Mayoral candidates asked about Florence Copper
This is the second of three articles about Florence’s mayoral candidates. The candidates responded in writing to questions from the Florence Reminder, and following are their responses in their own words.
The primary election will be held Aug. 30.
What is your opinion of the Florence Copper Project? Why?
Gem Cox: The copper mine located in the center of our town can best be summed up, as it was recently by some of its major stockholders, “a high school science experiment.” I am very against in-situ acid fracking under our town core. I am against 30’ dirt berms down Hunt highway. I am against losing many permanent jobs for the possibility of a few temporary jobs.
That said, we longtime residents remember the pride and possibility promised by Conoco on the mine site during the test mining phase in the 1970s. It was encouraging to think about our town making something of value to trade with the rest of the world and good paying jobs for our kids.
