To The Publisher and Editor
We take issue with several statements in your commentary of November 20. Ranchers are civic-minded individuals interested in serving their communities. Their representation on the Humboldt County Commission is at the pleasure of all the voters in Humboldt County.
As to your concern about ranchers/miners being over-represented on the County Commission: isn’t it a fact that anyone in Humboldt County can run for election? And isn’t it a fact that anyone can vote as they please?
In our 80 years in this county, we have not heard our local newspaper carry on such a tirade against ranchers and miners. We find it extremely worrisome you imply we “seek office for personal reasons.” It is short-sighted and naive to believe that the sage grouse issue is only a rancher/miner issue. Sage grouse regulations are already impacting the building of schools in Washoe County. Could new development in Winnemucca be impacted? Surely. Is challenging the legality of current sage grouse mapping not in the interest of our urban citizens?
In addition, we do not believe it is your place to attempt to slant readers’ thoughts with your personal view that “ranchers may have good cause to mistrust federal land managers.” Those of us who work with BLM and USFS personnel work hard to maintain good relations. We are aware of the pressures they face from special interest groups who do not fully understand the impact of their actions on the health of public lands. Keeping rural representation on the County Commission is in everybody’s best interest.
Buster & Linda Dufurrena
Denio
