection to Moffat County, Boss plans to bring a fresh perspective to the political arena.

Boss’s journey into politics is marked by her background in Moffat County and her experiences as a small business owner. Born and raised in the area on a family homestead, she’s worked in the community since high school and operated her own small business, D’Tail Dog Grooming Salon, for the past 10 years.

In a recent interview, Boss discussed her motivation for entering the political realm, citing a desire for genuine representation.

“There’s a lot going on right now, and I feel that maybe we need someone who’s not a politician, someone who’s more grounded and truly part of the people,” Boss said.

For Boss, her candidacy reflects a desire to bridge the gap between local government and the everyday concerns of Moffat County residents.

“I’ve had to fight my way from the bottom to owning my own business, so I know what it takes to persevere,” she said.

Moffat County’s perseverance is also of the upmost importance to Boss.

“I truly want to see what’s best for Moffat County happen. I want to see Moffat County and Craig succeed and thrive so that there’s something still here long after I’m gone.”

Central to Boss’s platform is the revitalization of Moffat County and Craig in the face of a shifting economy. With the looming closure of mines and power plants, she hopes to pursue proactive strategies to attract new revenue and investment. Boss recognizes the importance of diversifying the local economy and bringing in outside businesses to ensure long-term sustainability.

“We need to find a solution to bring new revenue from outside of Moffat County into Moffat County,” she said. “We have to have that incoming revenue that we’re going to lose from these other businesses.”

Boss also emphasized the importance of community cohesion and transparent leadership in navigating these changes.

“To survive this huge change that we’re going to have in the next few years, the community’s going to have to come together as a whole,” she said. “The leaders of our community are going to have to be more open instead of just giving lip service.”

Boss’s vision for Moffat County extends beyond economic development to encompass community well-being and infrastructure. If elected, she plans to advocate for improvements such as repairing sidewalks and enhancing recreational opportunities for residents.

In terms of her qualifications for the commissioner position, Boss emphasized her ability to think long-term and collaborate effectively.

“I’m good at planning,” Boss said. “I’m a very open person. I love to listen to people’s ideas and then try to come up with a group idea that would work maybe better than what was initially thought out.”

Drawing on her experience as a business owner and lifelong community member, Boss described herself as “a face in the community and the workforce” and noted she’s “not afraid to get down in the trenches and do the work that needs to be done, to work hand in hand with anybody and everybody. “

Boss’s campaign, while unaffiliated with any political party, aims to engage directly with Moffat County residents through public events and door-to-door outreach. She will begin collecting signatures for her campaign petition later this spring and already has an official campaign Facebook page (Angie Boss for Moffat County Commissioner) set up with additional information and her contact details.

Encouraging active participation in the electoral process, she emphasized the importance of every vote in shaping the county’s future.

“I know Moffat County and Craig can be an amazing place,” Boss said. “We just need to take the time to truly invest in it and not just give up.”