Editor’s note: The Crestone Eagle is running all letters of support it received for county commissioner candidate Adam Kinney and incumbent Tom McCracken as of press time. They are presented in no particular order.
To the editor,Â
Saguache County is again undergoing profound change. I have known Tom McCracken for many years and know that he is a passionate defender of the land we call home and its lifestyle. He has worked the last four years to see that changes in our community will still promote our desired way of life while moving us into the next phase of our development. Some of Tom’s accomplishments as a commissioner include:
Persuading the Saguache Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) to start a recycling program at the landfill.
Bringing the Chaffee Shuttle to Crestone.
Helping to get Southern Colorado Seniors to provide meals in Crestone.
Successfully advocating for the installation of solar panels at the affordable housing project Blue Waters in Saguache.
Insisting that Saguache County Road and Bridge maintain Baca roads to the same standard as the rest of the county.
Advocating for the Safe Routes to School trail in Crestone which is now beginning construction.
Twice chairing the Council of Governments (COG) to promote cooperation and coordination of local governments for the SLV as one community.
Working with all six counties and multiple municipalities in the Valley to make an intergovernmental agreement that has all these entities weigh in on any water export proposals.
Participating in Colorado Counties Inc. (CCI) which encourages counties to work together on common issues.
When I asked Tom why he was willing to run again for a second term — a very time-consuming job — he said there are projects already started that he wants to see accomplished. These include expanding groundwater monitoring, updating the county master plan, cleanup of the White Eagle Village, creating more affordable housing in Saguache and Casita Park, and building a new jail and courthouse facility.
We need Tom’s expertise, experience, and ability to coordinate with Valley and state entities to promote productive, long-range development in our county. I encourage you to vote for Tom so that our county continues to benefit from informed decision making for the next four years.
Linda Eickhoff