Recall not a hot topic around town

Residents seem to know all they need to know

By John Gardner
Post Independent Staff
Glenwood Springs, CO Colorado
March 17, 2008

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SILT, Colorado — The morning was cool, and a light snow dampened the ground in Silt on Friday. The streets were bustling with traffic and the convenience stores were busy as people began their morning.

Political signs pepper the landscape of the small town. The signs tell the tale of political unrest currently affecting the town. Some signs illustrate the support of a recall for current mayor Dave Moore in the upcoming April 1 election, and for his opponent, if recalled, former Silt town administrator Rick Aluise. Some show support for Moore.

Friday’s gray skies seemed to illustrate the town’s collective gloom over the whole situation, but reaction from around town didn’t support that.

“I didn’t realize there was a recall,” said 86-year-old Howard Robinson.

Robinson has lived in and around Silt for the better part of 50 years. He currently lives just outside of Rifle. But he wasn’t concerned with the recall. He was more concerned with why the state of Colorado still participates in daylight saving time.

“I don’t like this damn time change the way it is,” he said as he pumped gas into his Dodge truck at Tim’s Tools Hardware and Sporting Goods on Main Street.

Others in town felt the same way about the recall election: Silt really hasn’t been abuzz with the subject.

Arshella Wight, a waitress at Steffie’s Place, said that the recall hasn’t been a hot topic at the restaurant.

“I haven’t heard anybody talking about it,” Wight said. “Not that I’ve heard everything, but what I’ve learned about it I’ve read in the newspaper.”

On the opposite side of town at the Studio Six Salon, owner Sarah Davis said that it’s not been much discussed at her establishment, either. But she’s partly to blame for that, she says.

“I tell people it’s off-limits, I don’t like to talk about it. Besides, we’ve got the weather to talk about,” Davis said as she looked to the wintry weather outside. “We don’t need to talk about (the recall).”

But even Town Clerk Sheila McIntyre hasn’t had many inquiries on the subject.

“I don’t know if people are self-educated on the issue or what is going on, but I’ve only had a handful of phone calls,” McIntyre said. “We are kind of a quiet little town anyway, and it hasn’t generated a lot of excitement. I think the news gets around good enough that people are aware of what is going on.”

Obviously, the comments in this story are only representative of a handful of people on the streets of Silt, on one particular morning. And even though the recall wasn’t a topic of discussion, that doesn’t mean that people aren’t thinking about it and that they haven’t made up their minds about what they are going to do come April 1.

“I’ve known Dave since I moved here in 1979. I voted for him, and I think he’s done a good job,” said James Carlton of Silt. “I know Rick, too.”

Carlton said that he hasn’t discussed the situation much at home with his wife or on the job site with his employees and co-workers. But he knows what his decision is and that is all that matters to him.

“I like Dave and what he’s done. He’s got my vote,” Carlton said.

And with a handshake, he got in his truck and drove down Silt’s damp Main Street into the gray skies of the day.

Contact John Gardner: 384-9114
jgardner@postindependent.com


Post Independent, Glenwood Springs, Colorado CO