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Letter: Vote for Pitkin public interest

Please vote for Patti Clapper, a moderate Democrat, as our next county commissioner against incumbent Rob Ittner, who self-describes as a “right of center” Republican.

It matters who serves on the Board of County Commissioners. Patti has a long, proven record of supporting both rural character and health and human services. We now also have Ittner’s voting record. That record includes refusing to support a robust health and human services fund and also voting in favor of a 13,000-plus-square-foot house at the gateway to the Maroon Bells in a debris-flow and avalanche-hazard area, where the average size in the area is only around 5,000 square feet. Ittner has shown that he will not vote to protect rural character — and, indeed, would drastically change it. Nor will he adequately support those who need help in our community.

Let’s vote for a compassionate moderate, Patti, who will use her discretion as a commissioner to benefit the public interest — someone who won’t vote to forever change the character of the gateway to the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area and also one who has demonstrated through a 35-year career in nursing that she will support the multilayered, compassionate side of the county that also cares about its people.



Put aside party affiliation, and consider that the difference between the two candidates is truly significant but not because of partisan politics. Everyone who lives in the rural area of the county — renter or property owner, Republican or Democrat — should want to elect the person who will preserve the character of their neighborhood. Patti is that candidate, and unfortunately for the Maroon Creek Valley, Ittner is not.

Please make your choice carefully, and get out and vote!




Marcella Larsen

Aspen