Guest Author: Joyce Hines-the Republican View

Please welcome guest author Joyce Hines 1st Vice Chair of the Park County Republican Central Committee. A version of this article also appeared in The Flume September 4, 2023.

In the 2022 General Election the Voters of Park County decisively voted for Dave Wissel as our County Commissioner in District 3. Our citizens wanted to see Park County return to our Constitutional foundations of limited government, personal responsibility, and lower taxes. The radical left at the national and state level have recklessly spent our country into oblivion and now they want to cast blame on anyone but themselves and force the hardworking middle class to bail them out by raising taxes in every aspect of our lives. If we are not careful, we will be in the same situation at the county level fending off an effort to eliminate TABOR and new bureaucracies. Whether it’s an outright tax or a hidden tax we are feeling it every day at the grocery store, the gas pump or more recently in our property taxes. Dave stood up and said “NO, not in this County”, he was willing to run and now serve as our County Commissioner and fight against the radical left machine that floods into our County every day. Dave has stood with and supported our other County Commissioner, Amy Mitchell, who was also elected to support our conservative principles and values. I wish I could say the same for Dick Elsner, voted in as a Republican Commissioner, he has henceforth chosen to support the radical left machine. Which he confirmed while campaigning for the Democrat Commissioner candidate in 2022. This soon led to the State GOP asking for his resignation as the GOP Treasurer. When interviewed by the Flume on Oct. 27, 2022, about this forced resignation, he defiantly said, “I feel great, I have absolutely no regrets”. Thankfully for us in Park County, his efforts to advance the radical left’s agenda in Park County were thwarted by the will of the Voters when they enthusiastically voted Dave Wissel into the Commissioner seat. In his short time in office, Dave has kept his promises in the face of loud opposition. He has helped block many of the ‘new programs’ and ‘tax hikes’ the radical left had intended had they won the majority vote in the BOCC. Dave Wissel is now able to speak for the taxpayers and defend their hard-earned money. Unfortunately, whether at the national or local level, the radical left throws lies and accusations at our Republican leaders trying to slander and destroy their reputations. We the American people are becoming well-versed with their tactics and understand the closer our Republican Leaders are to supporting truth and exposing their lies the louder and more obnoxious the radical left becomes. Why do I use the term ‘radical left’, it’s because I was raised a Democrat and held to their original principles. But as time has passed the Democrat party has been high jacked by the ‘radical left’. Now, the only voice supporting the middle class, small businesses, the family unit, limited government, and our founding values, is the Republican party. Dave Wissel fights for these principles and just as importantly he is willing to fight against the radical left’s agenda that is always assaulting our County and trying to obtain a stronger foothold. I am very thankful for Dave Wissel, who is willing to put himself forward as a public servant and to speak out loud his love for America, for Park County, and for our founding principles. Let’s follow his courageous example by unashamedly sharing with family, friends, and neighbors our love and support for this Country and its founding principles of faith, family, and freedom!!

Joyce Hines