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Grand Lake Fire holds candidate forum

Lance Maggart
lmaggart@skyhidailynews.com

Few things are as important to the communities of the high country as fire prevention.

The immense beauty offered by the thick woods and steep mountainsides that surround Middle Park hold inherent dangers, especially with the abundance of beetle kill pine that infests large segments of Grand County. While firefighters and other first responders contend with training, certification and elements directly related to the physical act of fighting fires the administrative and fiduciary duties of those who oversee fire departments are just as essential to preventing disaster.

This spring the Grand Lake Fire Protection District will hold an election for the District’s Board of Directors. Next Monday residents of Grand Lake and those whose homes and lives are guarded by the Grand Lake Fire Protection District will get an opportunity to hear from individuals seeking a leadership role in the community’s fire department. Grand Lake Fire will hold a candidate forum on Monday April 11 beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Grand Lake Fire Station.



A press release about the forum issued by the Grand Lake Fire Protection District states the forum, “will provide interested voters an opportunity to meet the candidates and hear their reasons for running, and what they would do if elected.”

A total of four seats are up for election this year on the Grand Lake Fire Protection District’s Board of Directors. Directors for Grand Lake Fire are divided between those serving four-year terms and those serving two-year terms. There are a total of three candidates running for two four-year-term seats on the Board of Directors. Those running for a four-year term include: Hayden Burke, David Craig and Chris Ruske. There are two candidates running for the two two-year-term seats on the Board. Candidates for a two-year term are: Mindy Nelson and Richard Romshek.



The forum will provide each candidate with an opportunity to provide an opening statement and respond to preselected questions. Forum attendees will be given an opportunity to submit written questions to be presented by the moderator. The press release from Grand Lake Fire states, “Please plan to arrive early to submit questions.”

Election Day for the Grand Lake Fire Board of Directors will be May 3 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. with polling conducted at the Grand Lake Fire Protection Station 1 located on West Portal Road at the entrance to the town of Grand Lake. Grand Lake Fire District Administrator Cheryl Dale is the designated election official for the election.

The Grand Lake Women’s Club is coordinating the forum that will be moderated by Grand Lake resident Neal Cross. Refreshments will be provided for attendees.


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