A crowd of several dozen gathered at the Dolores Community Center on Wednesday evening for a meeting between U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd and the Montezuma County Board of County Commissioners. But a last-minute cancellation turned the event into a spur-of-the-moment town hall, leaving locals frustrated by the congressman’s sudden no-show.
As the clock struck 6 p.m., Montezuma County Commissioner Jim Candelaria announced to the crowd that one of Hurd’s aides had a sudden medical emergency. Candelaria said Hurd would not be coming.
Attendees immediately questioned the sudden cancellation, asking whether Hurd’s visit would be rescheduled.
“Are you going to stand up for the people of your community who clearly want this meeting to happen and require our representative to meet with you?” one attendee asked the commissioner. The crowd applauded.
“We are his constituents and he’s blown us off once,” said another attendee.
Candelaria said the commissioners would do their best to urge Hurd to return for a town hall.
Several attendees made their discontent known by wearing large yellow stickers that read “PROTECT PUBLIC LANDS.” Others held signs reading “When do we get a TOWN HALL?”
Hurd has been criticized by locals for his stance on numerous issues, chief among them his willingness to open up public lands to industry.
A public notice for Hurd’s visit with the commissioners was initially announced on Monday. However, an additional notice posted on Facebook Wednesday morning clarified that “the public is welcome to attend, but there will not be an opportunity for public comment or questions.”
Hurd’s offices did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Journal about the cancellation.
For about an hour, the commissioners listened and responded as attendees voiced concerns, including issues they wanted relayed to the congressman.
Hurd attracted some negative attention in February when his regional director, Naomi Dobbs, did not show up to a public meeting at the Dolores Public Library.
Hurd did meet in January with the Disabled American Veterans at Project Outreach in Cortez, in addition to the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute tribes.
As recently as April, after about 100 days in office, he attended a Montezuma County commissioners meeting with a reportedly low turnout. He then visited the La Plata County commissioners and engaged with a crowd of protesters.
“I hope to have a town hall before long,” Hurd told The Durango Herald at the time. “I think we just need to make sure that it’s the right time and place and that it’s going to be something that allows for a dialogue and back-and-forth, rather than just shouting.”
As the hour went on, the commissioners took time to answer questions and hear out several attendees.
Commissioner Candelaria said that the planned meeting with Rep. Hurd was intended to be an open-ended discussion, meant to address such issues as on the National Conservation Area designation for the Upper Dolores.
Much of the conversation turned to how changes made in the federal government reach the local level, impacting the people of Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District.
“Change is coming at us like a fire hose,” said one attendee. “The level of changes we’re being asked to absorb are completely overwhelming.”
Some brought up access to health care and food security in the county. Passed in early July, the One Big Beatiful Bill Act, which Hurd voted on in Congress, includes cuts to both federal health care and food aid.
At times, the commissioners pointed out the challenges shared by everyone in the County, whether as elected officials or residents.
“We’re in distress too,” said Commissioner Kent Lindsay. “We’re short of money. We’ve got 27 department to feed.”
Lindsay said that the biggest budget priorities are law enforcement and roadways. But coming up with the money to pay for everything remains a challenge, he said.
While the hour wrapped up, tensions appeared to ease. Some people left. Others attendees expressed gratitude to the commissioners.
“Thanks again for spending time for all our questions and creating space for us,” one person said, emphasizing the PROTECT PUBLIC LANDS sticker worn by many present.
“I feel like you guys know well about the value of public lands to our community, our culture, our identity.”
