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County Puts Off STR Action Until 2024

Vacation Rental Density Caps

By Candace Jones

The County’s Short-Term Rental Task Force is taking another year to ponder density caps.  The Commissioners should not wait. 

Everyone acknowledges Archuleta has dense clusters of STRs.  That’s not good for the local economy.

The Region 9 Economic Development District of SW Colorado recently reported its Economic Snapshot 2022.  Archuleta is one of five Region 9 counties.

The Snapshot identifies the region’s “base industries.”  Tourism is one base industry.  “Households” are a bigger base industry here.  The Snapshot describes the “households” industry as people “who spend money earned elsewhere (commuters), or at a different point in time (retirees).”   In Archuleta, households supported 40% of jobs in 2020 compared to 31% supported by tourism.

People who retire to Archuleta for quiet mountain-town life are a significant economic driver.  Ignoring quality of life in Archuleta’s residential areas undermines our local economy.  

The tourism and household industries can coexist.  To achieve balance between homes and STRs, county government should act on density caps.  Community is neighbor helping neighbor.  For that, we need neighborhoods where people can get to know each other for more than a week or two.  

Agree?  Email your Commissioners or attend their meetings.

Read the full letter published in The SUN April 13, 2023County Commission Delays STR Action

ACDP Elects Officers for 2024

The Archuleta County Democratic Party is seeking volunteers to fill several vacant positions on our Central Committee. Filling these positions is important as we head into the 2024 presidential election. In addition to electing a president, Congressioal District 03 will be contested. Adam Frisch and Dr. Debbie Burnett have announced plans to run against U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Silt. Volunteer for one of our open positions here. Questions? Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Officers for the 2023-2024 election cycle:

  • Carl Young, Chair
  • John Porco, First Vice Chair
  • Dave Butcher, Treasurer
  • Chair Emeritus, Becky Herman
  • Sue Yalom, Vice Chair for Events
  • Lou Dickson, Vice Chair for VAN
  • Candace Jones, Vice-Chair for Candidates and Local Issues
  • Chris Morley, Vice Chair of Public Relations & Marketing
  • Shawna Seed, Vice Chair Volunteers & Community Outreach

Open positions:

  • Secretary
  • Vice Chair for Fundraising
  • Vice Chair for Social Media
  • Vice Chair Cultural & Demographic Outreach
  • Vice Chair for Fundraising
  • Vice Chair for Hispanic Initiative
  • Vice Chair for LGBTQ+ Outreach

Brief description of the open roles:

COUNTY SECRETARY – The Secretary (1) takes the minutes and timely prepares them for approval; (2) serves as the records-custodian for the party.

SOCIAL MEDIA - The Vice Chair of Social Media manages the county's Facebook, Twitter and other social media accounts. The vice chair will accuratly reflect ACDP and CDP's views and abide by the CDP's code of conduct.

CULTURAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC OUTREACH - Cultural & Demographic Outreach is a position that focuses on communities tied together by shared experiences of race, religion, gender, orientation, military service, age or workforce, or issue priorities.

FUNDRAISING - The vice chair of fundraising will assist the central committee in raising money for county party operations, initiatives, and candidate support.

HISPANIC INITIATIVE - This position will

  • Provide training and information to increase Latino participation in the political process.Encourage and register Latinos to vote.
  • Identify and encourage Latinos to seek public office and/or to serve on boards and commissions.
  • Provide information specifically on issues that affect the Latino community.
  • Provide a forum to increase visibility of Latino candidates.

LGBTQ+ OUTREACH - This position is dedicated to advancing equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) Archuleta County residents and their families.

The Central Committee of the Archuleta County Democratic Party usually meets from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. on the second Monday of each month. Check our calendar for the specific time and location of this month’s meeting. Everyone is welcome to join in these meetings.

  • If you wish to make a presentation to the Archuleta County Democratic Party, please send a request to be included on the agenda (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Join ACDP to elect a president and beat Boebert

The Archuleta County Democratic Party is seeking volunteers to fill several vacant positions on our Central Committee. Filling these positions is important as we head into the 2024 presidential election. In addition to electing a president, Congressional District 03 will be contested. Adam Frisch and Dr. Debbie Burnett have announced plans to run against U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Silt. Volunteer for one of our open positions here. Questions? Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Officers and vacant positions are

  • Carl Young, County Chair
  • John Porco, First Vice Chair
  • Dave Butcher, Treasurer
  • Vacant, Secretary
  • Chair Emeritus, Becky Herman
  • Sue Yalom, Vice Chair for Events
  • Vacant, Vice Chair for Fundraising
  • Lou Dickson, Vice Chair for VAN
  • Vacant, Vice Chair for Social Media
  • Vacant, Vice Chair Cultural & Demographic Outreach
  • Vacant, Vice Chair for Fundraising
  • Vacant, Vice Chair for Hispanic Initiative
  • Vacant, Vice Chair for LGBTQ+ Outreach

The Central Committee of the Archuleta County Democratic Party usually meets from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. on the second Monday of each month. Check our calendar for the specific time and location of this month’s meeting. Everyone is welcome to join in these meetings.

If you wish to make a presentation to the Archuleta County Democratic Party, please send a request to be included on the agenda (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).