Dear Editor,

When I heard Tresi Houpt was running for County Commissioner of Garfield County, I called her to ask if I could pass out her campaign literature in Battlement Mesa where I live. She made a date to come to our home in Battlement Mesa and walk door to door with me in our neighborhood. If people invited us in to their home, she graciously accepted and listened to their concerns. It was a rewarding experience meeting old and new neighbors, and watching Tresi with her full attention to them.

A few days later, there was a meeting at the Mesa Vista Living Center of the Grand Valley Citizens Alliance which Tresi again came down to. I was very impressed with the knowledge this committee had of the oil and gas workings. Tresi not only listened, she agreed that it was very important to have a full-time person overseeing and cooperating with the drilling, etc., of such an important industry of the Western Slope. I doubt that that person would have to have a salary of $100,000 a year as I heard Walt Stowe say at a gathering of candidates Oct. 9, 2002.

We need new ideas implemented like solar and wind energy, and more and better recycling, of which Tresi is already involved.

Tresi Houpt made an effort to make sure we residents of the western part of Garfield County are not neglected in the future.

Sincerely,

Patricia A. Tonozzi

Parachute