Nominating Speech by John Copper

Mike Mason Nominating Speech

Good morning. My name is John Copper; I am here to nominate Mike Mason for Delta County Commissioner.

I am a Colorado native and have been in Delta County for fourteen years, and a life long Republican. During the fourteen years I have been here, I have witnessed the growth of the county and municipal governments, indeed the Federal government, fueled primarily by quasi-conservatives. These are men and women who run on the Republican ticket, but when once elected, deny the foundation of the Republican Party.

The Republican Party has historically stood for smaller, less intrusive government, individual liberty, and individual responsibility. Mike Mason stands firm in these ideals. Ronald Reagan once said, “…it is time to check and reverse the growth of government which shows signs of growing beyond the consent of the governed.” Today, the Delta County government, led by quasi-conservatives, is growing beyond the consent of the governed. For example, how many times have the citizens of this county demonstrated clearly that we do not want building codes? Yet to this day, we must be ever vigilant to watch our commissioners to prevent building codes. Indeed, there are some hoping to be elected who would give us building codes.

We believe, as did Ronald Reagan, that “government must work with us, not over us; to stand by our side, not ride on our back. Government can and must provide opportunity, not smother it; foster productivity, not stifle it.” Excessive codes and regulations smother opportunity and stifle productivity. We believe that the government that governs least governs best.

Delta County is rich in natural resources, yet we are destitute in the utilization of them because of governmental interference at every step. We need County Commissioners that will encourage research and development into the beneficial extraction and/or use of coal, methane gas, natural gas, and hydroelectric resources. To date, these industries have been more stymied than released by regulations and codes.

We cannot afford to remain with the status quo, because the status quo will force on us a bigger, more intrusive, and more expensive government. Mike Mason has ideas, and, more importantly, plans, for economic development, the environment, education, energy development, and property rights that will help to restore personal liberty and personal responsibility. I urge you, if you long for the “old-time” Republican Party, vote for Mike Mason.

Seconding Speech by Rex Stucker

SECONDING SPEECH FOR MIKE MASON

March 15, 2008

I second the motion for Mike Mason for the position of Delta County Commissioner.

“When in the course of human events it becomes necessary to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another…”  Remember those words?

My Question to all here today is this: are we ready to dissolve the political bands that bind the Republican Party to the disastrous path the Democrat/Socialist Party is surging down to the destruction of our great nation?  Are we ready to put someone in the office of Delta County Commissioner that will assure the ties of the so-called “moderate” branch of the Republican Party to socialist leanings are dissolved?  Has “business the same old way” gotten so onerous as we look at the rules, regulations, fees, taxes and larger county government that we are ready to remedy this yet?  Are we ready to return to the manner of government that allows, nay, support free enterprise to solve problems better solved in this manner instead of looking to “nanny” government to save us from ourselves?

There’s an old saying: “ Ask government to solve all your problems, it will, just open your checkbook and look the other way as the price is paid.  “There are over 180 taxes, fees, permitting cost, etc, etc enacted I the last 100 years mostly to separate us from our hard earned monies and to control us. Enough is enough.  No more costs added to minerals extracted from our county that are just added to the expenses we pay for energy, whether natural gas, oil, or coal.  No more county overhead positions of bureaucracy that never end.  No more “saving us from ourselves” mind-set with county building codes; there are much better ways.

Let’s start with electing Mike Mason to the Commissioner position; let’s give him the opportunity to live up to his promises and ideas, instead of throwing our lot with someone who would become part of the problem, not the solution.

Again, I second Mike Mason for Delta County Commissioner.

Seconding Speech by Brad Davis

Good Morning.

Thank you alternates, delegates, and committeemen for your participation here this morning. We are all benefited by this privilege of Assembly that we exercise here today.

I take now this moment of opportunity to quote from one of our nation’s founders, Thomas Jefferson:

“[A] Wise and frugal government... shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned.”

Today, without question, our America, our State and, uniquely , our County stand open to the scrutiny of our predecessors, our peers and our progeny, which asks, “How wise and frugal will you be in promoting government that protects the individual to freely regulate his own pursuits of industry and improvement, and provide restraints preventing injury to others?

The answer, “By taking afresh the reversing of ideas at conflict with and detrimental to true Liberty; Ideas, which scurry from the scrutiny of Constitutional examination, that have crept into the politic of this culture. Ideas that if challenged will dissipate.

The precarious political climate that our generation is faced with is undeniable. The task is daunting, yet the purpose is clear ---as succinctly spoken by Barry Goldwater, “I have little interest in streamlining government or in making it more efficient, for I mean to reduce its size.”

I am convinced. That is our job here today.

And, with the two men before me, I join in seconding the nomination of, and ask for your support of, Michael Mason for County Commissioner, District Two.

Acceptance Speech by Mike Mason

I accept the nomination for County Commissioner.  Wow! Those were awesome speeches!!  Thank you John, Rex, and Brad.  They are the principles I aspire to and believe in. 

Delta County was founded 125 years ago.  In all that time we haven’t had building codes, zoning, Central planning or specific development regulations.  The other district 2 candidates believe its time for these urban regulations which make a mockery of private property rights, and of course create higher taxes that always go with bigger more intrusive government.    If elected I’ll work to reverse this insidious slide towards more control and less  freedom.   I believe in limited government and individual initiative by free people.

I’ll work to allow farmers and ranchers to develop a part of their property easily, quickly, and inexpensively.  The other candidate’s zoning regulations, far from “preserving” agriculture will most certainly straightjacket and destroy it.  I want to support agriculture not imprison farmers for the view-scape benefit of others.

Delta County has a huge energy opportunity both in the existing mines, in biomass and in undeveloped Hydroelectricity.  There is a great opportunity if we can be successful in opening up the electrical energy markets.  Delta County has more than enough undeveloped energy to supply all of DMEA’s $35 Million in annual power purchases.  Hydroelectric development on some of the ag ditches and streams could greatly benefit those struggling entities.  And in building and operating these facilities, good paying jobs will be created for farm kids and others.  Wouldn’t it be nice to know when you turn on a light switch you are supporting agriculture and jobs right here in Delta county.

However this will only happen if you elect a commissioner that has the vision and foresight to seek, foster and enable private enterprise solutions.

You see I believe in private property rights!  That means less government, less regulations, cutting spending, and lowering taxes

I hope the choice is clear.  Do you want more government or less? Do you want Government to remove barriers or put them in your way?  I will work for less government and try to remove barriers.  For a better, brighter, freer future, I ask for your vote as your next County Commissioner Thank you