Delta Counties “Ace in the Hole” is Energy.  As county commissioner, I'll do everything I can to remove regulation and break monopolies that presently prevent energy’s development to the benefit of Agriculture and citizens by income and jobs.  This means removing barriers to Hydroelectric, Biomass, mine methane, and maybe a clean coal fired power plant located adjacent to the mines. We need to be aware of Global trends (see forums below) that could be very much to our advantage.  

Agriculture would benefit because some of these jobs would be available to farm kids to allow them to stay on the farm.  Ag ditches and reservoirs would benefit directly.  For example a small hydroelectric generator on a steep part of a ditch on the Smith Fork could generate over $2,000 per month in wholesale electricity.  Another lower altitude ditch that could run in the wintertime could generate $150,000 a month for 9 months of the year and not affect Ag water deliveries during the irrigation season at all.  That money could be used to concrete line the ditch or put it in pipe.  It could eliminate annual $75,000 in ditch fees forever. There are many many other opportunities like these examples that could help all citizens and actually reduce property taxes as a side benefit.

Commissioner involvement with Delta county forums, similar to the ones below, but with local issues added such as roads and subdivisions, could encourage citizen talent and input without having to take time off from work, drive to the county building, and sit through endless other issues until your issue comes up.  For those that are not computer literate, our libraries all have computers and librarians that are eager to help.

The Fair tax is mentioned because our present predatory income tax system has driven whole factories and jobs out of this country and county.  

In addition to local issues, as Commissioner, I would try to influence State and National issues that affect us all.

Global Warming
Oil Independence
Iran
Electric Cars
Demagoging the Fair tax
Coal Fired Power Plants

Water

The Feds are trying to steal our water
Text of this incredible theft attempt Colorado Rep Diana DeGette is a co-sponsor


Note sec 4 (24) which reads

SEC. 4. DEFINITION OF WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES.

Section 502 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1362) is amended--

(1) by striking paragraph (7);

(2) by redesignating paragraphs (8) through (24) as paragraphs (7) through (23), respectively; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

`(24) WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES- The term `waters of the United States' means all waters subject to the ebb and flow of the tide, the territorial seas, and all interstate and intrastate waters and their tributaries, including lakes, rivers, streams (including intermittent streams), mudflats, sandflats, wetlands, sloughs, prairie potholes, wet meadows, playa lakes, natural ponds, and all impoundments of the foregoing, to the fullest extent that these waters, or activities affecting these waters, are subject to the legislative power of Congress under the Constitution.'.