It is the Commissioners’ role to guide efficient, effective, and economically viable development and to take advantage of existing municipal areas while protecting historical and valuable agricultural, forests and open space areas. County population growth, economic sustainability and environmental protection needs require well thought-out community strategies and implementation, collaboratively developed by local governments, non-profits, and for-profit businesses. The Land Use Code and County Comp Plan guide decision making. I plan to follow the Land Use Code, Comp Plan and common sense: Keep County, County and Towns, Towns. In doing so, this will allow us to: Prioritize people living and working in the County as growth needs are addressed via managed development Continue protection activities and improve the environment: forests, wildlife, water and agricultural lands Support business growth and diversification that offers careers and livable incomes for individuals and families

Our Land Use Code(LUC) is critical to sustaining the environment, protecting and enabling access to outdoor activities, opening housing moratoriums, supporting Common Ground initiatives, Comprehensive Plan strategies, and preserving our community character. Land use clarity is important to achieving Community goals and enabling developers, real estate, etc. to operate as efficiently as possible. I will work in collaboration with housing non-profits and developers to provide that clarity and understand the integration and implication of codes on key community growth areas. That being said, I strongly believe in Landowner rights and I will fight for your rights. Those rights are protected in the US Constitution (Article 5) and State Constitution plus legal precedent. Any property subject to eminent domain proceedings has many alternatives to avoiding the government taking the property. Should this occur the landowner is entitled to fair market value. If that value is not established fairly/properly the landowner can recover triple damages. The LUC update has taken a long time and continues to be revised. As a legal document getting community buy-in should be facilitated by a ‘translation’ of the code into understandable terms and decision rules. If this can be done and community meetings held in time for commissioner approval by 12/31/24, great. If not, I support extending the approval until the community understands the updates and the impact on their businesses and property.

Elections are expensive. A local county commissioner campaign's radio budget alone is about $7500. One quarter-page ad in The Mountain Mail is $250. Mailings are expensive ands are yard signs. PLEASE consider a $100 donation. You'll probably spend that on dinner out this year. Dave has done SO much for our community, please consider supporting his campaign. —Thanks You.

My engineering degree, MBA in finance, and decades long career in project management will benefit the residents of Chaffee County to ensure oversight of tight budgets and expected outcomes. Locally, I played a pivotal role in raising the money and political support to secure Colorado Mountain College in Chaffee County. Before that, I lead the campaign for new Salida High School built in 2012. Both campaigns required careful listening, strategic thinking, building bridges, and dedication to the common good.

In Chaffee County there are roughly 4000 Democrats, 4000 Republicans and 8000 unaffiliated and Independent voters. If you look at my political history in the question above (Why are you running as a Democrat), you'll see how well I align with that pragmatic middle in our county.

Chaffee County citizens have expressed opinions about environmental issues, specifically the return of a County recycling program. The current Chaffee County Commissioners have addressed this as a priority and are currently looking for solutions. Before deciding to run for Commissioner in early 2024 I helped my son, John Armstrong, develop a recycling business model for rural communities. As a Chaffee County Commissioner, I will always be transparent if there is a conflict of interest and I will, as needed, recuse myself from a vote on this issue.

I was a co-founder of Pinto Barn Holdings, where we envisioned creating a corporate campus for Pinto Barn Inc. and its brands, one of which is Don’t Go Nuts, a producer of locally made nut-free bars and spreads. We approached the city with our vision and inquired about available land in Chaffee County, as anyone can do. The land purchase underwent a public review process that lasted several weeks and included multiple (open to public) meetings. This land was purchased privately by Pinto Barn Holdings and was not funded by the city or county. Don’t Go Nuts employed up to 40 local people for years, creating jobs and generating tax revenue in Chaffee County. When Pinto Barn Inc.’s majority shareholders took control of the business and the vision for the campus became unfeasible, the co-founders of Pinto Barn Holdings sold the land. There were no city-imposed restrictions regarding who could buy the land or how it should be sold if the Pinto Barn Inc. campus did not materialize. The Pinto Barn Holdings team chose a local developer with a vision to create affordable housing. It felt like the right fit and 40+ housing units have been built on the site.

I am a proud member of the CMC Board of Directors, where decisions are made and communicated as a team. CMC has been a remarkable success, and continues to exceed expectations, after 5 years in the Salida school district. In the 2023-2024 school year, CMC served over 180 concurrent enrollment students and 194 community members taking courses. Additionally, CMC awarded 1 bachelor's degree, 5 associate's degrees, and 36 certificate degrees. CMC’s Business Internship program engaged over 60 local high school students in opportunities to investigate possible career paths and support local businesses. Local businesses, via a state-funded work-based learning program, received over $80K in support funding for internship programs. As a local taxing district, like fire departments, libraries, etc., CMC follows well established state law regarding taxing processes. Thus at the start in 2020 CMC used 2019 assessment values to set 2020 taxes paid. Local taxpayers did not pay taxes to CMC in 2019. Regarding the nursing program at HRRMC, COVID discontinued the certification of any new programs by the State. Subsequently programs by CMC in Steamboat, Spring Valley and Breckenridge produce nursing candidates augmented by Pueblo and Adams State programs. HRRMC is not currently set up to conduct clinical training for nursing students. Locally CMC is focused on nursing assistants(CNA’s), Phlebotomists, radiology techs and lab techs to support HRRMC’s staffing needs CMC will continue to partner with HRRMC on growth and service needs. Should I be elected as a Chaffee County Commissioner, I will resign from my CMC Board position.

Nancy Dominic’s letter to the editor in The Mountain Mail called out Dave Armstrong as responsible for making decisions about "building Salida High School and Longfellow Elementary School, while deceiving the community." FACT: In 2010, when the SHS bond was passed, Dave Armstrong was a newcomer to Salida who did not have children attending school. Dave saw the benefit and chose to be a campaign leader. FYI, Dave was not involved in the elementary school election, as stated by Ms. Dominic. FACT: Decisions regarding the new high school were made by a bi-partisan school board that worked in conjunction with a bi-partisan staff, and communicated on a regular basis with dozens of fact-sharing meetings with a bi-partisan community. FACT: In 2009, as reported in Mt Mail articles, the first proposal to improve our schools included remodeling and expanding both high school and elementary school at the same time. Both the community and the state’s BEST grant committee rejected this plan referencing a concern that the plan placed band-aids on buildings that were no longer safe, efficient, or functional. After another round of community meetings, the school board heard the community’s preference to replace the high school. FACT: When the 2019 Republican candidate for Chaffee County Commissioner, an individual who was on the Salida School Board from 2008 -2013 and supported the building of both SHS and elementary school, neither Ms. Dominic nor anyone from her party complained about his role nor blamed him for not being more forthcoming. FACT: We ALL benefit from these high school and elementary schools that were built. It’s not fair or factual to twist details from over 10 years ago and be selective and partisan. FACT: Community infrastructure requires taxes; nothing is for free. Salida has thrived due to these decisions. Your property value has increased due to these decisions. You have benefited. In a community, we all must compromise a bit for the common good. Processes rarely go from point A to point B with perfection or ease. Lack of trust in officials is often not about trust, but rather an issue of constituents not getting their way. Next time you are enjoying watching your children or grandchildren on the SHS basketball court or experiencing the Salida Aspen Concerts, be grateful. Thank Dave Armstrong, for his dedication to education and willingness to lead! —The Armstrong Team (Thanks to Stacey Follet, long-time staff Speech-Language Pathologist in Salida's Schools)

I recently learned from Ark Valley Voice reporting that the majority of Chaffee County’s workforce is traveling 50-60 miles a day for work. This is not sustainable. I see a multiple 3 prong approach needed here: We need to focus on (affordable/attainable) housing development near/inside existing municipalities, Encourage municipalities to better support alternative modes of travel to/from work, shopping, and recreation, expanding and easing pressure on downtown parking areas. Work on creating alternatives to auto/truck traffic in high density areas by collaborating with CDOT and local municipalities to best use our budgeted resources.

It's an extension of the work I have been doing for the last 15 years to help create a better quality of life for people in Chaffee County. Also, with all the growth, we need to get some thing done at a faster pace.

Attainable/affordable housing is a critical need in the County. As Chaffee County Commissioner, I will support increasing the financial resources pool across housing programs by leveraging grants with both State and Federal Government. I plan to work with the non-profit housing teams and community to develop a model for Municipal and County housing needs, including alternatives for density and type of building needed to accelerate supply and meet needs of various AMI levels. Improve, reduce and implement more flexible, efficient entitlement processes to lower development costs. The coordination and leadership for these efforts should start with the Chaffee Housing Authority(CHA). The County needs a focal point to drive change and improvement in housing supply. CHA/Chaffee Housing Trust have a foundation to start making progress yet need financial improvements to move forward. Improvements in processes and pathways to results can/will happen as funding and learnings are incorporated into progress made. Thus I am voting FOR 6A and 6B.

Workforce Development Programs aligned with business and economic objectives. Supporting education as a foundation for a sustainable community. Respect for individual rights​.

The role of the Chaffee County commissioner should be and is to support our Police and Sheriff Departments with funding so that training, staffing, and resources meet the needs of the municipalities and County. I plan to support coordination needs between departments, State and Federal law enforcement to ensure our county can provide adequate safety and respond to needs as our population grows. School security and safety are a priority of mine.

We have hardworking parents who cannot find local childcare options. These individuals are leaving our community. I plan to lead and support initiatives, actions, and achieve results that rapidly increase childcare options by actively working with the Chaffee County Early Childhood Council. I will support business models for licensed and living-wage teachers to staff childcare facilities, and monitor county demands. I will partner with private entities to accelerate progress and implement current, leading technologies for materials reuse and energy generation I will explore and implement feasible alternatives for production of salable, reusable products from diverted materials

Over four decades of civic engagement, I’ve been registered as an Independent. I’ve voted for many Republicans, Independents, and Democrats—Locally and nationally. I simply cannot support the MAGA movement. Apparently, being a fiscal conservative and social progressive is rare in 2024. I consider myself a non-partisan collaborator, and I’ve always championed leaders who put community before party or ideology. I celebrate volunteerism, and I’m happy to represent all ideas that focus on good outcomes for the community. The Chaffee Democrats are good people and offered support for my campaign.

What I hear and see is the need for attainable housing for families and seniors, educational opportunities for all, workforce development, resilient sustainable environmental practices for land and water, and support of small business including an improved broadband. I am not only aware of these issues, I face these challenges along with my multi-generational family who run businesses and are raising children of their own.