September 04, 2013 01:14 PM UTC

Why is Bernie Herpin Yelling at Students?

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• by: ConservationColorado

(Yikes! – Promoted by Colorado Pols)

We understand that drilling and fracking in Colorado is controversial and there are strident opinions on both sides.  We come down on the side that Colorado needs to seriously consider the impacts to our children’s health and on our communities as fracking booms in our State, but know others feel differently.  While we disagree we don’t have to be disagreeable right?

With passions high on both sides, we expect our elected officials to listen and then make reasoned rationale decisions that are, in their view, best for their communities or jurisdictions.

Unless your elected official is Colorado Springs City Councilman Bernie Herpin.

Check out this video of an exchange Councilman Herpin had with a well reasoned University of Colorado at Colorado Springs student. The City Council was conducting a hearing on the ongoing saga of Banning Lewis Ranch in East Colorado Springs.

The irony of the exchange is the student is actually offering up a free market solution to buy up the leases, a creative solution other communities are looking into.

One might think Bernie Herpin, a self described “supporter of free market principles that make our country great,” would embrace the students suggestion.  But the video shows he only hears what he wants to hear – and then is, frankly, outright rude to a young person trying to participate in our democracy.

The larger problem is that Bernie Herpin is running in the recall election to replace Senate President John Morse and presenting himself as a listener first, politician second.

For us, Bernie Herpin’s clumsy and tone deaf exchange with the student just reinforces the need to VOTE NO ON THE RECALL. There are enough self important State Senators currently under the dome – we don’t need more Bernie Herpins there.

Senator John Morse has been a conservation champion in the State legislature, earning 100% lifetime score in our Colorado Legislative Conservation Scorecard.  In addition, he was the legislative leader on SB 252, which expands clean wind and solar energy to more of Colorado.  Senator Morse and Senator Giron represent their Districts well and this recall effort is a waste of time, money, and resources.

So let’s keep hot head Bernie Herp​in and his tone deaf ways out of the State Capitol and make sure to get out and vote. VOTE NO ON THE RECALLS September 10.