Ignacio – The Southern Ute Tribe has taken an unusual step in openly opposing a candidate in Tuesday’s Republican primary for Archuleta County sheriff.
In a statement released this week, tribal chairman Clement Frost said that former Ignacio Police Chief Pete Gonzalez had a shaky history with the tribe that included lack of respect for the tribe’s status as a sovereign nation as well as allegations of civil- rights violations by police officers.
Ignacio is the tribal headquarters of the Southern Ute Reservation, which lies mostly in La Plata County but also stretches into western Archuleta County. Several tribal officials said Wednesday that they could not recall another instance in which the tribe publicly endorsed or opposed a candidate.
Gonzalez faces two opponents in the GOP primary, R.E. “Bob” Grandchamp and Steve Wadley. There is no Democratic or unaffiliated candidate for the November election, so the primary likely will determine the county’s next sheriff.
Neither Gonzalez nor his campaign manager returned calls Wednesday, but Gonzalez has defended his six-year record as police chief in public forums by saying most allegations made against him, the Police Department and the town of Ignacio were false.
Five tribal members, with the support of the tribe, filed a civil suit in 1997 charging Ignacio police with misconduct, including an allegation that officers held revolvers to the heads of some Ute detainees already restrained by handcuffs. The tribe said Gonzalez refused to investigate the complaints.
The judge dismissed most of the allegations, and the town of Ignacio settled the $400,000 lawsuit for $20,000 to end litigation and minimize legal expense, Gonzalez said. Gonzalez left the force in 1998 and has since been an investigator for the district attorney.
Staff writer Electa Draper can be reached at 970-385-0917 or edraper@denverpost.com.
