Gerald “Jerry” Whited has announced his candidacy for the Montezuma County Board of County Commissioners.
Whited has worked with the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe for 14 years, including recent years as public safety director. He says proper county funding, water sustainability, positive tribal relations and public safety are his priorities if elected commissioner.
He added that he wants to promote dialogue and unity during polarizing times.
“If I get elected as commissioner, I’d like to be able to cross those bridges and say, ‘Hey, we’re here for everyone and we got to make the county better for everybody.’”
Whited, who shared his candidacy at the Montezuma County Republicans meeting Thursday, joins three other candidates for the District 1 seat: Brett Likes, Bonnie Anderson and Diane Fox-Spratlen.
The seat is held by Jim Candelaria, whose two-term limit ends in November 2026. He was elected in 2018, and reelected in 2022.
The other two commissioners remain in office.
District 2 Commissioner Kent Lindsay was reelected in 2024 after a 2020 term, having served from 1997 to 2005. District 3 Commissioner Gerald Koppenhafer was elected in 2024 after serving two terms from 2004 to 2012.
Throughout his career in various public safety roles, Whited has been both a firefighter and paramedic. He’s an emergency manager and sits on the board of the Montezuma County Hospital District. He’s also been on the Dolores Planning and Zoning Board.
“He knows his politics, he knows how to manage a budget and he knows how to lead,” said Scott Anderson, another MCHD board member as well as a longtime firefighter and emergency manager for the county and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe.
“As a paramedic and first responder, he's able to take charge of a scene,” Anderson said. “He's very well known in the community. He can't go shopping in Walmart without people saying, ‘Hi, Jerry.’”
Whited said he moved to Montezuma County about 14 years ago and advanced through public safety roles with the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe during that time.
Opening up more intergovernmental dialogue with the tribe is a priority, he said.
A concerning trend of public safety issues facing the county prompted his run, including detention center challenges, mental health concerns and funding disputes between the sheriff’s office and commissioners, he said.
“Whether it’s tourism or people moving here, if people don’t feel safe here, people don’t come here.”
Whited said he’d like to encourage other funding sources, including revisiting a countywide public safety sales tax.
Property owners alone, especially ranchers and farmers, shouldn’t foot the bill for county services, he said.
“They can’t be handcuffed anymore by just being taxed and taxed and taxed.”
Tourism dollars could also help fund a countywide sales tax, especially if visitors use local services, he said.
Advocating at the state and federal level for water security is another priority, he said.
In the past, Whited ran as a candidate for the Dolores School Board, the Dolores Board of Trustees and as Dolores Mayor.
Whited said his desire to run for the commissioner seat stems from neighborly values.
“I miss when a handshake and your word meant something,” he said. “It shouldn’t matter; you just help your neighbor. You can have different opinions of your neighbor, you can have different feelings, but when someone’s struggling, you reach out and help.”
Whited said any curious county residents who want to reach out and talk can do so via his cell number: (970) 570-8315.
