Ashley Stolzmann

Ashley Stolzmann is running for Boulder County Commissioner in District 3. She has been a dedicated local elected official for the last decade.

She is the only candidate with first-hand experience leading during a climate crisis disaster and the only candidate to have a track record on climate action, according to her website.

She is committed to serving the Boulder County community to protect the environment. “I am committed to serving Boulder County in a way that protects our environment and allows every person the opportunity to thrive.”

She serves as Mayor for Louisville, Colorado. “I’ve been a dedicated local elected official for the last decade, she said.

“My leadership has been battle-tested through times of crisis; crises that all Boulder County is living under due to climate change. From working to save lives and property in a sudden emergency, to long-term planning needed to prepare for the future, I have a proven track record of progressive policy, and I am committed to protecting and preserving. I will fight to protect and preserve Boulder County now and into the future.

She has served as an elected official in response to several climate disasters, including the 2013 flood, the 2018 hailstorm, the landslide in Coyote Run, and now the Marshall Fire.

For COVID-19, she supported more than $1 million in direct grants to businesses and people most hard hit by the pandemic. She was appointed by the Governor to the Mile High Flood District 2020-2022 and reappointed 2022-2024.

The biggest issue in implementing our collective transportation vision is inadequate funding. My experience as Denver Regional Council of Governments Board Chairperson and Transportation Planning Region Chair means I know how to bring additional dollars to our communities.

Boulder County must do better when it comes to housing more vulnerable members of our community. Our county has a goal of making 12 percent of housing affordable. The county must take the lead and work with municipalities to launch an actionable plan that reaches the county affordable housing goals. The pandemic has slowed progress on this effort, and we need to re-energize the plan.

Housing first is an evidence-based approach to ending homelessness that recognizes that people must have their basic needs met before addressing other issues. These programs help to end the cycle of homelessness while improving the health and financial security of those involved. The county must use its resources to increase access to permanent supportive housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

In Boulder County, we can and must lead the way on decarbonization. As Commissioner I will advocate to set an aggressive countywide target for becoming carbon neutral. Additionally, I will advocate to create additional incentives for community members to make transitions on things like electrification of buildings, adopting electric vehicles, and taking advantage of telework and reliable transit. We also must restrict oil and gas extraction to the maximum extent possible and proactively cap wells.

For more information, got to https:// stolzmannforbouldercounty.com/meetashley/.

Bo Shaffer

Bo Shaffer is running for Boulder County Commissioner in District 3 as a Libertarian. The main reason that he wants to be a Commissioner is to bring a voice to the large part of Boulder County that gets ignored by the progressives that have been completely in charge for decades.

He’d also like to bring a different kind of politics into play. “I’m not going to deride the current leadership of Boulder County, nor my worthy opponent. I’m quite sure they all have only the best of intentions and the welfare of Boulder County citizens at heart.”

Bo does his part in preserving sustainable agriculture by growing acclimatized seed crops and preserving them for the future. He was the Iceman for 18 years in Nederland and took care of the Frozen Dead Guy and helped start the Frozen Dead Guy Days festival.

Bo likes to go camping with his highly trained and fierce attack beagle, and his awesome and fearless Rhodesian Ridgeback hybrid. Bo and his wife Betsy support sustainable Botanical efforts as a way to preserve life for future generations.

There have been some issues with hate crimes towards certain groups in BoCo, Shaffer said. Way back 16 years ago, when I ran for Sheriff, we were in the Sheriff’s shooting range, and I put forth the proposal that law enforcement not be trained to “shoot to kill.”

“I was laughed off the range. In light of what has happened in the intervening years and the admittance that LE brings out fear in some BoCo residents, I would again voice my concern that any time anyone is killed in the pursuit of Law Enforcement, the LE involved has failed in their duty.

“Their job is not to be judge, jury and executioner. Their job is to protect and serve. Non Lethal shooting should be practiced along with nonlethal weapons issues. Perhaps if the people were assured that they wouldn’t be killed, they might not have such fear of those trying to help them.”

As a philosophical libertarian, he eschews spending money “on the cuff.” A government should spend no more than it takes in. Taxes should be minimal to support the necessary.

Luxuries can be supported through enterprise or fees. He was on the Board of the Left Hand Water Board and had the ability to levy taxes, but 95 percent of operations and activities were paid for by water fees.

Water is an issue close to my heart. We are approaching crisis mode with the supply to the South West. It’s hard to see what can be done to alleviate the ongoing drought, but I have lived through similar drought times in California.

I saw a city in California reduce its total water consumption by two thirds, just by following a half dozen voluntary water conservation tricks. If every town and city in the four corners states and California could cut their consumption by even half, it would get us through this period of drought.

The Libertarian take on mask wearing is that no one should be forced to wear one, but education, incentives and even bribes are all on the table. A Libertarian would never force anyone, but would do everything possible to achieve a desired outcome.

A Libertarian believes that the government that governs least, governs best. Only those rules for citizens’ interactions with each other and the local landscape are really necessary.

“Several times, BoCo Commissioners have tried to legislate outside the county or pass laws that are so restrictive to citizens, the State Legislature has had to step in and pass a specific law to prevent BoCo from abrogating its citizens’ rights. Lawsuits are filed when BoCo Commissioners overstep their boundaries and try to preempt the Constitution.

For more information, go to https:// bo4boco.com/#home.