Pitkin County commissioner candidates

For this primary election, voters can only choose one candidate. The two with the most votes advance to the November election, according to the Home Rule Charter. Greg Poschman, Scott Writer and Hawk Greenway, all longtime valley residents, are vying for the seat. It is currently held by Michael Owsley, who has to step down because of term limits.A polling place will be set up at the Aspen Jewish Community Center for early voting from June 20 to June 27. Ballots returned in the mail should be sent eight days prior to the election deadline — 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 28.

Tipton gets blowback on drilling bill

Aspen Public Radio

Published April 27, 2016 at 5:00 AM MDT

Representatives from the Wilderness Workshop and Thompson Divide Coalition had harsh words Tuesday for a proposed oil and gas lease swap. Meanwhile, Pitkin County commissioners expressed frustration that their input wasn’t considered in the latest proposal. Morgan Neely has more.

County officials received praise from conservationists in yesterday’s session for their work on protecting the Thompson Divide. Those same activists directed criticism towards a bill coming from Congressman Scott Tipton’s office. It would allow drilling in Delta County instead of the Divide.

Will Roush is conservation director for the Wilderness Workshop. He called the bill a “giveaway to industry,” and questions why it would eliminate the impact review process for new oil and gas leases.

Brian Meinhart is Tipton’s regional director and policy advisor. He said it’s impossible to know what America’s energy needs will be in 30 years.

“It could be that those resources are very much needed,” he said.

Zane Kessler, executive director of the Thompson Divide Coalition, said the bill fails to consider constituent input, which asks for permanent withdrawal of the leases.