Garfield County Commissioners and Library District Chairwoman Adrian Rippy-Sheehy interviewed eligible candidates for the library district trustee vacancy during a special public meeting Tuesday.

During the April 23 commissioners meeting, it was determined that eligible candidates would be defined as those who live in the 81650-zip code, which represents the Rifle area. Out of 17 letters of interest received, the list was narrowed down to 10. Two candidates submitted their letters late, two withdrew their interest in the position, and three were found to be living outside the Rifle area.

The interview session was open to the public but they were not allowed to participate in an effort to streamline the process and promote equal fairness to candidates. A group of protestors gathered outside with signs and wearing red in protest of the process, however no disruptions occurred.

Candidates who were interviewed were Deb Grizzle, Jaime Roark, Cherri Wall, Laura Colby, Trish O’Grady, Kristen Clancy, Hanna Arauza, Lydia LaBelle de Rios, and Myrna Fletchall. Another candidate, Marsha Weigum, failed to show when called by the commissioners.

Candidates were given a packet, which included the Garfield County Library Initiatives, and the Library Bill of Rights.

The two-hour interview session unfolded without incident as commissioners and chairwoman Rippy-Sheehy asked the same six questions to all the candidates. Each candidate had approximately 20 minutes and were also welcome to ask questions of the board. Each commissioner and Rippy-Sheehy asked two questions to each candidate.

The questions were:

• After reading the trustee packet of information, would you willingly abide there was a majority board decision and support them publicly even if you personally disagreed, and if you can please explain that.
• In your mind, what is the essence of the library bill or rights, and having read through that, would you be willing to uphold all these rights as a trustee for the board, and if not, which ones would you have difficulty supporting?
• What experience do you have serving on other boards or committees? If you are in the minority position on a board, or if you have been in a minority position on a board, how would you handle that?
• Federal law, Colorado law, and the Garfield County Library District’s bylaws require the library to protect children from material on the internet that is harmful to their beneficial development. Do you believe there should be the same reasonable policies for children’s access to books that are designated “for mature audiences only”?
• What has motivated. You to apply for this position, and do you understand the full commitment of the position? What would you like us to know beyond the information on your letter of interest?
• What are some of the strengths, skills, and talents you feel you could contribute to the board of trustees?

The candidates responded with candid answers to the questions. Overall, the candidates’ primary reason as to why they expressed interest in the position is for love of community, the library, and to be able to make a difference, if possible.

One candidate asked the commissioners why the process to choose a library district board member had been changed from previous years, and Commissioner John Martin responded.

“I don’t think that we altered it,” Martin said. “We took more of a hands-on approach in reference that it’s still within the guidelines that we have…is to appoint people. We also interview people. This just happens to be a little more formal interview and we felt that there needed to be more applicants so we could get a more rounded applicant base to make our choice. And that’s all we did.”

At the end of the interviews, Rippy-Sheehy asked the commissioners if she would be able to give the library board’s candidate selection to them for consideration when the deliberation and choice will take place.

Martin said she would be able to do so.

“You would make a choice to present to us to consider of an individual or individuals,” he said. “And we will deliberate and make our choice and then make the appointment. Otherwise, it would be a disservice and also a waste of your time as well as a lot of other people’s time without your input in the final decision.”

Martin said the final selection will be made on May 6. Deliberations will take place in public session on the same day.