Good management of county open space, including the trails you love, depends in a very important way on who our County Commissioners are. Boulder County has three County Commissioners appointed to four year terms, with an eight year term limit. You get to vote for two new faces this year.

It is no exaggeration to say that many of the positive developments regarding trails in Boulder County over the past eight years (think Picture Rock, think Benjamin Trail) are because we have had a very supportive County Commissioner on our side - Will Toor - recipient of the 2010 BMA Hero award.

Due to term limits, Will shall be stepping down as county commissioner. BMA wholeheartedly endorses Elise Jones in the Democratic primary to replace Will. Elise has long been a leader in protecting open spaces in Colorado as the executive director of the Colorado Environmental Coalition. She is also a mountain biker, so she speaks our language and understands our power as a community. With her passion for open space, we believe that Elise Jones will be an excellent replacement for Will Toor. Will Toor agrees and has endorsed Elise himself.

We need you to vote for Elise.The election that matters is the Democratic Primary Election, June 26.  In Boulder County, if you aren't a Democrat, you aren't in the race. Elise is in a competitive primary, so every vote - YOUR VOTE - will count.

BMA has also endorsed Deb Gardener to replace Ben Pearlman. But since all of Deb's competitors have removed themselves from the race, she is effectively unopposed. We welcome Deb to the ranks of the Board of County Commissioners. We know, along with Elise, she will do great things!

BMA recognized Michael Rutter of Boulder County Parks and Open Space as the recipient of the 2012 Hero Award. What's our Hero Award? 

Each year the Boulder Mountainbike Alliance recognizes a Hero.  A BMA Hero works tirelessly on behalf of responsible recreational access to our public lands.  A Hero furthers that which binds all BMA members together - the desire to ride sweet singletrack, to push our physical and technical limits, and to enjoy the outdoors.  But a Hero does more than that.  A BMA Hero goes beyond the call of duty in recognizing the benefits of recreation to our entire community.  Recreation is how we bond with nature and renew our land ethic.  Recreation provides us with a healthy outlet to relieve stress, exercise our bodies, and renew our spirit.  A BMA Hero furthers this vision.  A BMA Hero can be an advocate, a land manager, a politician, or one of you.  What separates a Hero from the rest of us is that a Hero has improved all of our lives through his/her support of our passion.  It is this passion that drives the Boulder Mountainbike Alliance, and it is with this passion that we recognize a BMA Hero.

This former BMA President has been a tireless volunteer and can be credited for making the Annual Banquet the primary fundraiser for our organization over the last seven years.  We were lucky not to totally fry him in that effort!  These days his volunteer time is spent with The City of Boulder Parks and Recreation department defining the relationship between BMA and Valmont Bike Park.  One cannot understate what a gargantuan task it is to break down a well established culture that isn't wired for partnership.  Creating a Document of Understanding that is mutually beneficial to VBP and BMA will take patience and perseverance.

This time around, we didn't get a trophy to collect dust on Botsy's mantle, we got him two season passes to Trestle Bike Park instead.  That will put a smile on Botsy's face! 

Previous recipients are Mike Barrow and Eric Vogelsberg. 

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