It’s understandable the Park County Commissioners tend to favor keeping solid public board members they’ve appointed on those boards when they’re interested in another term.

Why mess with success?

Consistency is usually a good thing.

However, I was intrigued to hear at the last meeting that they are breaking with a recent tradition and choosing to re-interview an incumbent to determine whether or not to keep them on. In other words, they’re not just sticking with an incumbent, even if they have been good.

Tuesday (today) the commissioners plan to interview longtime Travel Council member John Parsons and then make a decision, after interviewing two contenders at the prior meeting, who to appoint.

No commissioner had anything bad to say about Parsons, a successful real estate agent in the area. But, they did have good things to say about the challengers, Absaroka Mountain Lodge owner Craig Kenyon and 307 Real Estate and Scout Inn owner Jake Ivanoff.

Having listened to both, I was impressed as well. Both have a lot of experience in industries affected by tourism and seem to genuinely care about the area. Of course, having attended a number of travel council meetings over the years, I know Parsons has added a lot of leadership to the council.

It’ll be a tough decision, which is exactly as it should be. Keeping on an incumbent has benefits — they don’t need to learn the ropes — but so does bringing in a newcomer. And a desire to add some new blood to the board is certainly a valid reason to make a change.

So, however the final decision goes, commissioners have taken an important step in showing to future appointed board candidates that both established and new voices are appreciated.