Mail-In Ballots Go Out Next Thursday

Six candidates are vying for five trustee seats on the Westcliffe town board while there is one candidate for mayor.

Incumbents Art Nordyke, Joe Cascarelli, Melinda Ruzanski and Audrey Gluschke are seeking another term in office.

Also running for a seat are Paul Schleser and John Johnston. Shelley Shelley withdrew from the race earlier this week. Trustee Twila Geroux is not up for re-election.

The lone candidate for mayor is incumbent Christy Veltrie.

Prior to retirement, Nordyke owned and operated an excavating business. He has been county coroner for over 20 years, and he and his wife, Barbara, have lived here since 1977.

Nordkye has also served as Westcliffe trustee off and on since 1994.

Nordyke said, “We have a good board, and we have accomplished a lot, and I want to help keep that going.”

A resident for 11 years, Cascarelli was appointed to the board in January 2009.

An engineer graduate, he recently retired after 41 years in the private sector.

While not a Colorado native, Cascarelli and his wife have lived in the state 27 years.

He is a Custer County Sheriff’s posse member, junior achievement volunteer and a member of the Custer County Merchants and Chamber of Commerce.

Melinda Ruzanski was appointed to the board in May 2008. She and her husband, Kirk, have two children. Ruzanski said she decided to run for trustee because she wants to continue to get involved in the community.

Audrey Gluschke has lived in Westcliffe for some 17 years. She and her husband, Peter, have one daughter.

Gluschke was appointed to the town board last month.

At that time, Gluschke said she was committed to the community and was concerned about the vacant buildings in the downtown area due to businesses going under.

Schleser has been a town resident for nearly two years. He says he has no political experience, however, “I have light years of experience in leadership and management in the high-fields of aerospace and pharmaceutical products.”

He was also a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army and served in combat in Vietnam in 1966-67.

Johnston has lived in the Valley since 1999. He and his wife, Mo, own and operate the Courtyard Country Inn bed and breakfast.

He also serves on the board of directors with the Round Mountain Water and Sanitation District, and he was recently named to the town of Westcliffe’s planning and zoning board.

When asked why he wanted to be a Westcliffe trustee, Johnston responded, “I am 60 and have had 11 good years in the Valley. I’m at a time in my life that I would like to give back to the community that has been so good to me.”

Veltrie served as trustee since 2004 and was recently appointed mayor following the death of Jess Price.

She and her husband, Greg, moved here some 16 years ago. She holds a degree in business administration, and she and Greg own and operate Veltrie Disposal Services.

Westcliffe voters will receive ballots in the mail this year. Ballots will be mailed on March 18 and must be returned to the Westcliffe town hall by Election Day, which is April 6.

Those who don’t receive a ballot in the mail should contact the town hall at 783-2282. Also contact the town hall to change a mailing address.

In addition to choosing trustees and a mayor, Westcliffe voters will be asked to consider allowing the town to publish ordinances by title only instead of in their entirety.

– Nora Drenner