Once upon a time replacements for retiring legislators in Colorado attracted lots of attention. This weekend’s selection of a replacement for Sen. Jim Isgar didn’t seem to attract nearly as much speculation before, even though next year’s anticipated fight against the popular Rep. Ellen Roberts is sure be closely followed.
Release from the Senate Democrats follows: Bruce Whitehead, a civil engineer with 25 years of experience at the state Division of Water Resources, is the choice by Democrats to hold this important swing seat. Says Whitehead, “I have lived in Colorado my whole life and I’m looking forward to being a strong voice for the interests of Southwest Colorado.”
Senate President Welcomes Newest Senator
Saturday, August 8 2009
Saturday, Bruce Whitehead was selected to be the newest Senator from Senate District 6 representing Southwest Colorado. Whitehead is a civil engineer with a lifelong career specializing in water issues facing the state of Colorado.
“I cannot wait to get started,” said Whitehead. “I have lived in Colorado my whole life and I’m looking forward to being a strong voice for the interests of Southwest Colorado.”
Bruce Whitehead worked for 25 years for the Colorado Division of Water Resources and is now Executive Director of both the Southwest and Animas-La Plata (La PLOT ah) Water Districts. In 2008, Whitehead was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Colorado Water Conservation Board. Throughout his career, Whitehead has worked with federal, state and local governments in a bi-partisan way to come up with solutions to complex water and engineering challenges. As State Senator, he will be an independent voice representing all the interests of Southwest Colorado. Whitehead is a native Coloradan and lives in Hesperus with his wife and two young daughters.
President Brandon Shaffer (D-Longmont) welcomed the new Senator for SD-6. “We are happy to have Bruce Whitehead as one of our newest Senators,” said President Shaffer. “Senator Isgar has some big shoes to fill, but with Whitehead’s extensive knowledge of water and and ag. issues, I’m confident he is up to the challenge.”
Whitehead is replacing Senator Jim Isgar (D-Hesperus) who left the Colorado Senate to join the U.S. Department of Agriculture as Colorado State Director for Rural Development. Senator Isgar is one of the longest serving Senators. The seat has been open since July 20, when Senator Jim Isgar started work at the USDA.
“I’m confident they found just the right replacement,” Senator Isgar. “Whitehead truly understands the needs of the people of Southwest Colorado. His expertise in water issues will be very useful as he represents this district. He will be a strong advocate for them at the Capitol and I’m happy to hand over this seat to him.”
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that Senator Whitehead won’t be the oil and gas industry apologist Senator Isgar has always been.
Whitehead could win in 2010. It’s tough for a Democrat, yes, but his water creds are top-notch. Isgar did a damned good winning and holding a seat with glaring red Montrose as the biggest county. Calling him an apologist doesn’t help anybody.
He was appointed when fellow Dem Jim Dyer resigned in 2001 to take a seat on the PUC.
Senator Isgar stood steadfastly with his friends in the oil and gas business. He did many things you would expect of a good Democrat, but was particularly troublesome as an ally of Big O&G.
You don’t have to take my word for it either, gertie, just ask anyone in the environmental lobby.
As to whether it helps anybody to call out the ex-Senator…If knowledge of his predecessors’ shortcomings helps the new Senator do a better job of representing his constituents, then yes, it could very well help someone.
If I offended you because Senator Isgar is a friend of yours, my regrets…but I am only one of many who were very offended by the good Senators’ efforts to derail oil and gas regulation reform. I hold no lasting grudge, however, and wish him success at his new Ag position.
and he was very good on Amendment C (and D). His knowledge of the state budget and the options available was excellent.
However, I agree with you, too. Isgar was a Blue Dog on oil & gas. The irony there is that J Salazar has actually been pretty good on oil & gas – for the most part – and he actually belongs to the Blue Dogs.
Is Ellen Roberts going to be challenged in the Republican primary?
If Rep. Roberts is not primaried she will be the clear favorite in November 2010.
anyone will challenge Rep. Roberts. If the O&G boys decide to punish her for her sponsorship of HB1252, maybe.
Do the right wingers really want to take the risk of her teaming up with Al White and sending out the mixed message that the party will tolerate impurity in ideology?
Won’t she muddle the clear message that Schultheis, Renfroe and Lundberg are trying to convey?
But they don’t have a candidate of their own. They’re trying, so we’ll see.
There was a recent survey asking about potential Dems to replace Isgar. Whitehead was the one person I said I would vote for Roberts if he was named. I don’t know anything about him except his membership on the ALP board. If his main and only focus is on water, forget it. I’ll go with Roberts. Unless he has some really liberal views or he is very effective in the only session he will have before the election I just can’t see him winning.
I doubt the Repubs will challenge Roberts. I would expect someone, or two or three, to challenge at the county assemblies, but no one will get the support she has. She will do very well with Dems and Indies so she only has to clear her primary and she’s in.