By Dan Karpiel

The Surveyor

The Surveyor reached out to all 10 of the major-party candidates for Weld County Commissioner and all nine candidates for the open County Commissioner seats in Larimer County and prefaced four questions, outlined below. Due to space limitations in print and a desire to provide as much detailed information as possible to readers, the candidates’ responses to the questions will be posted verbatim here.

1. Can you please provide a brief history of your background, i.e. career/occupation, family, history in Colorado/Larimer County, etc., just some basic get-to-know-you information for our readers.

I have started four successful businesses here in LC. Lived in LC for 48 yrs. The current business is 25 years old called Uncle Benny’s Building Supplies LLC. My experience in water/land development began 35 years ago. About 32 years ago I began to work with Larimer County planning and zoning. I was asked to be a stakeholder on three LC concerns: Big Thompson reclamation. The HWY 402 expansion project and The Larimer County Waste Shed Project. Business experience of 38 years in LC is one of many skills that set me apart. Married 38 yrs. with two children who are married and have blessed us with grandchildren.

2. What prompted you to run for Larimer County Commissioner District 3?

After being asked to run by countless people in our county and feeling compelled to give back to the County that has been so good to me, I filed with the SOS back in April of 2019. I’ve been through six natural and unnatural disasters in LC without laying off my associates. We kept cash flow up and this experience will lend itself well to getting our economy up and running in an efficient manner.

3. Can you please provide a brief outline of your political/ideological philosophy?

I find that there is more to agree on than to disagree. I’m coming at this as a businessperson not a politician. When I Get into office my goals will be to evaluate systems and streamline processes, as I’ve done for the last 25 years in current business. Keeping things as simple as possible is what I will aspire to.

4. What are the major issue(s) on which you want to focus your campaign and potential service as Larimer County Commissioner District 3?

Keeping existing businesses here, encouraging new brick/mortars, ma and pas, and large businesses to help enrich our economy. Softening of codes, fees and requirements on new business startups. I look forward to my involvement with the new landfill build out as I have diverted over three million tons of new and useable building materials from the landfill. Several years ago, I became a stakeholder on the landfill project. Looking forward to serving you Larimer County.