Schlabach withdrawing from BOCC race

By Ruthanne Johnson
RIO GRANDE COUNTY—Joe Schlabach— the 2018 democratic candidate running for Rio Grande County Commissioner— announced on July 15 that he is withdrawing from the county commissioner’s race.
“I am sorry to say,” wrote Schlabach, “due to some recent health issues, I have chosen to withdraw from the county commissioner’s race.”
Schlabach’s withdrawal came as a shock to the Rio Grande County Democrat Committee, leaving a democratic vacancy for a key county seat with less than two months to fill the opening.   
On June 9, Schlabach said he experienced what may have been a heart attack. A visit to the cardiologist revealed an irregularity in his EKG, though more is not known until he performs a stress test.
The experience was an eye opener for the 31-year-old Monte Vista resident. “I have a family history of heart disease and haven’t been taking care of myself very well,” he said. “I haven’t slept well in a very long time and have high blood pressure.”  
Besides seeking the county commissioner’s seat, Schlabach works full-time as an advisor for the online prison degree program at Adams State University. “I currently have close to 1,000 incarcerated students right now and travel across the U.S. to meet with them face to face,” he said.
After the early June health scare, Schlabach said he was tempted to leave his Adams State position to focus on the county commissioner’s race. The advisor’s job is the more stressful of the two, he said, “but I just couldn’t leave my students hanging right now.”  
On July 26, Schlabach sent the withdrawal paperwork to the Colorado Secretary of State, officially ending his candidacy.  
The Democratic Vacancy Committee has until early September to fill the candidacy opening. Their decision for a replacement must be in before early ballots are mailed out to voters. “[We’ll] be convening in the near future to make a decision,” said Rio Grande Democratic Committee Chair Anthony Guerrero.
Schlabach said he hopes his replacement is someone with a heart for this area and who wants to serve the people and help build a better community.” Issues he hopes will be addressed include opening the lines for better communication between the county commissioner’s office and voters, improved budget management and fixing what he described as a strained relationship between the commissioner and sheriff’s offices. “Both sides have to make a gesture to reconcile their differences,” he said. “They need to work together to further public safety.”  
“Joe’s a decent guy,” said Republican county commissioner candidate John Noffsker. “We’ve talked and on a lot of things he and I agree---transparency and he cares about the county. We have a different approach, but I think his heart’s in the right place.”
Outside of politics and student advising, Schlabach is taking time off to travel. “I am also working on my health,” he said, “changing my diet considerably and maybe doing a sleep study.”  
As for politics, Schlabach doesn’t plan on disappearing. “I love this community and have no intention of walking away. It’s where my heart is,” he said. “Even if I disappear for a couple of years, I’ll be back.”


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