Jeff Hurd

Editor:

U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd, R-Grand Junction, has proposed the GAME Act because he wants to bypass the normal land exchange process and trade valuable wilderness and wildlife acreage here in the Roaring Fork Valley for dry ranchland near Meeker.

This is apparently for the benefit of Scott Smith, a business owner from North Carolina, who contributed $7,000 to Hurd’s campaign. It appears Hurd is eager to trample upon his constituents’ quality of life here in the Roaring Fork Valley for the benefit of someone who lives in North Carolina.

This issue illustrates why it is critical to have a representative in Washington who will put our local public good over well-connected private interests. We need leadership to defend our public lands and put our community interests first.

We need a better approach to our representation in the U.S. House District 3. This is an opportunity to stand up for our community and support Dwayne Romero, a local Democratic candidate for the CD3 seat who will protect our shared natural spaces from out-of-state opportunists.

These lands belong to us — not to someone from North Carolina looking to exploit them for private gain.

Debra Hanson

Carbondale