Routt County Commissioner Beth Melton has announced she will not be seeking re-election as county commissioner in 2022.

 

In a letter to local media, Melton writes:

 

Dear Friends, Supporters, and Colleagues,

It is bittersweet for me to share that I will not be seeking reelection as county commissioner in 2022. Serving this community as a commissioner has been the best job I could have asked for, and as challenging as this term has been, I have enjoyed it immensely. But there are new things on the horizon for me and my family, and so my path has changed.

I am grateful to have worked with an amazing team of professionals including Commissioners Corrigan, Monger, and Redmond, county elected officials, and county staff. I will be eternally grateful to everyone who worked so hard to help me get elected and to those who have supported me throughout my term. I am so proud of everything we have accomplished.

The past two years have been a time like no other in history, and there is no question that the global pandemic has overshadowed much of my work. I am proud to have worked tirelessly with Routt County Public Health and the other commissioners to govern boldly and compassionately with science and data at the forefront as we navigated unprecedented economic and political conditions to save lives.

And in the midst of all that, I am in awe of what we have been able to get done. Since I first took office in 2019, Routt County:

• Created the first ever Routt County Climate Action Plan and formed a collaborative board to implement it, with a goal of reducing emissions in Routt County by 74% by 2050.
• Formed the Routt County Public Health department (in July of 2019).
• Planned and started construction on a new Health and Human Services Department, including consideration of a future childcare facility.
• Hired Routt County’s second-ever county manager, first public information officer, and first grant writer.
• Elevated the issue of child care to a community-wide focus and priority, including initiating an analysis of a local sustainable funding source to support early childhood education.
• Launched “Navigate Your Routt,” a long overdue effort to update the Routt County Master Plan.
• Supported the creation of the Routt County Economic Development Partnership to expand economic development opportunities in our community.
• Helped to shape state legislation to support affordable housing, climate action, transportation infrastructure, behavioral health, early childhood education, just transition from coal, oil and gas reforms, healthcare reform, and access to opioid treatments.

I am proud to have represented Routt County on the State Board of Human Services, the Just Transition Advisory Committee, the Governor’s Commission on Community Service, the MAT expansion grant committee, and the expanding access to substance use disorder treatment for rural and frontier counties grant committee.

I encourage anyone who is passionate about this community to consider running for local office. It has been the most rewarding job I have ever had, and I am so grateful that this community gave me the opportunity to serve.

Onward!