THANK YOU LIONS CLUB!

Peaks ‘n Pines Quilt Guild Members want to thank the Fraser River Valley Lions Club for their support.  The Guild received a grant from the Lions Club Foundation at their Annual Awards Luncheon on September 18.  Peaks ‘n Pines Quilt Guild has 72 members representing all communities in Grand County. The Guild members volunteer their time to create and make quilts for charitable causes within the  county. The Grant monies enable us to purchase fabric and supplies to make the quilts. Thanks!

The Members of Peaks ‘n Pines Quilt Guild

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How to market a down ballot candidate

Appearing on the ballot as the Democratic candidate for County Clerk and Recorder has taught me humility. On the primary ballot I looked enthusiastically for my name and then found it way at the bottom, sandwiched somewhere between the county coroner and surveyor.

I thought about my own decision-making process involved in completing a ballot and thought how I use the same processes to make a shopping list and then do the shopping at the supermarket.

At the top of the ballot are presidents, governors and senators. The top of my shopping list are fruits and vegetables. I think about walking into Citi Market and begin my shopping in the produce section. The produce area is usually the most crowded. Here I watch other people carefully checking each choice. Some folks are experts with clever tricks to evaluate the freshness and quality of every purchase. I think many people place the same effort and attention to the top part of the ballot as well.

The next level of the ballot has the State seats. representatives, senators, state treasurer and the lot. This is the next area of the supermarket. Not as busy as produce, but you will still find many shoppers in the meat department carefully making choices. If you look carefully you will see their brains calculating price per pound equations and making visual evaluations as to the quality of the cut, sorting through packages, looking for the perfect portion. I personally tend to choose my state representatives in the same way.

Below this level are the ballot choices for Colorado State Board of Regents, miscellaneous soil, water and county commissioners.  This is my equivalent to the dairy section. Not ever as crowded as the produce and meat department. People make these choices quick and decisive, then rush off to the next part of the shopping list and ballot. You can almost feel the “shoppers’ fatigue” setting in. The look on their faces say “I have been here long enough, and I want to finish this thing off.”

Now we are at the ballot choice of the County Clerk and Recorder. Or based on the shopping list, the toilet paper aisle.  The first thing you will notice is the aisle is empty, no one is around. The most regrettable item a person could forget, something we all use and zilch, nada, not a soul in sight. If someone does come by you will notice that with laser focus they quickly pull off the shelf the old reliable brand. Why would you run an election against that?

I believe there is only one viable opening for a new candidate. That is if the voters feel the incumbent has not done a good job. Let’s face it, we all know how disgusting it feels to use bad government. I won’t be vulgar and describe all the ways government can fail. It takes only one bad experience for a consumer to change their mind about a toilet paper brand. However, I am surprised at how much abuse a voter will take from an elected official.

We already know these down ballot shoppers don’t want to spend a lot of time evaluating a replacement option. I can now fully appreciate the intricacies of the branding and marketing of bathroom tissue. As a down ballot candidate, you get about 7 seconds to sell your brand (remember what aisle you’re in.) It must be short, concise and relevant. The whole thing, in bold lettering must fit on the wrapper space of a four-roll pack or about ½ of a yard sign. Much like toilet paper, the challenged incumbent will supply the directive for the competing candidate. Simply commit to do well what they didn’t.

Be strong and absorbent           = Good customer service that is both helpful and friendly

Be soft and fit my dispenser     = Be convenient and oriented for all constituents

Fair price for the quality     =    Be honest, fair and ethical

I have spoken to over one hundred people, attended 3 parades and attended many gatherings and meetings. I find myself repeating my commitment to: customer service, convenience and honest, fair and ethical elections. I have not had anyone disagree with my vision, even those who don’t really like me. I find it interesting how few people actually ask, “how do you plan to do all that?” I guess it has a lot to do with the aisle we are in.

Martin Woros

Candidate for County Clerk and Recorder