It’s time to get off the fence

Dear Editor:

Recently, I noticed a fence in front of a home with signs supporting Mark Roeber and Roger Bentley, the candidates for District 3 county commissioner nomination in the June Republican primary. There could not be a starker contrast between two candidates.

It's time to get off the fence!

Roeber is a lifelong rancher, raising cattle and farming on the same piece of property near Paonia that his great-grandfather homesteaded in 1889. Bentley, by contrast, being from Montrose, said at a recent debate that Delta County is his second home, after Montrose. If you are going to be commissioner of a county, then shouldn't that county be your first love?

District 2 is the North Fork constituency. The North Fork is defined as Paonia, Crawford, Hotchkiss, Redlands Mesa, Rogers Mesa, Lazear, and all points in-between. Mark Roeber is from Paonia. Roger Bentley is from Peach Valley, which is basically Delta. Delta already has a commissioner and the good folks from the North Fork region deserve a voice on the Board of County Commissioners, after all, that was the original intention of creating districts.

Roeber has been a leader in agri-business, the cattle industry, and as an entrepreneur. In addition to his business background, he has served as president of the Colorado Cattlemen's Association and has been chairman of federal lands committees on both a state and federal level. Over the years Roeber has made a dozen or so trips to Washington, D.C. to advocate for farmers, ranchers, and private land owners. Bentley's claim to fame is serving on the planning commission, a board which he wants to eliminate.

Roeber deserves your vote and he will fight for private property rights, advocate for the retention of local businesses, (e.g. the coal mines), encourage new entrepreneurs, protect western Colorado water from greedy downstream and Front Range interests, and stand up for the multiple use of our public lands, so that hunters, anglers, ATVers, ranchers, and tourists, along with the mines, natural gas, and lumber industries can have the opportunity to succeed and enjoy the wealth that is Delta County.

Mark Roeber may be known as the man of few words, but his wisdom, character, and leadership skills speak volumes. I highly encourage you to vote for a truly great candidate, Mark Roeber.

Matt Soper

Trustee

Orchard City

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