County priorities must match voters'

Candidate Soapbox by Roger Hoffmann
North Forty News, October 2004

As candidate for County Commissioner, I meet with voters across Larimer County to hear their concerns.

Several common themes emerge: Taxes and our cost of living are ever increasing, while essential services are in decline. Voters point to growing traffic congestion and road safety issues, cuts in health and human services, and to higher fees for services and amenities once enjoyed at little or no cost.

To do better, we must first ensure that county government has the same priorities as its citizens.

This is the fundamental problem: incumbent Commissioner Gibson has a very different set of priorities than the voters. Where public safety is critical to most voters, Mr. Gibson has compromised it. He voted to shift $1.8 million away from already-planned road safety improvements to the building of a new County Road 5, ad decision made at the behest of a few seeking to open up nearby farm fields to development.

I ask how Mr. Gibson's endorsement of the giveaway of $88 million in taxes, to subsidize a private developer, benefits county taxpayers. Someone will have to make up for those lost taxes... Guess who?

Unlike my opponent, who has refused to debate in public, and who has told constituents that he doesn't represent them, I'll listen to your concerns. This is not only because I share them but also because, if I fail, I'll expect you to give me the boot in four years – just as I expect you to give it to the incumbent this year.

Roger Hoffmann, Loveland
Candidate for Larimer County Commissioner District 3