RITTER TRANSITION COMMITTEES BEGIN WORK TODAY

TRANSITION ADVISORY COMMITTEES BEGIN WORK TODAY

 

Hundreds of Community Members to Participate in Review Process

 

Nearly 40 civic leaders convened today for their first meeting as co-chairs of the transition committees that will help Gov.-Elect Bill Ritter analyze the current state of Colorado's governmental agencies and recommend nominees for his Cabinet and other positions.

 

"We have a tremendous amount of work to accomplish over the next few weeks," Ritter said. "I'm grateful to have such a diverse group from Colorado's vital public and private sectors providing this valuable insight and input. All of Colorado will benefit from their investment of time, energy and dedication. This truly is the beginning of how we will build a public trust and govern well."

 

The co-chairs of 18 advisory committees gathered this morning for their first meeting. The individual committees also began meeting today, and each of them will hold at least one session before Thanksgiving. Each advisory committee will be composed of 12 to 20 members, for a combined total that could exceed 300 individuals. Each committee also will be assisted by a volunteer staff member who will serve as a facilitator and discussion leader.

 

"The advisory committees will conduct a thorough review of the designated department or agency," said Jim Lyons, the transition team's executive director. "This will allow the committees to identify both structural and policy issues within each department, and then see how those issues align with the governor-elect's comprehensive 'Colorado Promise' policy agenda."  

 

Another of the committees' top responsibilities will be to identify qualified candidates for Cabinet- and director-level positions within the new administration. More than 700 resumes have been submitted thus far, and the number grows each day.

 

Ritter hopes to have as many members of his Cabinet in place by the Jan. 9 inauguration as possible.

 

Ritter's transition team co-chairs, former state Sen. Norma Anderson and businessman Daniel Yohannes, have asked the advisory committees to conclude their work and present a list of qualified candidates by Dec. 15.

 

"Today's kick-off meeting was a great beginning to this extremely inclusive and bi-partisan phase of fulfilling the Colorado Promise," Anderson and Yohannes said. "Many of the best minds in Colorado are committed to assisting Gov.-Elect Ritter and Lt. Gov.-Elect O'Brien build a Cabinet that will be focused on solving Colorado's problems and tackling issues that matter."

 

Ritter-O'Brien Transition Advisory Committee Co-Chairs

 

Agriculture

Kathleen Kelley, former state lawmaker

John Stulp, former Prowers County commissioner

Volunteer Staff: Rebecca Swanson

 

Corrections

Freddie Alvarez, former Denver District Court judge

Don Quick, 17^th Judicial District Attorney

Volunteer Staff: Tim Daly

 

Economic Development and International Trade

Reeves Brown, executive director, Club 20

Robert Cohen, chairman and CEO, IMA Financial Group

Ron Montoya, president and CEO, Plasticomm

Volunteer Staff: Ford Frick

 

Education

Dorothy Horrell, president, Bonfils-Stanton Foundation

Christine Johnson, president, Community College of Denver

Barbara O'Brien, lieutenant-governor elect

Al Yates, former president, Colorado State University

Volunteer Staff: Craig Welling

 

Energy Management and Conservation

Michael Bowman, chair of Colorado's New Energy Future

Patricia Vincent, president and CEO of Xcel Energy's Public Service Co. of Colorado

Volunteer Staff: John Parr

 

Health Care Policy and Finance

Rick May, former president, Colorado Medical Society

Barbara O'Brien, lieutenant-governor elect

Annie Wohlgenant, vice president of philanthropy, Colorado Health Foundation

Volunteer Staff: Edie Sonn

 

Human Services

Barbara McDonnell, executive vice president, Colorado Community College System

Kindra Mulch, administrator, Kit Carson County Health and Human Services

Gloria Tanner, former state senator

Volunteer Staff: Natalie Hyman

 

Information Technology

Rich Baer, executive vice president/general  counsel, Qwest

Cathy Fogler, vice president of video product management, Charter Communications

Volunteer Staff: Mike Dino

 

Labor and Employment

Joseph Garcia, president, Colorado State University at Pueblo

Neal Hall, business manager, Colorado Building and Construction Trades Council

Rosemary Marshall, state representative

Volunteer Staff: Christy Murphy

 

Local Affairs

Marcy Morrison, mayor of Manitou Springs

Rosemary Rodriguez, Denver City Council member

Ken Torres, Las Animas County commissioner

Volunteer Staff: Peter Kenney

 

Military Affairs

Andy Love, major general (retired)

Larry Drake, captain, Marine Corps, 1967-73

Volunteer Staff: Joel Glover

 

Natural Resources

Howard Boigon, partner, Hogan & Hartson LLP

Kathleen Curry, state representative

Volunteer Staff: Andy Spielman

 

Personnel and Administration

Andre Pettigrew, chief operating officer, Denver Public Schools

Wendell Pryor, division director, Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies

Volunteer Staff: Scott Martinez

 

Public Health and Environment

Richard Hoffman, former chief medical officer, Colo. Dept. of Public Health and Environment

Jim Martin, executive director, Western Resource Advocates

Volunteer Staff: Mark Messenbaugh

 

Public Safety

Jeanne Smith, former 4^th Judicial District Attorney and current deputy attorney general

Larry Trujillo, Denver fire chief

Volunteer Staff: Terri Livermore

 

Regulatory Agencies

Phil Fegin, former Colorado securities commissioner

Gail Klapper, director, Colorado  Forum

Wellington Webb, former mayor of Denver

Volunteer Staff: Ben Kelly

 

Revenue

Carol Hedges, senior fiscal analyst, Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute

John Ikard, president, FirstBank

Peggy Reeves, former state senator

Volunteer Staff: Keith Hay

 

Transportation

Bill Kaufman, former state representative and current Colo. Transp. Commissioner

Carla Perez, Carter & Burgess

Volunteer Staff: Lori Fox