Dennis Bugg, who leads Montezuma County’s human resources department, says his decades of public service and insider view of county operations would allow him to move issues forward if elected to the county commission.
With a commissioner seat available in November’s election, Bugg enters a race that includes several other candidates. Six have declared their campaigns and are seeking placement on the Republican ticket, while Democrat Rebecca Busic has also announced her candidacy.
In an interview with The Journal to introduce and profile candidates, Bugg said he decided to run after working inside county government. He said he wants to continue the decision‑making he sees firsthand, from long‑range planning to how the county may approach a potential sales tax if it goes before voters and is approved.
“I think we have a lot coming up with possibly doing the sales tax and whether we do is going to generate two different directions paths of where this county really needs to go,” Bugg said.
He said two decades in public service and an administrative background mean a shorter learning curve. Bugg has lived in the area since 1978. His current role is human resources technician, a position he has held for two years. He spent 29 years in the fire service, including nine years as administrative deputy chief for the Farmington Fire Department. Additional experience, he said, comes from union negotiations where he has worked on “both sides of the table.”
“I've done budgets, I've done grants, I've done RFPs, I've built buildings, basically most of the things that they would have to talk to the divisions about. So, I feel I have a pretty good scope on how to have conversations with department heads,” Bugg said.
Bugg said that if elected, he hopes to improve public engagement in county decision‑making and strengthen internal dialogue within county departments.
“We definitely need to be doing more open meetings, where more of the public can attend and give their feedback because I think we're doing better, but I don't think we're getting out and getting enough contact on a regular basis,” he said.
He said projects are underway in the human resources department, including a pay‑scale study and edits to the employee handbook. He added that county officials are potentially discussing updates to the long‑term comprehensive plan.
“Some of the things are already starting to happen,” he said. “For me, it’s trying to foster the public relationship, and we need to do a much better job fostering internally as well and creating a better culture within our own county.”
He chose to run as an unaffiliated candidate because, he said, he does not want to feel tied to party alignment or pressured to decide on issues based on a party’s positions. He described himself as politically moderate, leaning Republican but not far‑right, and said he also agrees with some positions held by Democrats.
“For me, I don't care who brings it forward. I want to look at it full face value and see what the value is and what needs to happen. And so, for me, it's more just to represent everybody is why I am doing it,” he said.
Other candidates who have declared campaigns include Brett Likes, Diane Fox‑Spratlen, Rodney Cox, Gerald Whited, Shane Prentice and Bonnie Anderson. Undersheriff Tyson Cox has announced he is running without current opposition for sheriff.
