County Government

As your County representative, I must first strike a balance between knowing when to be there for the citizens of this County and District and knowing when to stay out of the way!

The role of county government is extensive, from the District Attorney and Sheriff's office to the county fair. El Paso County is home to vibrant communities rich in services and coveted by many as a magnificent place to raise a family, prosper a business and enjoy cultural activities. County government is obligated to protect and ensure public safety, maintain infrastructure, responsibly administer taxpayer dollars and plan for responsible growth and development. County government must respectfully listen to constituent needs, help where it can and is constitutionally able and then get out of your way so that you can live your life free from intrusive government policies. County government must be run in an efficient, effective and accountable manner.

The job of the County Commissioners is often times very complicated. There are numerous statutory and regulatory issues which come up when dealing with the budget, land use and maintenance of county facilities. Often times, these issues are seen as black and white and difficult to understand. I believe that it is not only the role of the commissioners to make the decisions necessary to run the county, but also to help educate the people and make sure that their questions are answered and they have an understanding of policies and decisions made.

County government should:

Ensure public safety
Efficiently administer and maintain vital infrastructure
Manage hard earned tax dollars in a fiscally accountable manner
Plan for intelligent and responsible growth and development
Protect private property rights
Represent the people of the county with dignity, respect and impartiality

County government should not:

Overburden businesses and residents with regulations and taxes
Infringe on private property rights of individuals or businesses
Be an obstacle to its constituents' rights to live free from government intrusion

County Commissioners

The County Commissioners primarily handle land use and growth planning issues as they relate to the county and must do so in an impartial manner for all constituents of the county. We are bound to administer the budget for the entire county and serve as transparent, open and responsible representatives to the people of the county. County Commissioners must also inform, and make sure citizens' questions are answered so that they have an understanding of policies and decisions.
See "Why Amy Lathen"
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