Last month, Bob Null, a write-in candidate for county commissioner, wrote an article about his reasons for running for the office and his visions for the future. This month, Jim Day talked to the NFH about his goals as a write in candidate.Day actually had his name in the hat a while back alongside Margaret Radford and Douglas Bruce and a few others who were vying for the Republican Party’s nod as their official candidate. Douglas Bruce eventually received his party’s nomination, but Radford and Day pursued primary ballot placements through the signature gathering process. Radford hired signature gatherers, and Day asked fellow Republican friends and relatives to help. Although Day’s helpers secured the required number of signatures, many were invalid because the signers were either registered Democrats or independents. The signers were naive, or didn’t understand the process or thought they were registered, Day said.Radford won her quest to be on the primary ballot, but, in August, Bruce defeated her.Defeat by signatures or Republican Party snobbery has not stopped Day from again jumping on board as a write-in candidate for District 2 county commissioner.The former U.S. Army sergeant, owner of Farmer Jim’s and cattle rancher from Rush is determined to win the hearts and votes of eastern El Paso County voters. And his No. 1 premise for running: He wants to represent the people, not the party.Day believes that the job of the county commissioner is to be a strong voice for the people – and his people happen to be those who live on the eastern plains – his neighbors. Day said he would equally represent the entire district. He said the issues are similar from city to county, but the eastern plains have never had equitable representation.While many candidates are throwing stones at each other, Day prefers to stick to the issues. And the issues, Day said, are health department concerns, i.e. having enough money for leach field inspections; roads, water and resident safety and security. Day aligns with smart growth, which means putting the plans down on paper and assessing resources, like water and infrastructure, and figuring in the necessary services like fire, police, schools and parks and recreation, before making decisions.Day disagrees with government certificates of participation (COPs), which allow financing for projects that voters have already turned down. “They are borrowing the money and renting the projects, even though the taxpayers have said no,” Day said.”Everything the commissioners do affects this whole community. We need someone to work with all of the commissioners – it takes three of us to get something done.”I am one of us – it’s not about me – it’s about us. I want to work to change the bureaucracy, to be the people’s voice.”
