To the Editor:

Like many voters I will be glad when the election is over and we aren’t being slammed by the negative ads on TV. Some of the races seem so close I find it hard to believe so many voters have their blinders on, but that’s not the point of this letter.

I’ve spent two-thirds of my life in Grand County, the first 21 years and the last 21 or so. What happens here impacts me at least as much as the other county residents, perhaps more because it’s hard to see some of the changes that have been forced on the locals because we are no longer the majority.

Rod Johnson and Brett Schroetlin are both somewhat more than acquaintances, though I’ve known Rod longer than Brett. Since my history includes 20 years of a close relationship with law enforcement, this race is of special interest to me.

I know officers from town departments around the county, and I’ve asked questions when possible about how they see the race. What I hear is new blood is desirable. Communication between agencies and the SO are not working as well as they should.

One issue troubling me has to do with Mr. Stein’s decision to put Mr. Johnson in as undersheriff. It seems to me the vote on candidates earlier was a statement. By voting for Stein, we would in effect be putting the old blood back in. The titles may not be the same, but the roles each have played would be unlikely to change. And whatever “rut” has been established by the status quo would remain. As has already been pointed out in a letter to the editor, there is also a pretty blatant potential conflict of interest with Mrs. Stein being in the district attorney’s office.

Recently I read somewhere a suggestion the concerns of “disgruntled former employees” be ignored in this race. If someone is fired for cause it’s one thing. But twice in my life I’ve been one of those, fired once and voluntarily left once, so I know there are times when former employees are justified in their dissatisfaction and shouldn’t automatically be written off.

My ballot is complete and ready to go, but if yours isn’t, I urge you to mark the box for Brett Schroetlin for sheriff. Schroetlin and officers from other departments have experienced firsthand the areas where the current SO administration has weaknesses, and I believe he will be working to strengthen the department in those areas.

Nina Wood

Parshall