A new candidate has entered the race for Montezuma County commissioner, bringing a Democratic voice to a field that so far has included only Republicans.
Rebecca Busic, a Montezuma County resident and community organizer, says voters deserve a choice when they head to the polls next November.
“There have been four Republicans that have announced so far,” Busic said. “And I think when people vote next November in this county, they deserve to have a choice.”
Busic says her professional background isn’t in government, but in organizing — including work on a previous county commissioner campaign.
“I got involved originally actually working on MB McAfee’s campaign for the same district for county commissioner in 2018,” she said. “My profession is a community organizer, so I help people all over the country run for small local offices. I also help with community surveys and that sort of thing.”
Economic issues are central to Busic’s decision to run. She argues the county needs new revenue and says current leadership hasn’t done enough to engage a changing community.
“I think the economy is my overarching issue,” she said. “Our current commissioners have not been able to pass a sales tax, which I think our county desperately needs some way to create new revenue. I don’t think they talk to everyone in the community. This community has changed, and we need people who can talk to other groups beyond the traditional ones.”
Busic also criticized U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd’s recent vote on federal legislation, saying it could affect local health care funding.
“I am extremely disappointed in Jeff Hurd and his vote that could be detrimental to our hospital,” she said. “That bill would make it harder for folks to access Medicaid, which I believe is about a quarter of the revenue for our hospital.”
On land and water issues, Busic voiced support for the Dolores River National Conservation Area, describing the process behind it as long and collaborative.
“It was created over many, many years, and it’s nonpartisan,” she said. “It doesn’t make any one group happy, but I think it meets the needs of that river and many groups in this area.”
She added that she prefers keeping water decisions local, rather than tied to federal designations.
Looking ahead, Busic says her campaign will focus on listening and moving forward.
“I want to hear from everybody,” she said. “I think we can take a new direction. I don’t want to focus on the past — I want to look forward and make decisions that are best for everyone here in Montezuma County.”
