Shane Prentice, a rancher and local pastor, announced his candidacy for the Montezuma County Commission, becoming the sixth candidate in the race for next fall’s open seat.
“I want to maintain the freedoms and the way of life of Montezuma County,” Prentice said in an interview with The Journal. “Our commissioners have worked hard to ensure that we aren't burdened by laws and regulations. I would like to continue that.”
Prentice said he believes current commissioners have done a good job overall but wants to change how county government engages the public. He said he’s running to improve public involvement and protect quality of life in the county.
Up for grabs in next November’s election is commissioner Jim Candelaria’s District 1 seat. Commissioners Kent Lindsay and Gerald Koppenhafer will remain in office. So far, Republicans Brett Likes, Bonnie Anderson, Diane Fox-Spratlen and Gerald “Jerry” Whited have announced their candidacies, as well as Rebecca Busic of the Montezuma County Democrats. Undersheriff Tyson Cox has also announced a run for sheriff and is currently unopposed.
“I’d like to see a little more representative government,” Prentice said when asked what he wants changed.
He added he wants residents to have “a little better chance to make comment, give insight, ask questions and be involved in some of the processes that take place.” He said regular meetings should allow more public comment.
“I would like to see the public allowed to comment and ask questions and raise issues in real time concerning the business meeting agenda,” he said.
With a background in farming and ranching, Prentice has been in ministry for nine years and serves as pastor of MesaTrails Cowboy Church in Mancos. He described public service goals as similar to his ministry work.
“It is a life of service,” he said. “I meet with people through the church on a daily basis. I counsel everything from grief to marriage to personal accountability. I think that gives me a unique view of Montezuma County’s needs.”
Prentice has said in campaign materials that government should operate more like a church. In practice, he said, this means focusing on serving residents rather than operating like a business.
“Government is supposed to be a service,” he said. “We shouldn’t really operate as a business or a bank.”
Among his top priorities, he said he wants to see the sheriff’s department better funded, citing the sheriff’s end-of-year report and what he described as rising crime and drug trafficking.
“We have a big county,” he said. “This is a hard area to police.”
Prentice opposes the proposed Dolores River National Conservation Area designation. He also noted concern over unfunded state mandates, saying he believes state regulations negatively impact the county and he would push back against them.
“I don’t want to see the way of life eroded here, especially from regulations and laws that are pushed down from the state level that are unfunded,” Prentice said.
Prentice described himself as a proven leader, pointing to his experience running a nonprofit organization.
“I’ve run a 501(c)(3) for nine years,” he said. “I set budgets. I allocate resources.”
He said he considers himself fiscally responsible and opposes any new county sales tax, saying it would harm agriculture and expand government.
“I am for small government,” Prentice said. “I am a conservative Christian. Farming and ranching is the backbone of Montezuma County, and water is our lifeblood. I will work very hard to preserve both.”
