Steamboat Pilot & Today

Cheriene Marchus wants to see aspects of Routt County's government change. That is why, she said, she has decided to be a write-in candidate for the District 2 county commissioner seat.

"The reason I'm doing this is there are still some changes that need to be made in Routt County government," Marchus said. "I feel I'm the person to make them."

Marchus will face incumbent Democrat Doug Monger and Republican candidate Jeff Fry in the November election.

Marchus, who works in the Routt County commissioners' office as a secretary and receptionist, is married to Mark Marchus. Mark ran for the District 2 county commissioner seat as a Republican but lost to Fry in the primary.

Cheriene Marchus said she was thinking of running before her husband did, but thought he had better name recognition, so she supported his campaign.

Cheriene Marchus is registered as a Republican. Her priorities include quality education, well-maintained roads and smart growth in the county.

"I think we need better maintenance on the roads," Marchus said. "If I am elected, I would endeavor to eventually have most or all of the roads in Routt County chip-sealed."

Marchus said she thinks growth must be of "good quality," and cannot be stopped but should be guided. She is not against big-box stores, but said she thinks placement, design and function should all be considered when considering such stores.

Whether the county keeps a two-airport system, Marchus said she thinks the airports should be self-sustaining, which would be a goal of hers if elected.

As for the county's new justice center, Marchus said if she had been a commissioner in 1987, she would have helped the county save more money for the new center. If elected, she said she plans to build a justice center that will serve residents for years, but will not be "an overwhelming burden" on county residents.

Being a write-in candidate means her name will not be on the November ballot. However, there will be a blank line for the District 2 position on which residents can write Marchus' name. Marchus is the only write-in candidate for a county office.

"I realize that it's a big challenge, not having my name on the ballot," Marchus said. She plans to go door to door and store to store to introduce herself and her positions to residents, which she said she thinks will help.

"I think I have better than a 50-50 chance of winning," she said. "By the time I meet everyone in Routt County, I think I could actually win this."

Marchus' background includes experience working in accounting for the past 35 years in roles with accounting firms, attorney's offices, banking, the construction industry, the hotel industry, ranching, school systems and more. She has worked as a receptionist and secretary for the county commissioners' office for the past 4 1/2 years.

Her list of qualifications includes counseling women through pregnancies, being a member of the Cattlewomen of Routt County and of Colorado, raising two children, volunteering at schools and being a member of Euzoa Bible Church.

"I am just so jazzed, I am just so excited," Marchus said about her decision to run. "This is just so energizing to me."

-- To reach Susan Bacon, call 871-4203

or e-mail sbacon@steamboatpilot.com