@tseeb:
I don't think we've ever had a member lobby a NPS staffer to change the opening date before.
It is an interesting approach.
But the ruling of the Sheriff is based on the following documentation (found on the first post of each new contest):
************Forum Moderator, Dave Gomm, (Southwest Dave) is the official Sheriff and Chief Wrangler for this contest and his rulings as to the naming of the winner are final, (& they can also be arbitrary & capricious)
Mark