Democrats are trying to make a move in this year's local elections in a county that consistently leans Republican. The race at the top of the ticket is already becoming contentious.

Republican County Executive Steve Neuhaus is seeking a fourth four-year term. Civil rights attorney Michael Sussman, a Democrat, is challenging Neuhaus for the office.

"We've cut taxes," Neuhaus said in an interview Monday morning. "We've reduced the size of the government..." Sussman began his interview Monday afternoon differently.

"We have one-party rule," he said. "We have profound corruption."

Neuhaus — a naval reservist who has been deployed multiple times to war zones and disaster areas — has drawn praise for reducing the county's debt and for how he handles emergencies.

Neuhaus was among the first local officials to go live on social media with unscripted briefings during the November wildfire near Greenwood Lake and the July 2023 storm that rocked the western side of the county.

Neuhaus said Sussman — who is known for fighting against housing segregation and police brutality — is not qualified to manage a large staff nor a yearly budget of nearly $1 billion. Consider it the first of likely many jabs to be thrown during a nine-month campaign.

"If you commit a murder or a rape, he's your guy," Neuhaus said of Sussman. "If you want someone to come to protect you and keep your taxes low, which I've done, I'm your guy."

"That kind of rhetoric is reckless," Sussman said when he learned of Neuhaus's comment.

Sussman said he was especially troubled by news of a 2023 IT contract that was awarded to the county's human resources commissioner's brother-in-law.

Sussman said he is planning to "investigate" Neuhaus and his staff to dig up any other potential wrongdoing.

"We're going to demand that they be transparent with the public," Sussman said. "That is their responsibility. They've never been called to account for it."

Neuhaus fully admits the IT department was "in shambles," but said the department has since been reformed and he is ready to defend his actions relating to contract procurement.

Sussman said he will also campaign on housing policy, of which he says the county has none.

He said as county executive he would fight to reform the Industrial Development Agency to award more tax breaks for affordable housing projects and to rebuild urban neighborhoods.

He would do this partly, he said, through new IDA board appointments.

Both candidates said they are open to joint interviews, debates, town halls and other public events to argue the issues face-to-face.