Authenticity disappears when candidates rely on AI

I think it’s past time to update our ethics to prioritize authenticity over appearance in our local elections. Not only for the candidates and voters, but for the example we set for the children watching us. Living in the Roaring Fork Valley, there are few topics I rank higher than environmental issues, one is the umbrella under which all matters pertaining to education and children reside.

While researching the 2025 Roaring Fork School District (A and E) Board of Directors candidates, I read the Post Independent’s Q&A series. I noticed inconsistencies between some written answers and candidates’ other public written materials. When I asked the Post whether the Q&A answers were recorded in person by a journalist or submitted electronically, I was told the latter. That raises an important question: How do we verify that these answers reflect each candidate’s unaided voice?

The purpose of the Q&A is to better understand who our candidates are and how they think. If that becomes questionable, don’t we risk teaching the next generation that authenticity is optional?

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Voters deserve to see candidates articulate their own thinking in their own words. Communication should outweigh the clever use of tools, because we’re electing people for how they think and what they can do. 

If students are assessed on their own words, why shouldn’t candidates be?

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A simple method I use to research authorship:

First, I look up prior public material authored by a candidate to compare (e.g., letters, op-eds, columns, etc.). Next, check for consistency of style across their writing (e.g., recurring phrases, verb choice, sentence length). Finally, find an unscripted live recording to get an idea of tone and style a candidate naturally uses.

My goal is to raise awareness and questions. Since the Q&A lacks reasonable assurance, that’s enough for a review. If voters can’t be assured that they’re hearing a genuine voice, then it’s worth addressing.

Matt New, Carbondale

Vote Yes on 7A: Investing in the Future of Colorado’s Western Slope

My husband and I have spent our careers serving the public — supporting health care and water security on Colorado’s Western Slope. Yet, when it came to finding childcare, we faced a challenge familiar to too many working families. For years, the only full-time option required commuting 30 minutes in the opposite direction of both home and work — adding two hours to our day. It took two and a half years before we finally found a spot close to home.

Colorado’s Western Slope is worth fighting for — from reliable health care and clean water to the quality of life and community spirit that make this region so special. But without affordable, consistent childcare, we risk losing the very people who keep our communities strong. Families will continue to leave for the Front Range or beyond, and our youngest residents will miss out on the early support they deserve.

That’s why Ballot Question 7A is a smart, forward-looking investment. It will help attract and retain qualified childcare professionals, expand access for families, and strengthen the backbone of our local workforce.

Join us in voting YES on 7A — to lift up our children, support our workforce, and secure the future of Colorado’s Western Slope.

Amy and Dustin Moyer, Glenwood Springs

Thanks from the Carbondale Bike Project

The volunteers and staff of the Carbondale Bike Project sincerely thank the Aspen Thrift Shop for awarding us 2025 grant funds for general operating support.

Your generosity directly strengthens our mission to keep bicycles out of landfills, provide educational opportunities for youth and the broader community, and ensure access to bikes for those in need.

The Carbondale Bike Project is run by dedicated volunteers and sustained through bike sales, donations and grants. Support from the Aspen Thrift Shop plays an essential role in maintaining our operations and expanding our community impact.

With appreciation,
Valerie Gilliam, Volunteer Administrator, Carbondale Bike Project

Megan Heil brings a builder’s mindset

Megan is not a career politician. She’s a small business owner who knows what it takes to build something from the ground up. That mindset — efficiency, problem-solving, accountability — is precisely what our schools need.

She’ll bring the same entrepreneurial spirit to the board, ensuring decisions are practical, effective and student-focused.

Vote for Megan Heil for the Re-2 School Board.

Lucy Maggard, Glenwood Springs

Transparency matters in education

One of the biggest frustrations in education today is a lack of transparency. Parents feel shut out, taxpayers feel left in the dark and trust erodes.

Megan Heil has pledged to keep communication open and honest. She believes families and community members should always know how decisions are being made and have their voices heard. That’s how trust is built — and she’s committed to it.

That’s why I’m voting for Megan Heil for the Re-2 School Board.

Shirley Starr, Rifle

Supporting Tamara Nimmo for Roaring Fork School District

As ballots for the Roaring Fork School District Board of Education election arrive this week, I urge our community to support Tamara “Tammy” Nimmo for District A.

I’ve known Tammy since my daughter started at Crystal River Elementary School two years ago, and I’ve seen time and again the thoughtfulness, dedication and heart she brings to our schools. Just this morning, after dropping my kids off, I circled back to school and found Tammy in the library — moving chairs and supporting CRES staff without fanfare or recognition. That moment captures who she is: someone who shows up, rolls up her sleeves and gives her time generously to make our schools better.

As a longtime community member, PTO president, substitute teacher and parent, Tammy understands what families and educators are facing. She believes in academic excellence, transparency and ensuring every student feels seen and supported. She listens, collaborates and works hard to strengthen our schools for everyone.

All district voters can cast their ballot for Tammy, no matter where they live. Ballots can be mailed back or dropped off locally, and Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4. Tammy also proudly supports Kathryn Kuhlenberg for District E, who shares her commitment to strong, inclusive schools.

Let’s make sure our schools have the leadership they deserve. Join me in voting for Tamara (Tammy) Nimmo for District A.

Lauren Forman, Carbondale

Experience counts in Re-2

I’ve seen two letters to the editor recently in which the authors said they support a Garfield Re-2 School Board candidate who will both keep politics out of school policy and usher in “conservative” values. I’m not sure how they don’t see the contradiction there. That’s literally championing a candidate based on political ideology for a nonpartisan position.

Regardless, it can be challenging to find enough information on local candidates to make an informed choice. So maybe this will make things clearer: If you liked Tony May as a school board member, you’ll like Megan Heil. If you, like the majority of Re-2 voters, supported the recall, then Darlane Evans will likely be more appealing to you.

And if you value applicable experience, you should know Darlane was a Garfield Re-2 teacher for 19 years. That’s why I’m voting for her.

Hanna Arauza, Rifle

Support inclusion on the library board

Three Garfield County Library District trustee positions will be filled by the Garfield County commissioners this fall. These trustees — representing Rifle, New Castle and Parachute — will make decisions that impact all county residents.

It’s essential we have trustees who comply with the law and the Constitution and support inclusion and full access to all library materials. If you share these principles, please consider applying for a trustee position; we need you to protect the welfare of our community.

On Monday, Oct. 27, county commissioners will begin filling these positions. Interviews for the interim Rifle trustee will be held at 9 a.m. in the Board of County Commissioners room at 108 8th St. in Glenwood Springs. It’s an open meeting that can be attended in person or online. Please wear red to show your support for a “well-read” community that welcomes diversity, supports open access to books and recognizes that parenting is the right and responsibility of parents — not government institutions.

Let the commissioners know their job is not to appease a small disruptive group but to respect the law and support the Constitution. You can do this by attending the meeting, calling or writing to them, or submitting letters to the editor.

Your support is essential for preserving the values on which our country is based. We need your help reminding commissioners that the First Amendment and other constitutional precepts cannot survive without open and full access to library materials.

Ellen Dole, Glenwood Springs