Paul Reich

A Community Worth Fighting For I have lived in San Miguel County for 25 years, and Christine and I raised our five children here. I have owned small businesses, worked in mental health for a decade, and served on school and hospital boards. Much of that work has crossed town and county lines, because where people live, work, and feel the consequences of decisions does not always line up on a map. That is the vantage point I bring. I understand the fear I hear from others, that the community...

Will San Miguel County Remain a Community to Come Home To? Will the people who work in San Miguel County still be able to live here? That question has been with us for years. This past year gave it new urgency. Teachers, healthcare workers, tradespeople, service workers, and young families face a difficult choice: commute long distances, work three jobs, or leave altogether. Longtime residents and retirees, even those who own their homes, feel the pressure of rising property taxes, insurance,...

A Community to Come Home To This winter’s record-low snowpack across Colorado is not just a headline. It is a reminder. In San Miguel County, environmental stewardship is inseparable from public safety, economic stability, and long-term livability. San Miguel County has established measurable climate and resilience goals, and we should continue leading regionally in this work. The county has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving energy efficiency, enhancing drought...