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Whitehead: Summer is a time of lively discussions for state senator

Monday, August 2 2010

by Bruce Whitehead 

Durango Herald Article Last Updated; Sunday, August 01, 2010  12:00AM

The summer continues to fly by. The days are getting shorter, and the summer monsoons finally are bringing much needed rain to the area.

The summer also brings the ramping up of political campaigns, which include parades, forums and lively discussions. Even so, ongoing Senate duties continue to take priority in my schedule.

I continue to talk and meet with constituents in all eight counties, including the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. The individual meetings with the tribal councils were very beneficial and will help in building and maintaining the strong relationship the two sovereign nations have with the state of Colorado. We all share the same concerns about the economy, jobs, adequate health care, education and transportation infrastructure, and I enjoy working with the tribes on solutions.

Club 20, a coalition that has come together to work out issues important to western Colorado, held committee meetings during July, many of them in Durango. I attended the meetings regarding health care, telecommunications and transportation.

The next week, water and energy committee meetings were held in Rifle, and I participated by phone. Members were treated to a social event at the Durango Discovery Museum, with a sneak preview of displays and events that soon will open.

I also was fortunate to attend the grand opening and reception of the Carlton Family Education Center at the Discovery Museum, which included an excellent presentation on alternative energy sources. The museum promises to be a real educational asset to Durango and the surrounding community, and I'd like to commend all of those involved for turning the museum into reality.

In the northern part of the Senate district, I met with the Association of Commerce and Tourism in Montrose and exchanged information about the legislative session and what we have done for small businesses. It was announced that an aircraft manufacturing firm near the airport would create numerous jobs in the area when all the details are finalized.

I also had the opportunity to meet with the Mount Shavano Conservation District at Ridgway State Park and discussed many of its projects and the possibility of future legislation to maintain funding for important conservation projects. It was helpful to discuss the challenges such districts face and was very relevant to my leadership role as the chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.

It also was beneficial for me to attend the Southwest Colorado Regional Transportation Planning Commission meeting to stay updated about transportation issues in our region and to assist me with decisions on legislation heard in the Senate Transportation Committee.

I continue to meet with groups about possible legislation and agendas for the next session that include the Colorado Water Congress and the Colorado Environmental Coalition. Even though the 120-day session does not begin until January, the discussion and legislative process is ongoing.

One of the most gratifying moments last month was when the Colorado Farm Bureau announced at its summer meeting that I had received the Pinnacle award with a rating of A+ for my work in the Legislature, which is the highest recognition the group gives to a member of the General Assembly. I'm proud of the work I did this session to help the agriculture industry.

This week, I will present at a Water On The Land workshop sponsored by the San Juan Citizens Alliance and the Colorado Water Trust, and at a hydropower workshop sponsored by the La Plata Electric Association and the Southwestern Water Conservation District.

I enjoyed visiting with folks at the Montrose and San Miguel county fairs, and I look forward to attending the upcoming county fairs and junior livestock auctions. I hope to see you there.

Bruce Whitehead, D-Hesperus, represents the 6th District, which includes Durango, in the state Senate. Reach him at the Capitol by phone at (303) 866-4884; by fax at (303) 866-4543; by e-mail at bruce.whitehead.senate@state.co.us; or SenWhitehead on Twitter.