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Our View: Warning: Election season has arrived

Craig Editorial Board

  • Bryce Jacobson, newspaper representative
  • Joshua Roberts, newspaper representative
  • Sherry Kurz, community representative
  • Lynne Krause, community representative
  • Karen Knez, community representative

Statewide, the signs started with Gov. Bill Ritter’s announcement that he would not vie for a second term, continued with speculation about who the democratic contender could be, and what the Republican opposition might look like.

In Moffat County, it most visibly began with Friday’s announcements and campaign filings by local candidates.

These are just some of the earmarks of a new campaign season, and words to the wise, don’t expect this political jockeying to end anytime soon.



With a top-heavy ballot, a state in budgetary crisis and our community under economic warning, this year marks one of the most important elections in recent memory.

Governor, secretary of state, attorney general and state treasurer are some of the top political offices up for grabs at the statehouse in November.



At the county level, every elected position, save for a county commission seat, is on the ballot.

That’s eight offices total for Moffat County — county clerk, treasurer, assessor, two commission seats, coroner and surveyor, according to the Moffat County Clerk and Recorder’s Office.

As our state and community attempts to move past these troubled economic times, it is vitally important that Craig and Moffat County voters not only participate in the November general election but also prepare themselves early by researching the positions, platforms and histories of the candidates seeking their votes, the Editorial Board contends.

Traditionally, November ballots produce a larger turnout than other months, so perhaps our community will respond this year. Still, with so much at stake, anything less than full voter participation can be viewed as disappointing.

The Editorial Board is asking local voters to be active this election season, rather than get bogged down in the at-times endless drone of candidate rhetoric, commercials, mailings and phone calls.

Be proactive and wise: Affect the change you wish to see in your state and community by choosing candidates you believe will best represent your interests, if elected.

For example, a topic that came up during Monday’s Editorial Board meeting was new taxes.

Specifically, how it seems lawmakers are more intent on solving our financial problems by instituting a broader range of taxes on the citizenry rather than recognize people are better off keeping more of their own money for lean fiscal times.

Hence the board’s position that voter education, even as early as today, will help us identify those candidates who will act in agreement with our financial positions instead of counter to them.

It’s not the most attractive situation for anyone, that the political machine already is ramping up for another run at our attention, time and votes. However, it is a beast that truly acts on its own, and it’s here until November whether we like it or not.

This year, perhaps that’s a good thing.

Perhaps the difficult times many people face today will jolt them into more participation in crafting the society around them.

If so, our refrain remains the same: Do your due diligence. Get educated, treat your vote with respect and help make a difference by showing up.

Your state and community need it.

That’s a message from the Editorial Board you can probably count on hearing plenty of times between now and November, too.


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