Karyna Lemus is the Green Party candidate for county commissioner for District 2, and the two competing for the seat are polar opposites. In the Oct. 6 issue of The New Falcon Herald, Amy Lathen said she is ìdiametrically opposed to the entire Green Party platform.îLemus, who graduated with a degree in political science from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, also opposes Lathen on almost every issue, from natural gas exploration through fracking to renewable energy to the legalization of marijuana (Colorado Amendment 64).Lemus strongly objects to fracking, a method to extract natural gas. ìHydraulic fracking should be banned outright,î Lemus said. She said fracking has ìdetrimental effects on air, water and soil Ö and can even cause seismic activity.î According to the October issue of the NFH, Lathen said, ìNew technology has proven that this method can be done safely, and we have added regulations to make sure our ground water is safe.î ìFracking is not safe at all,î Lemus said. The methane gas released into the atmosphere by fracking is ì30 times more dangerous than carbon dioxide; and natural gas can hardly qualify as a clean fuel,î she said.ìSixty percent of all the wall casings built in the fracking process will leak after 20 years. The risks associated with this invasive practice are far too many to dismiss for the sake of momentary profit.î She also said that hydraulic fracking is exempt from the Clean Water Act. Lemus supports Colorado Springs Citizens for Community Rights, which is actively opposed to all fracking.Lemus said one of her top priorities is to create a favorable environment for renewable energy.ìDeveloping our renewable energy industry is economically viable and will help mitigate the climate change crisis,î she said. ìThe renewable energy industry creates jobs that are more resilient during recessions than those in the fossil fuel industry. Every $1 million invested in renewable energy creates 16.7 jobs, as opposed to just 5.3 jobs when invested in fossil fuels.îLemus also opposes residential ìsprawlî and ìunbridled growth, which results in the inefficient use of taxpayer money.î Sprawl means ìmore roads, longer commutes and environmental degradation,î she said.If Lemus is elected, she will create ìwalkable neighborhoods,î improve and increase public transportation and preserve open space and trails.She would also like to restrict the influx of out-of-state corporations that bring in their own employees because it ìdrives up the job demand, increases sprawl and increases uncontrolled growth,î Lemus said.ìI donít want to see local taxpayer money paying for the construction that keeps coming here with out-of-town corporations. I want to create incentives to buy locally and help our economy here. I want to see us keep our money circulating locally rather than leaking outwards.îSupporting local businesses is the best means of helping the local economy and improving the job situation in El Paso County, Lemus said. She advocates a ìbuy localî campaign. ìSwitching our purchasing to 25 percent local could increase county revenue by $138 million and create about 1,900 jobs,î she said. Lemus said she supports ìlocal credit unions, more farmers markets, local currency and barter systems; micro-loans for small businesses; worker-owned cooperatives and a vibrant local hemp industry.îCaution needs to be used with land use permits, she said. ìWe must use existing infrastructure as efficiently as possible without continuing the expansion further out east,î Lemus said. ìMixed land use must include more compact building design, increasing transportation choices, preserving open spaces and trails and developing walkable neighborhoods ñ which are all much more efficient uses of taxpayer money, and will save taxpayer money on public facilities and safety costs.îWhile Lathen is opposed to Amendment 64 (the legalization of marijuana), Lemus sees great potential with a vibrant hemp industry. ìThere are many, many uses for hemp,î she said. ìFrom fuel, to food and clothing ñ all are great potential business opportunities here locally. Imagine the possibilities.îLemus also said the legalization of marijuana will decrease crime, help the drug war and decrease the ìdisproportionate incarceration of minorities.îIn summarizing her overall position on issues, Lemus said, ìI support improving public transportation and schools, walkable neighborhoods and urban gardens; ending growth subsidies, social/job training programs and developing a buy local campaign for self-sufficiency through additional property taxes. Developing our renewable energy industry is economically viable and will help mitigate the climate change crisis.î
