HomeMy WebLinkAbout20013215.tiff CAROL Hardin - coroner a intment Page 1
From: Myma Folsom <myrna_f_2000@yahoo.com>
To: Carol Harding <charding@co.weld.co.us>
Date: 11/15/01 7:32AM
Subject: coroner appointment
To: The Weld Board of County Commissioners: FYI RE
7050 Loma Linda Ct.
Longmont CO 80504
303 833 2992
November 12, 2001
To the Editor:
The coroner, it<Es not how but who!
Fortunately, and in all probability, very few of us
will require the services of the Weld County coroner
whose chief duty is to determine by inquest the causes
of any deaths not obviously due to natural causes. In
the recent election, Weld County electors voted to
have future coroners appointed by the Board of County
Commissioners rather than elected by the people. This
measure, which would enhance its control of the
coroner/Es office, was put on the ballot by the Board.
Also, it might be interpreted as a lack of confidence,
by the Board, in the public election of officials,
even though it is selected by that same process.
Following that stream of logic to its conclusion, the
Board might better be appointed than elected, say, by
the state governor or legislature.
The Board, now, must demonstrate its dedication to
improving the qualifications and abilities of the
coroner that it will appoint, to diminish the
presumption that personal or political preferences
might be the basis for its selection. In order to be
elected in Weld County, the sheriff must have rigorous
educational and experience prerequisites to qualify
for the sheriff/Es position. Similar qualifications
could have been required for election of the coroner.
It becomes apparent that the real issue, for public
benefit, with the position of coroner is not how he
gains office, but his qualifications for administering
that office.
Boulder County has had, for a number of years, a
medical board-certified forensic pathologist only
because Dr. John Meyer has been public spirited enough
to take the position at$15,000 per year. The Weld
Board will experience difficulty in finding a medical
board-certified forensic pathologist to take the
coroner position, particularly at the wages the Board
would be willing to pay. However, there is another
alternative that has been adopted by many other
states. This is the appointment of a highly qualified,
by education and training, state medical examiner that
has replaced the county coroner system which exists in
Colorado.
Requiring specific qualifications for the coroner,
2001-3215
il- IA_ a()O�
CAROL Harding coroner appointment .....<.. , Page 2
•
will require a revision of the Home Rule Charter
approved by the electors, once again. This task, which
is performed periodically by an advisory committee
making recommendations to the Board, was just
completed. It is unfortunate that the committee and
the Board didn/Et have the foresight at that time, when
they called for the appointment of the coroner, to
realize that the coroner/Es qualifications are much
more important than whether the position is filled by
election or appointment. It is now imperative that the
Board of County Commissioners justify their initiation
of change in the office of coroner by following
through with substantial, demonstrable, positive
benefits for Weld county residents.
John Folsom
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