GOV. RITTER STATEMENT ON HANK BROWN RETIREMENT

Gov. Bill Ritter issued the following statement today regarding the announcement that Hank Brown will step down as president of the University of Colorado in February 2008:

 

"For more than 40 years, Hank Brown has served his country and his state with grace and distinction. He is truly one of Colorado's treasured jewels, and I salute all that he has accomplished.

 

"Colorado owes him a debt of gratitude for providing strong leadership at a very challenging time for the University of Colorado. Under his dedicated guidance, the university has made important gains, and he has paved the way for ongoing progress.

 

"I look forward to continuing our close working relationship over the next year, and beyond, as we address the crucial higher-education issues of affordability, access and quality."     

 

 

 

RITTER TO MEET WITH SOUTHEAST COLO. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SATURDAY

Gov. Bill Ritter has invited county commissioners from storm-ravaged southeast Colorado to meet with him and other state officials in La Junta on Saturday to discuss ongoing efforts to provide disaster relief.

 

Commissioners from Baca, Bent, Crowley, Kiowa, Las Animas, Otero and Prowers are expected to attend the meeting, scheduled for 9 to 10 a.m. at the Otero County Courthouse in La Junta. The courthouse is located at Third and Colorado, and the meeting will be held in room 107.

 

In addition to Gov. Ritter, Colorado Agriculture Commissioner John Stulp and representatives from the Department of Local Affairs will be on hand.

 

"I'm eager to discuss what steps the state has taken to secure federal disaster aid and listen to any suggestions about what else we can do to help," Ritter said.

 

Southeast Colorado was buried under 3 to 4 feet of snow by recent winter blizzards, with drifts of 10 to 18 feet deep in some areas. An estimated 10,000 cattle died in the storm, and the numbers will climb higher as the snow melts and carcasses are discovered. The area is home to 345,000 head of cattle and calves, 23,500 head of producing sows and 112,000 head of sheep and lambs, all with an estimated value of $500 million.

 

Ritter's trip to southeast Colorado comes amid a three-day statewide tour that begins Friday. The complete schedule:

 

Friday, January 19

 

Sterling

 

Time:                Noon to 1 p.m.

Location:            Northeastern Junior College

                        Tennant Art Gallery in the Hays Student Center

                       

 

Burlington

 

Time:                2 to 3 p.m.

Location:            Kit Carson County Carousel

                        Kit Carson County Fairgrounds

 

 

Trinidad

 

Time:                5 to 6 p.m.

Location:            Historic Aultman Hall

                        137 Cedar Street

 

Saturday, January 20

 

La Junta

 

Time:                8 to 9 a.m.

Location:            The Barrista

                        204 Santa Fe Ave.

 

Time:                9 to 10 a.m.

Location:            Otero County Courthouse

Third and Colorado, La Junta

Meeting with county commissioners from Baca, Bent, Crowley, Kiowa, Las  Animas, Otero and Prowers counties to discuss disaster relief.

 

 

Alamosa

 

Time:                11 a.m. to noon

Location:            Adams State College

                        First Street Banquet Room of the Student Union Building

 

 

Durango

 

Time:                1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

Location:            Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum, 479 Main Ave.

 

 

 

Rifle

 

Time:                4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Location:            Tarmac at Garfield County Regional Airport

                        0375 County Road 352

 

 

Grand Junction

 

Time:                6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Location:            Pipe Trades Education Center, Copper Room, 3168 Pipe Court   

 

Sunday, January 21

 

Eagle/Edwards

 

Time:                11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Location:            Fiesta's Café and Cantina

                        57 Edwards Access Road, Edwards Plaza

 

 

Steamboat

 

Time:                2 to 3 p.m.

Location:            Steamboat Springs Yacht Club

                        811 Yampa

 

###

 

 

RITTER LOOKS BEYOND DENVER FOR TOP PICKS

RITTER LOOKS BEYOND DENVER FOR TOP PICKS

 

Farmer, former Prowers Commissioner Stulp to run Ag Department

Manitou Mayor Marcy Morrison Appointed Insurance Commissioner

 

Gov.-elect Bill Ritter today named two prominent Coloradans to his administration:farmer and longtime Prowers County Commissioner John Stulp as executive director of the Department of Agriculture, and Manitou Springs Mayor Marcy Morrison as insurance commissioner.

 

Ritter said he is committed to appointing a broad cross-section of talented Coloradans to top-level posts by reaching beyond metro-Denver.

 

"John and Marcy each will bring different and important perspectives to the Capitol," Ritter said. "John was raised on a farm outside of Yuma. He's been actively involved in crop and livestock production ever since. He understands the needs and values ofColorado's rural families. Marcy has repeatedly distinguished herself as a champion of the consumer, particularly in the area of health care.

 

"For many years, they have been working on behalf of the people of this great state," Ritter added. "We are all extremely fortunate they have now agreed to take on these new leadership positions and help us fulfill the Colorado Promise for all Coloradans."

 

The Department of Agriculture's mission is to strengthen and advance Colorado's agriculture industry; ensure a safe, high quality, and sustainable food supply; and protect consumers, the environment, and natural resources. Stulp's nomination as executive director requires state Senate confirmation.

 

"Like Bill Ritter, I grew up on a farm," Stulp said. "I know the hard lessons of dry-land wheat farming and cattle ranching. I also know the good that the Department of Agriculture can provide to rural Colorado, from assisting with new opportunities like renewable energy to overcoming challenges posed by drought and disease."

 

The insurance commissioner serves as the top administrator for the Division of Insurance within the Department of Regulatory Agencies. The division regulates the insurance industry, protects consumers and provides valuable information to the public. It responds to an estimated 60,000 phone calls, e-mails, letters and walk-in visits each year.

 

"It will be a true privilege to serve the people of Colorado in this consumer-protection role," Morrison said. "Health care is one of my passions. I look forward to helping the new administration and the legislature end the crisis of the uninsured and making sure that we bring all voices together to forge a Colorado Health Plan for all Coloradans."

 

Additional biographical information about Stulp and Morrison:

 

Stulp served as a Prowers County commissioner from 1991, when he was appointed to fill a vacancy, until January 2005. He also has served on numerous other boards and commissions, including the state Board of Agriculture (1986 to 1995), state Wildlife Commission (1995-99), the Connect Colorado technology committee (1996), and the Colorado Ag Development Authority & Value Added Board (2005-06).

 

A member of the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union since 1975, Stulp for the last several years has been a leading proponent of building wind farms in wheat fields as a way to develop new economic opportunities and jobs for Colorado's farmers and ranchers. Stulp's family farming operation is home to the Lamar Light and Power Wind Farm, and Stulp is a principal in Prairie Wind Energy LLC.

 

Stulp graduated from Yuma High School in 1966, earned his bachelor's degree in veterinary science from Colorado State University in 1970 and his doctor of veterinary medicine from CSU in 1972. He and his wife, Jane, have five children, all of whom were blessed with first names starting with the letter "J": John III, Janea, Jason, Jeremy and Jensen.

 

Morrison served as an El Paso County commissioner from 1984 to 1992 and as a Republican state representative from 1992 to 2000. She thought she'd given up politics but was elected mayor of Manitou Springs in 2001 and re-elected in 2005.

 

Her list of awards, accomplishments and activities is lengthy: She has served on the state Board of Health and Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees; won the national Dr. Nathan Davis Award for Outstanding Public Service in the Advancement of Public Health (2001) and the AARP Legislator of the Year Award (1998); and sponsored legislation that extended hospitalizations for mothers and newborn babies.

 

Morrison earned her bachelor's degree in education and speech from Queens College inNew York and did graduate work at Colorado College and CU-Colorado Springs. She is a Gates Foundation fellow and completed the John F. Kennedy School of Government's local government program at Harvard in 1989.

 

RITTER NAMES FIRST CABINET DIRECTORS

RITTER NAMES FIRST CABINET DIRECTORS

 

David Skaggs to head Department of Higher Education and CCHE

Don Mares to run Department of Labor and Employment

 

Michael Locatis also named state Chief Information Officer

 

Gov.-elect Bill Ritter today announced his first two Cabinet appointees, giving shape to the top-level administration that will oversee Colorado state government and the departments that directly serve the public.

 

Ritter named former Congressman David Skaggs as executive director of the Department of Higher Education and the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, and former Denver Auditor Don Mares as executive director of the Department of Labor and Employment. Both require state Senate confirmation.

 

Ritter also named Michael Locatis as the state's Chief Information Officer. Locatis will direct the Office of Information Technology and provide overall technology strategy direction for the state. He is currently the Chief Information Officer for the city andcounty of Denver.

 

"Colorado is blessed with some of the brightest, most energetic and innovative-minded people in the country," Ritter said. "This trio is no exception. They will play key roles in helping to fulfill the Colorado Promise."

 

"Rep. Skaggs distinguished himself as a thoughtful, engaging and forward-looking member of Congress," Ritter added. "I know he will bring his passion for higher education to this new assignment. A thriving higher-education system is central to fulfilling the Colorado Promise, particularly for our families and rural communities."

 

The Department of Higher Education is home to the Colorado Commission on Higher Education.The department oversees 28 public institutions of higher learning, two key loan programs and several artistic and cultural programs.

 

"Preparing Colorado's young people to succeed in a global economy and an extremely competitive workforce is vital," Skaggs said. "It's central to every part of fulfilling the Colorado Promise. I look forward to doing everything possible to keep college affordable and accessible for all Coloradans and to help realize the full potential of Colorado's extraordinary system of higher education."

 

Ritter said he's excited Mares will be the next executive director of the Department of Labor and Employment. "Don has demonstrated his commitment to serving the public in numerous capacities, and he has always done so with the utmost of professionalism," Ritter said. "He will bring a wealth of experience to the Department of Labor and Employment. We're fortunate to have him."

The department provides key economic and workforce data to current and prospective employers. It assists injured or unemployed workers and ensures fair labor practices. It oversees the divisions of Labor, Employment & Training, Workers' Compensation and Oil & Public Safety.  

"I look forward to engaging the labor and business communities so that together we can fulfill the Colorado Promise," Mares said. "Working families and employers large and small are the engine that will drive Colorado forward and keep us competitive globally."

Additional biographical information about Skaggs, Mares and Locatis:

 

Skaggs served as the 2^nd Congressional District representative for 12 years (1987-99). Before that he served in the Colorado House from 1981-87, and was chief-of-staff to then-Congressman Timothy Wirth from 1974-77.

 

He is the founder and executive director of the Center for Democracy & Citizenship at the Council for Excellence in Government. The Center works to strengthen American democracy through several projects and activities, many of them school-based. He earned a bachelor's degree from Wesleyan University in 1964 and his law degree fromYale Law School in 1967. Skaggs is a decorated Marine who served in Vietnam. He is of-counsel with the firm Hogan & Hartson.

 

Mares served as Denver's auditor from 1995 to 2003 and in the state House and Senate from 1989 to 1995. He currently serves on the Colorado State Personnel Board, the leadership council for Escuela de Guadalupe and the board of the Latin American Educational Foundation.

 

Mares earned his bachelor's degree in psychology from Stanford University in 1979 and his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1982. Since leaving office in 2003, he has been special counsel with Fleishman & Shapiro.

 

Locatis became Denver's first Chief Information Officer in March 2004, where his office provides data network, telephone, application development, software support, and electronically delivered communication services to internal and external customers of the City and County of Denver government.

 

Before joining the city, he spent two years with Time Warner Inc. as Senior Director of Enterprise Technology Strategy. Previous employers include Texas Instruments, MobileForce Technologies and ConferTech International. He earned his bachelor's degree in business from the University of Nebraska and his MBA from Colorado StateUniversity.

RITTER NAMES COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, DEPUTY LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR

RITTER NAMES COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR,

DEPUTY LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR

 

Gov.-elect Bill Ritter today named Evan Dreyer as communications director and Adrian Miller as deputy legislative director, continuing to round out senior staff appointments leading up to the Jan. 9 inauguration.

 

Also joining the Governor's Office staff will be Scott Hutchings as director of operations and advance, and Flossy Aston as executive assistant to the governor.

 

"I couldn't ask for a better group of people to be joining me in the Governor's Office to help me fulfill the Colorado Promise," Ritter said. "With the addition of Evan, Adrian, Scott and Flossy, the citizens of Colorado will be well-served."

 

Dreyer is a former newspaper journalist who joined the Ritter for Governor Campaign in August 2005. As the governor's communications director, he will serve as chief spokesman. The Communications Office will respond to media inquiries, maintain the governor's website, distribute a regular newsletter, write speeches, answer letters and e-mails, and oversee gubernatorial proclamations.

 

The office also will work with the other directors to ensure that the governor's legislative, policy and budget agendas are well-communicated, as well as coordinate activities with public information officers from other state agencies.   

 

Miller will join the Governor's Office as deputy to Legislative Director Mary Kay Hogan. Together, they will work with Colorado's 100 representatives and senators to further Gov.-elect Ritter's Colorado Promise agenda. Miller, a Colorado native, spent two years in the Clinton administration as special assistant to the president and deputy director of the One America initiative, which focused on closing opportunity gaps for minorities.

 

Aston worked with Ritter for many years in the Denver District Attorney's Office. She also served as his executive assistant from January 2005 to January 2006 at the private law firm Hogan & Hartson, and then joined Ritter as his scheduler during the gubernatorial campaign. She is currently the governor-elect's Transition Team scheduler.

 

Hutchings most recently worked as an aide to Denver Councilwoman Rosemary Rodriguez. He took a three-week leave of absence from that post in October to coordinate Ritter's Colorado Promise bus tour. His resigned his city position effective this past Friday and is now helping to plan the governor-elect's inaugural ceremonies. He will join the Governor's Office in January.

 

Additional biographical information about Dreyer and Miller:

 

Dreyer, 40, graduated from the University of Denver in 1988 with a bachelor's degree in English and mass communications. He was a newspaper reporter and editor for 15 years in suburban Boston, San Diego County and here in Colorado. He was at The Denver Post from 1998 to 2003 as an assistant city editor and then as metro editor.

 

Dreyer helped oversee the paper's coverage of the Columbine tragedy, the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the Hayman fire and countless other stories big and small. After leaving the paper, he started Dreyer Communications, a media consulting firm. He worked on three issue campaigns before joining Ritter's campaign team.  

 

Dreyer is married to Melody Harris, and they have two children: Ben, 7, and Charlotte, 10.

 

Miller is a Colorado native who graduated from Smoky Hill High School in 1987, received a bachelor's degree in international relations from Stanford University in 1991, and a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1995. Upon graduating from law school, Miller returned to Denver to practice law at Holme Roberts & Owen and LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae.

 

In 1999, Miller left Denver to serve as special assistant to the president and the deputy director of President Clinton's One America initiative. 

 

Miller has served as the general counsel and director of outreach for the Bell Policy Center and the Bell Action Network since September 2001.