Dear Grant and the Citizens of Hinsdale County,

As a former resident yet still current business and property owner in Hinsdale County, I would like to raise my concern over what I perceive as a lack of emphasis of a very specific elected Office in Hinsdale County, which is up for grabs in exactly 50 days as I write this. That is, the Office of the Sheriff. To be very clear, it is NOT a “Sheriff’s Department”, nor is it a small wooden building on Henson St. which has a job opening for a new boss.
It was decided by citizens across much of this country to have the people select the best person (and his deputies) to protect their families, livelihoods, and property, along with their Constitutional Rights, against criminals and any/all of those who do not follow the law. The Sheriff does NOT report to the BOCC, the Sheriff reports to the citizens, period.
Among many other things, the Sheriff is the chief law enforcement official of his/her county, to include over anyone at the federal level. Colorado Revised Statutes 30-10-501 spells it all out. Despite Hinsdale County still being the most remote county in the lower 48 states with its very small population, its reputation for having wonderful people and even most visitors, we live in an extremely questionable world.
As someone who obtained his CO Peace Officer Certification in 2014 and who has been with several CO law enforcement agencies, to include HCSO, I can attest to the fact that any/all things can and WILL happen in Hinsdale County. Just look back to 1994 when Sheriff Coursey was murdered during a traffic stop, and that was “back in the day”.
Today, and in my opinion, we are playing with fire if we do not take very seriously who the next Sheriff should be. I just please ask that we educate ourselves and make the best voting decision possible. While CRS 30-10-501 spells it all out, it is also antiquated in several areas. That one area is the elected Sheriff is not required to have prior law enforcement experience.
As a cop myself, I cannot reiterate how reckless it would be to vote for anyone who does not have LE experience. Further, please consider the other patriots who currently and selflessly serve the Office of the Sheriff of Hinsdale County: Bobbi McDonald, sworn & CO POST Certified Deputies Mark Zeckser and Sarah Poet, and the list of sworn/non-POST certified Deputies, Rick Hernandez, Lt Col John Bonner, Keith Chambers, and Kelly Elkins who have tirelessly and voluntarily served the county for many years. Please, please keep them in mind as you cast your vote in 50 days. Anyway, in these modern and uncertain times, we need an educated, smart, integrity-driven, and selfless patriot to lead the next Office of the Sheriff. And that person is your current Undersheriff Denim Starnes.
He truly has the heart of a servant. Denim is educated with two degrees, 17 years of law enforcement experience, and is a man who you can trust, along with his staff, to keep everything you care about, to include your Constitutional Rights, secure and safe.
So, please get out and vote and let us not be careless with who we are voting for. Finally, I want to sincerely thank Sheriff Ron Bruce for, once again, sacrificing what should be HIS time to be the Sheriff until the next competent law enforcement-experienced patriot is elected.

_{Thank you.
Jim Hunsicker}