Montezuma County Commissioner Keenan Ertel recently traveled to Washington D.C., to testify in opposition to a pending wilderness bill. During his testimony, he stated that Montezuma County is in the process of transitioning from a gas/energy extraction economy to a tourism/recreation economy.
What’s the main obstacle to transforming the county to a tourism/recreation economy?
It’s the commissioner and his political base, who espouse the “If you don’t like the way we do things here, go back where you came from!” philosophy.
I know this because he and I have had this conversation. It’s also a frequent topic of conversation in this publication.
Does he really expect tourists, transplants and industries to flock into a county that looks to the past and opposes any effort to protect the natural environment that he and his political base attempt to control and exploit?
Does he not recognize that tourists and recreation advocates bring with them progressive attitudes that conflict with his right-wing dogma?
Inquiring minds want to know!
Chris Barnhouse
Cortez