Jay, why should coroners be elected rather than appointed?
This election demonstrates better than any other why it was wise of the framers of the Colorado Constitution to make this position an elected one.
They knew that an appointed Coroner would be accountable only to the appointing person, or would not be accountable at all. An elected Coroner is accountable to the voters. The framers knew that every four years the light should shine into this process, and all things be examined anew. It is wise to have the Coroner run for his office every four years. That will allow a fresh examination of his actions over the last term, and allow the voters to select him to continue his good work, or allow them to elect another who will take the office in a new, better direction. Elections are great mechanisms to stop abuses and violations of the public trust.
If the position were appointed (a position that has been heavily lobbied for by the incumbent), abuses would remain below the surface, and there would be no fear of public accountability. Either a man must be self-governed by a strong sense of integrity, or he must fear public exposure and accountability. In the end, the former is best, but the latter will serve the public just as well in most situations.
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