Correction: This article has been updated to reflect that Routt County Commissioner told the audience he mentored a student whose mother was Jamacian and whose father was Senegalese. Redmond’s mother was born and raised in South Carolina and his father is from Philadelphia.

As political candidates jockey for votes in two Routt County commissioners races, it’s unclear what role diversity could play in the upcoming local elections, though all of the candidates have something to say on the topic.

A question posed to the four candidates during a forum hosted by the Rotary Club of Steamboat Springs put all of them on the spot. Their answers mostly landed along the same lines, though they revealed some differences in the candidates’ feelings and approach to the question.

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“I wonder what y’alls’ thoughts are about including issues of diversity on the table and how to include different cultural groups, as well as how could we possibly reconnect with the Ute Tribe who used to live here?” a Rotarian in the audience asked at the Sept. 24 candidate forum.

First to respond was Angelica Salinas, a Democrat who’s running to represent District 1 covering South Routt who began by saying she believes, “diversity and representation are incredibly important.”

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She added that while running for office, some horrible things have been said to her because she’s a woman of color.

“But I also think that we are an incredibly welcoming and diverse community, and that needs to continue to be celebrated,” Salinas continued.

Salinas went on to reference her work with nonprofits such as Integrated Community and Better Tomorrow while supporting the immigrant, Spanish-speaking and LGBTQ+ communities through her position at the Steamboat Springs Chamber, where she is the director of membership and engagement.

“It’s important that those voices are heard and that we give those people a platform, whether that’s personal and professional development, whether that’s giving them an opportunity to serve on boards, so those are things I’m currently working on in the Chamber,” Salinas said.

Addressing the part of the question about the Ute Tribe, Salinas said she’s worked lightly with the Tread of Pioneers Museum to help bring Ute history in Routt County back into the light, and she would make promoting diversity a priority as an elected official.

Salinas’s opponent in the Nov. 5 election, Republican Brent Romick also said diversity is incredibly important to Routt County, though he took a different approach to the question.

“We do not discriminate in Routt County — period,” Romick said. “I grew up in Routt County and anybody who wants to work hard and contribute is welcome here.”

Romick said the county prides itself in not discriminating against anyone based on class, and he believes it’s important the county keeps that spirit alive.

Romick recalled two Black people who lived in town when he was growing up here, and he said they were viewed as kids the same as everyone else in the community.

“We have always been that way in Routt County, and I aim to keep it that way,” he said. “Diversity is part of Routt County, and we need to maintain that.”

As the question bounced to the District 2 commissioner’s race to represent West Routt, Democrat Tim Redmond, who’s served as county commissioner since 2021, said he sees a lot of diversity across Routt, but it’s not always in the most visible places.

“I am a strong believer in diversity,” said Redmond, who told the crowd that he mentored a teenager whose mother was from Jamaica and father was Senegalese.

“When I got to the county, I asked, and we are in the process of doing diversity training within the county,” Redmond continued. “I have managed to work with some nonprofits, one of them being Partners (for Youth) … which opened the door for me to understand we do have quite a large African population in our community, but they’re quite hidden. They’re working nights, they’re stocking shelves, so they’re not seen.”

Redmond said he agrees with Romick that Routt is a welcoming place and that anyone who’s willing to work hard can make it here.

However, Redmond also mentioned the Ute Tribe.

“I also have an understanding that this was the home of the Utes,” Redmond said. “So I have been working on a land-use recognition for Routt County for the Ute Indians just saying that we understand we are on their ancestral lands.”

Redmond’s challenger in the upcoming election, Republican Tracy Lawton, took the microphone last among the county commissioner candidates, and he left little room for anyone in the audience to wonder where he stands.

“I’m color blind,” Lawton said. “I don’t see skin color.”

Lawton continued by recalling growing up on the rodeo circuit where he said there was a diverse set of folks and the last thing on his mind was the color of their skin.

“We were all great friends,” he said. “We traveled together. We ate together. We slept together out on the dirt because we couldn’t afford hotel rooms. It didn’t matter. So to me, it doesn’t make any difference.”

Lawton said he doesn’t feel like diversity is a big issue in Routt County just for the simple reason that he doesn’t care what anyone’s race or ethnicity is.

He also noted how neighboring Moffat County “overwhelmingly” elected a Black county commissioner, Donald Broom.

“As long as we can make you be part of the community and all feel comfortable together, that’s what we’re trying to do — build something together,” Lawton said.