Ron Stewart
Appointed Director of Open Space
Also to Retain
Commissioner Seat
May 26, 1999
THE LAND USE COALITION
P.O. Box 20265
Boulder, CO 80308-3265
www.landusecoalition.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Today the Land Use Coalition reaction to the Boulder County Commissioners' appointment of Commission Chairman Ron Stewart to fill the Open Space Director's vacancy as a "shocking" decision. More importantly, it represents a blatant betrayal of our democratic system, and a deliberate avoidance of public input into a very important public decision. It appears to be a transparent attempt on Stewart's part to carve out for himself a permanent highly paid administrative job.
The Coalition is a Boulder County citizens group dedicated to good land use regulations and practices, balancing both environmental concerns as well as rights of landowners to use their property.
"The County Commissioners should rescind this appointment immediately, and institute a appropriate selection process for this very important appointed position," states Land Use Coalition president AJ Chamberlin, " the citizens of Boulder County deserve no less. The reaction of our membership is stunned disbelief."
Adding to the appearance of impropriety, Stewart states that he has no intention of resigning from his Commissioner's seat. Chamberlin went on to say "Our members are upset enough about this they are calling for resignation or even recall of all three Commissioners. It appears that the Commissioners and the County Land Use Department plan to continue their practice of using heavy-handed land use regulations to take people's property!"
Boulder County was made an example of in the State Legislature this last term, which recently passed legislation designed to reform local government's misconduct in regulating land use. In the wake of court decisions adverse to the County, including a recent finding of frivolous and groundless litigation, and a large award of attorney fees, and with the promise of new litigation waiting in the wings "it should come as no surprise that Mr. Stewart is interested in finding a more permanent job. The County Commissioners are likely to find themselves embroiled in controversial and expensive litigation over land use matters for years to come. There is a reason we separate elected officials from managerial administrators, a natural separation of powers and checks and balances. This decision is a repudiation of those democratic principles, and can only lead to bad government."
The Coalition is also concerned that there was no effort to find a more qualified administrator for the more than $11 million Open Space Department budget. Why was there no advance notice to the public of this impending appointment? Why was there no notice prior to the hearing at which the appointment was made? The Commissioners' move consolidates power in a very few people, with no independent check on this power. In short, it's a back room political deal, smacking of political cronyism.
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Contacts:
AJ Chamberlin 303/441-5682
Karin Swett 303/497-6486
For more information contact the Land Use Coalition at info@landusecoalition.org or call 303-666-7903.
Last updated June 04, 2001.
URL: http://landusecoalition.org/stewart_press_release.htm
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