Montrose - Daily Press

The House 58 District is as diverse as they come.

It features traditional farming and mining, national parks and tourism, the wealthy of Telluride, the poor migrant workers who toil the fields at harvest. It’s a mix of business owners, government employees, members of the service and construction industry – all with a vested interest in good, limited government and a hope to better their lives and families.

That said, it’s also unusual (and a blessing) to have two competent candidates vying to represent the district in the state legislature, Noelle Hagan of Montrose and Scott Tipton of Cortez. Our endorsement belongs to Ms. Hagan.

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We’ve seen Ms. Hagan grow as a citizen and public servant first-hand. She’s twice been elected to the Montrose city council and twice served as mayor. In the late 1990s, she was the director of the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative. This led to the creation of the Passage Charter School. These are two examples of not just raising one’s hand and serving of a board; rather, it’s taking a lead to enrich the lives of our citizens. Ms. Hagan also led a local initiative to build a new library for Montrose. It opened 10 years ago, has been a source of community pride, and it opened with no taxpayer debt. We’ve watched Ms. Hagan serve on a number of local boards regarding retail sales, education funding accountability, tourism and economic development, all with distinction.

The issues that she embraces include protecting and keeping Western Slope water where it belongs: on the Western Slope; a workable health care plan that includes preventive care and better health education. Ms. Hagan believes that public education needs to be supported with a greater commitment to teachers and local resources and less reliance on the bureaucracy of education.

We don’t know Mr. Tipton as well, and quite likely, that’s our fault. We do know he has campaigned energetically throughout our county. We know that he is a successful and personable businessman and entrepreneur who has given back to his home area by serving in a number of civic and political leadership roles.

Ms. Hagan has always struck us as a quick, and determined study of complicated issues and personalities, willing to seek compromise when necessary. We believe she will be an asset for us, and the rest of District 58 in Denver.

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