Dear Editor:
This year, 2020, is going to be an exciting and busy time as it is an election year. Candidates across the spectrum will begin serious campaigning to have their name and vision become household topics. I am one of the candidates vying for the position of Rio Blanco County Commissioner for district three. I previously submitted letters to the editor announcing my intention to run. In today’s letter to the editor, I want to tell you more about myself and my professional background.
I am a hometown girl, the oldest of the five daughters born to Calvin and Arlene Fritzlan. I was raised on a ranch and attended 12 years of school in the Meeker School system, graduating in 1968. The family helped our parents build Fritzlan’s Resort located up the White River. Marvine Lakes was the best backyard playground for my children, Mark, Gene and Christi Scritchfield, as well as nephews, nieces and today, my grandchildren.
My husband, Al Avey, and I just recently celebrated 35 years of marriage. We have a blended family of five children and seven grandchildren who are supportive and excited about my campaign.
I believe my 35 years of work experience will be beneficial should I become the next county commissioner for district three. I have 25 years of food service management in different types of healthcare facilities in three states. Pioneers Hospital and Walbridge Wing was the beginning foundation of my food service career. In New Mexico, I was the food service director for a physical rehabilitation center in the Four Corners area. I held the same position for quasi state facilities in six coastal counties in south Georgia for mental health, substance abuse and mental retardation. Responsibilities such as budget, staffing, policy and procedures, inspections, etc., provided me the fundamentals of management experience.
My work experience in New Mexico and Georgia allowed me the opportunity to expand and grow beyond food service working with culturally diverse populations. I traveled the Four Corners areas to present health and injury prevention programs on and off the Navajo and Ute reservations. In South Georgia as assistant director of the Operations Department my responsibilities included: monitor catered foodservice programs, manage transportation program with 60 state vans, new staff orientation, health and safety inspections for 54 programs (group homes, day program areas and lock-down units), conduct fire and tornado drills and write disaster mitigation measures for hurricane evacuation. These measures provided a successful evacuation during Hurricane Floyd.
In 2006, we returned home to Meeker after my husband retired from the Federal Law Enforcement Center. In 2007 I began working for the Rio Blanco County Assessor’s office and eventually became an ad valorem tax appraiser for real and personal property. I verified real property sales in the Rangely area and conducted personal property inspections throughout Rio Blanco County. I valued personal property for small businesses and assisted the assessor in the valuation of oil and gas property such as drilling rigs, pipelines and gas plants.
In 2017 I retired from the assessor’s office. However, due to my strong interest in county administration, I became part of the public attending weekly county commissioners meetings. I have and continue to be committed to attending these meetings and learning firsthand about the decision making process used by our elected officials.
Thank you. I appreciate this opportunity to share my personal and professional background with Rio Blanco County citizens.
Sincerely,
Mona Avey
2020 Candidate for RBC Commissioner
