A Democrat has not been elected in the race for county commissioner since 1974. But Stanley Hildahl is up to the challenge.Hildahl is a native of Iowa where he grew up on a farm. He earned his bachelor of arts in English from the University of Iowa in 1972, and then studied information technology in Maine. He served in the U.S. Army in Korea and Vietnam. Married to his wife Gail for over 35 years, they moved to southeast Falcon in 1995. They have two children: a daughter, Jessica, who is a graduate of the Air Force Academy, and son Trond, who is a programmer living in California.Hildahl describes himself as an issue-driven, socially compassionate, fiscally conservative Democrat. Thoughtful and soft-spoken, he is an enigma in the often-ugly world of politics. He is a Veterans of Foreign Wars life member, a 30-year NRA (National Rifle Association) member, an AARP member, an active member of the Electronic Freedom Frontier (EFF) and also supports Planned Parenthood and the ACLU. While seemingly paradoxical, Hildahl sees his views as consistent. “I believe in the Constitution of the United States, and that includes the first and second amendments,” Hildahl said. “I cannot compromise on the Constitution.”An unlikely politician, Hildahl threw his hat in the ring when he went to two Democrat caucuses and was the only one who showed up. To add to his dismay, there were at least two dozen Republicans meeting across the hall. When he entered the room reserved for the Democrats, he said, “I turned on the lights and then turned off the lights when I realized I was the only one who was going to attend,” said Hildahl.The complacency of fellow party members angered him so he signed up as precinct chair; instead, he decided to enter the District 2 county commissioners’ race. “The main reason I am running for District 2 county commissioner is what I call the irritation factor,” Hildahl said. “I am upset with the “OZ” aspect of the board of commissioners. What is the entity behind the curtain that pulls the strings to bizarre machinations that have a huge impact on services and debt? Why is there an apparent lack of open process? Is the thriving good-ole-boy network a result of not having a Democrat on the board for 30 years?”Hildahl believes the two most important issues facing El Paso County are water and infrastructure. “Whether you get water from the mountain streams or from a stressed aquifer, it’s a big issue,” Hildahl said. He favors a hydrologic study to determine whether the aquifers are in fact, in trouble. “Infrastructure deserves much more attention than it is currently receiving,” Hildalh said. “I am not anti-growth. However, regional transportation, roads, bridges and health care are all areas of concern, if El Paso County wants to continue to develop as it has over the last ten years. These issues must be addressed prior to and as part of any comprehensive development plan, if future development is to be sustainable.”Hildahl also believes in separation of church and state. “Decisions should be made on issues with fundamental fairness and equality, based on merit and the common good of all citizens,” he said. “You need only to look at Israel and Palestine to see what happens when government mixes with religion.” Hildahl was raised as a strict Lutheran but refuses to discuss his current religious beliefs or affiliations. “It’s not relevant to the commissioner’s race,” he said.Hildahl believes government should be open and transparent. “Voters should not be left wondering what is happening behind closed doors,” he said. He opposes certificates of participation (COPs) as a funding mechanism. “When COPs are used, money comes out of the health department, parks and recreation and roads,” Hildahl said. “I believe in lean government and fiscal responsibility. However, government has a responsibility to provide services to its citizens. Without police, fire, infrastructure, etc., citizens would revolt,” said Hildahl.As the November election draws closer, Hildahl looks forward to debating Douglas Bruce, the Republican candidate, in an open forum. “I am not a politician or very charismatic,” Hildahl said, “but I do care deeply about the issues facing El Paso County, and I hope I can get that across to the voters.”
