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2014

The new year promises to be an eventful one in local affairs

The new year has barely begun, but it already seems clear 2014 should be interesting and eventful. Count on developing events to liven things up even more, for better or for worse.

The next presidential contest is not until 2016, but this is an election year, and for Colorado and La Plata County a significant one. Colorado voters will decide on all statewide elected officials – governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, treasurer and attorney general – as well as every member of the state House of Representatives, and about half of the state Senate.

State Sen. Ellen Roberts, R-Durango, is among those standing for re-election. And at this juncture it appears the race for House District 59, the seat now held by state Rep. Michael McLachlan, D-Durango, will be a repeat of the 2012 contest between McLachlan and his predecessor. Republican J. Paul Brown of Ignacio.

The U.S. House seat of Scott Tipton, R-Cortez, will be on the ballot, as will that of U.S. Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo.

Closer to home, La Plata County Treasurer Ed Murray has chosen to step down and current County Commissioner Bobby Lieb has announced his intention to run for the job. No word yet as to who might run against him – or who might seek Lieb’s spot as a commissioner – but the county could see real change.

Along those lines, perhaps the county commissioners, could use 2014 to revisit the comp plan. With the passage of time, it may no longer be too hot to handle and, conspiracy theories notwithstanding, the county does need it.

Beyond that, county government will be forced to deal with the ongoing decline in property tax revenue from the gas industry. The county has managed the loss of revenue well so far, but it is neither easy nor pleasant. And the pain will continue.

That is true for schools, too. With the November defeat of Amendment 66, prospects of a major statewide infusion of cash for education evaporated. And, while the incredible generosity of Durango’s Marc and Jane Katz is certainly admirable and welcome, private funding of our schools simply will not work. There is not and never will be enough of it.

It comes back to the fact that our legislators and state officials need to figure out how to fund schools more properly and do so for all schools statewide. That will not be easy. What the nearly 2-1 rejection of Amendment 66 made clear is that a billion-dollar tax increase is not the way to do it.

We can expect big things from the city of Durango as well this year. For example, the extension of the Animas River Trail north from 29th Street appears to be coming along nicely. River users can look forward to it connecting to the city’s new put-in at the Oxbow Park and Preserve north of town.

The city also has an opportunity in that to be magnanimous by dropping plans to ban tubing from the stretch of river north of 33rd Street. There is no reason to forbid a healthy activity enjoyed by so many over what is really an enforcement issue caused by a few. The city can always adjust its policy if need be.

Durango City Council can also show that it learned from the voters with more appropriate expenditures of political capital. The council spent too much time and energy last year on grocery bags. It has better things to do.

And while it is still unclear what agency needs to take responsibility, who knows, this might even be the year we get to use Lake Nighthorse.



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