Why | My Commitment to You | I intend to

Why Amy Lathen for County Commissioner , District 2?

Please continue to support me as your County Commissioner because I believe that public safety should be the #1 priority in El Paso County followed directly by the maintenance of our roads and smart growth and development planning. I have the leadership skills to give a voice to the people of district 2. I have relationships with all of the commissioners and numerous county and state officials which has enabled me to work effectively with them from day one. I have worked hard for the El Paso County Republican Party for years and I am driven to intelligently and effectively serve all of you as your County Commissioner .

After being elected by the vacancy committee, I am running for re-election into my first full term as your County Commissioner because I believe that I best represent the ideals and views of the constituents of the 2nd Commissioner District. The good people of the 2nd CD believe that we can have a priority-driven, responsible county government that addresses the needs of the people without increasing taxes.

Imagine a representative who listens. Imagine a representative who openly, happily holds herself accountable. Imagine a representative who is intelligent, articulate and passionately driven to serve. Imagine a representative who believes in hassle-free, efficient government services, designed to help you live an all-American lifestyle punctuated by peace of mind, prosperity and financial security. I am that representative. Now, I cannot make all of this happen for you, but I can make decisions which foster this kind of environment in our community and will help open doors instead of blocking them with interference and inefficiency from county government.

After years of working closely with state and local elected officials, community leaders and residents, I find myself uniquely positioned to be highly effective in this role of County Commissioner. I have forged strong relationships with these people and am already working with each of them to strengthen El Paso County and find innovative ways to solve our problems without putting them on the backs of the taxpayers.

I invite you to read on and thank you for taking the time to understand more of the reasons why I best represent you, the people of County Commissioner , District 2.

I understand County government and absolutely love the day to day operations of the office.

I regularly attended the County Commissioner meetings since October of 2006 before being sworn into office in 2008. I painstakingly study and strive to discover areas which may be new to me and understand them more fully. I understand the role that county government plays in our community and how the Commissioners function to fulfill that role.

Just being 1 vote on a 4-1 vote isn't good enough. As a leader and representative, I must work to convince others to join me in my votes in order to be effective. I am no good on my own. I must bring cohesiveness and collaboration to the Board in a way that will benefit YOU.

I do not make promises that I cannot keep. What I do promise is this: that I will work feverishly to collaborate on the issues I believe in most. That I will not just obstruct or oppose, but work together with my colleagues to improve, innovate and get rid of waste. I strive to serve you by working to provide all of you, the streamlined, non-intrusive government you all deserve.

I do NOT have a law practice, or business or agenda which will distract me from the duties of this office. I AM a full-time County Commissioner . I have dedicated myself to this job without distraction and pledge to serve you with every effort I have.

I am a mother and a wife and long time member of this community. I am experienced. I am a volunteer and a patriot. I love this country and the day to day workings of the county government. I am beholden to no one and I serve everyone. I make no apologies for my agenda; to make county government more efficient and effective and limit its size and scope; to prioritize the budget of the county starting with law enforcement; to manage our roads; to manage responsible growth planning and development which includes smart, viable water planning; to make sure that the government services which are necessary to maintain a safe and vital community will be administered with conservative and responsible principles; to oversee a streamlined, prioritized budget, constantly seeking out waste and diverting it to vital needs; and to listen with respect and dignity to all constituents of the county as it relates to issues brought before the Board of County Commissioners.

I stand on principles.

I believe that the role of County Commissioner is a full time job. I have dedicated all of my efforts in this campaign and as your commissioner, to listening to and understanding the issues which are most important to the people of District 2. I am making myself completely available to the people who will be asked to cast a vote in my re-election and I will continue to study and improve my qualifications and knowledge as your commissioner.
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My Commitment to You

Campaigns are loaded with platitudes and “what they want to hear” promises. This campaign has been and will continue to be loaded with the truth. Words have meaning. I do not give them or receive them lightly. I believe in standing up and saying what I believe regardless of its popularity. I am beholden to no one, but here to serve everyone. I am a patriot who gets goose bumps when I hear the national anthem and I hold my “Ronald Reagan conservatism” close to my heart while teaching my children that “John Wayne individualism” sort of spirit. I stand for what I believe in and work respectfully with others to convince them to do the same.
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I intend to continue to:

Effectively represent the people of this district and give them a much deserved voice on the Board of County Commissioners.

Respectfully listen to all constituents of this district and county as they bring issues and planning needs before me.

Be diligent in understanding and efficiently planning for the future of El Paso County . This is a great place to live and we are not the only ones who know this. People are going to continue to move here and our community is going to continue to grow. The questions that I will deal with are many:

Work to implement a priority based budgeting system for the county. I believe the most responsible way for government to handle its budget allocation is to reduce wasteful spending and allocate resources according to a prioritized system of responsibilities and needs.

Work to dig out waste in our county budget.

Work with the Sheriff's office to find ways to improve deputy safety which will also improve citizen safety. Our county population is growing and with that growth must come efficient and well established public safety. When you dial 911, someone should respond, quickly. The Sheriff has been working diligently to maintain vital safety concerns within our community and I intend to work with his office to assist him in any way I can.

Work with the District Attorney's office to ensure that the resources which are necessary for prosecution of criminals are adequate and that our courtrooms are serving our citizens as efficiently as possible. Arresting offenders is only the first step in this aspect of public safety. Effectively prosecuting those people who have broken the laws in our communities is the next vital step in keeping us safe and ensuring that justice is served.

Work with law enforcement, human services and the County Attorney 's office to make sure that no county dollars are being spent on any services for illegals in our community. As a taxpayer and constituent of the county myself, I find it completely unacceptable to work hard for my family, pay my taxes and find any penny going to people who intentionally break our laws.

My promise is to continue to be entirely committed to this job and work to make a real difference. I AM a full-time County Commissioner. I have dedicated myself to this job without distraction and pledge to serve you with every effort I have. I never know ahead of time all of the issues and circumstances which will come before me, but I use my experience and principles to guide me as I make decisions for you.
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