An unprecedented number of candidates are running for seats on the Fort Lewis Mesa Fire Protection District board, bringing accusations of budget mismanagement and a lack of transparency to the forefront.
The six candidates vying for three open seats have divided into two camps: those who wish to maintain the status quo and those seeking change.
Ryan Quinn, Doug Wood and Debbie Lee are enthusiastic about the state of the fire district and wish to maintain the status quo.
Lee, the current board president, is the only incumbent seeking reelection. She is married to Fire Chief John Lee – a point of contention for some candidates.
Emily Horvath, Travis Schmitt and Garrett Vogel say staff should be held to higher standards; they want to institute significant changes to address budget concerns and transparency issues.
The Fort Lewis Mesa Fire Protection District, headquartered in Hesperus, is responsible for 2,093 homes in the western region of La Plata County, including the communities of Hesperus, Red Mesa, Breen, Kline and Marvel.
A five-member board of directors manages the district’s budget and hires the fire chief, one of the five paid employees in a department staffed largely by volunteers.
Horvath, Schmitt and Vogel want to change how the board allocates the annual budget.
They say the fire chief and his staff are overpaid, especially when considering what they describe as minimal education standards, and that recent raises contradict the community’s wishes.
At a board meeting, eight community members expressed opposition to pay raises, but that opposition was disregarded by board members, Schmitt said. He said the lead firefighter received a raise of about $12,000, and the board gave no justification.
“That's where we need elected officials,” Schmitt said. “We need to listen to the community. It’s their tax dollars, and if they’re not happy, we need to address it.”
Fire Chief Lee makes about $120,000 a year, and full-time staff salaries range from $55,000 to $70,000, Horvath said.
Horvath said the lead firefighter makes $70,400 and works only 32 hours per week. That is about $20,000 more than firefighters working almost double the hours in districts serving a larger population – including Upper Pine and Farmington fire districts, she said.
To her, it doesn’t make any sense, especially considering the minimal experience and qualifications of the paid staff.
Horvath said the fire chief is neither EMT-certified nor fire-certified. His hiring was contingent on him obtaining those certifications within six months, but it has now been nine years and he has yet to obtain them, Horvath said.
“I know that there was a comment made that the chief could save anyone’s life, even though he’s not EMT-certified. And that’s just a pretty brazen comment because not everyone lives and it doesn't matter how much experience you have,” Horvath said, adding that although the chief has done a great job, the lack of certifications creates a liability issue.
If elected, Horvath said she would petition the board to adjust salaries to better align with staff qualifications and the hours they work.
Vogel echoed Horvath’s and Schmitt’s position, but he said he would support the current salaries if staff were highly qualified.
“My main priority is ensuring paid employees are the highest quality that the taxpayers can get,” Vogel said. The district pays a brand-new firefighter with no experience about $55,000, he said. The salary would be acceptable if it were for someone with more years under their belt, he said.
Those views are not shared by Lee, Wood and Quinn, who believe staff members are fairly compensated.
“I don't have the same concerns at all,” Wood said. “I’d rather have somebody in there doing a really good job, making the money that he’s making than have somebody in there making half the money, doing a bad job. It just doesn't make sense to me.”
Wood, who was born and raised in the area, said the fire department has helped several of his family members in times of crisis. Each time, they did a fantastic job, he said.
Debbie Lee also pushed back against the idea that salaries are unnecessarily high.
She said that when salaries were last discussed, the board analyzed pay at other area fire districts and realized their employees were drastically underpaid.
“We want to be comparable, and we don't want to take advantage of our employees,” Lee said.
Some candidates have criticized the board’s lack of transparency, saying the department operates behind closed doors and rarely interacts with the community that funds it.
“We don't know what the fire department does in our community anymore,” Horvath said. “They don't send out newsletters. They don't have any forums for people to voice concerns.”
Accessing their records is difficult, Horvath said. The board’s minutes, which are supposed to be made public, weren’t available until late last week.
She also raised concerns about the lack of notice given about the upcoming election. The details provided on the website were vague, she said, and there was no obvious effort to alert voters or prospective candidates, she said.
Horvath, Schmitt and Vogel also had concerns about the relationship between the board president and the fire chief.
They said Debbie Lee’s proximity to the chief presents a serious conflict of interest; but Lee says she takes all necessary steps to ensure her work does not cross any ethical lines.
According to Horvath, Lee has suggested some significant pay raises that would benefit both her and her husband.
“It's definitely not professional to have a chief and have his wife be the president of the board,” Horvath said, while emphasizing her respect and appreciation for the Lees and the work they have done. It’s just time for change and more accountability, she explained.
Lee acknowledged her role raises the potential for a conflict of interest but said she always recuses herself when the topic of the chief’s salary is raised.
She pointed out that this is not the first time a board member has had a relative serving as chief – noting it’s a small community.
Those wishing to hear more from the candidates can attend a “Meet the Candidates” event from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, April 27, at the Breen Community Building.
The election will be held May 6 at the Station 1, 164 County Road 130. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Eligible electors must be registered to vote in Colorado and must live in or own taxable property within the district.
jbowman@durangoherald.com
