Shannon Arrington, Gilpin County. Hello Gilpin Locals! My name is Shannon Arrington and I am running as the unaffiliated candidate in for the District 3 commissioner set. My interest in running for Gilpin County Commissioner stems from my desire to see an unaffiliated commissioner who is not bound to any political party. With the challenges we are facing as a county, now is the time to have a commissioner that is committed to seeking community input and dedicated to understanding every aspect of an issue so that decisions made are reflective of community feedback.

I have been a proud local for 17 years. Currently, I am the Victim Services Coordinator for Gilpin County Victim Services serving Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office and Black Hawk Police Department. I have had the honor of working as a victim advocate with the County since 2011 and supervising the division since 2015. In this position, I have successfully written grants and have been the project director for federal, state, and local grants. I have managed the victim services budget and participated in the Gilpin County budget process. Collaborating with different Gilpin departments has provided me with an inside understanding of what’s working and what isn’t and the importance of a hands-on approach from a commissioner. Since November of 2019, I have volunteered on the Gilpin County Planning Commission. 

All my professional endeavors have centered around working with the community, listening to people’s needs, and responding in a way that is thoughtful and authentic. This is a critical time to have a commissioner that is not beholden to any party but is committed to understanding every aspect of an issue and representing our residents. We do not have to agree on every issue, but you do need to have confidence that your ideas are valued and considered and that any decision made is reflective of the majority and not a commissioner’s personal opinion or that of a specific party. With your support, I will continue to serve our community, but as your commissioner. 

If you would like to learn more about me, please google shannon4gc or visit https://shannonarrington.wixsite.com/shannon4gc 

(Originally published in the October 8, 2020, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)