County commissioner candidates at the Oct. 9 Kremmling forum, sponsored by the Grand County Association of Realtors, were all well-spoken. But I do believe the Democrat candidates, Meara McQuain (District 1) and Shanna Ganne (District 2) gave the Republican candidates, Ed Raegner (District 1) and Merrit Linke (District 2, represented by proxy) a good donkey-kicking.
Questions by Sally Arnold of the realtors association covered our housing crisis, from development and availability to affordability, for workers and seniors. In my opinion, both ladies had so much more to offer in their answers; they did their homework.
One gentleman in the audience accused the candidates of potentially spending too much on these concerns and wondering if they were going to raise taxes. Raegner had mentioned the need for hiring a grant writer to bring more monies into the county, a very good idea. However, McQuain and Ganne are currently executive directors of the nonprofits Headwaters Trails Alliance and Grand County Historical Association, respectively. Both are accomplished grant writers so the need to hire a grant writer would be dismissed, saving taxpayers money.
These two women have great moxie and energy from running the two very successful nonprofits and could collaborate productively with other governmental entities and organizations in order to improve our sorely lacking county human services. Right now, nonprofits carry the greatest burden of support.
Vote Blue for a better county now and in the future.
Ingrid Karlstrom,
Fraser River Valley resident
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