The Durango Herald

I try to vote my principles, and sometimes those principles cross party lines. One example of that was my vote on House Bill 1102 sponsored by state Rep. Spencer Swalm and heard in the Transportation Committee where it was postponed indefinitely. I have grown to have the deepest respect for Rep. Swalm, a Republican, and one of the most thoughtful...

There’s nothing like a quick weekend at home, watching my 6-foot-3 son and his friends compete in the annual Silverton skijoring event, to get some much needed perspective and fresh air away from the state’s Capitol.

Finding balance between work and what matters more

I lost my father two months ago.

Be true to yourself: The challenge of learning to say ‘no’

Eating healthier? Going to the gym more often? Making more time to spend with friends? These aspirations are advantageous, beneficial and perfect for the people who made them. My resolution this year is a little unconventional, however: This year I am working on saying “no.”

Misconceptions stir passions on both sides of wolf debate

Wolves stir passion. Unfortunately, that passion is often accompanied by incomplete or inaccurate information, as has been the case in several recent letters to The DurangoHerald.

I have been told by Democrats, Republicans and lobbyists that I have a big red bull’s-eye on my back. The race for Colorado’s 59th House District seat will be one of the most targeted races by the Colorado Democrat Party. Republicans hold a one-member majority in the House of Representatives, and I am that one member.

We’re now grappling with bills that stir much emotion for my constituents and that present a complex challenge for me in seeking to represent my district, which clearly doesn’t speak with one voice on these issues.

Almost 15 years ago, the 50 states began to receive payments of millions of dollars from the tobacco companies as compensation for the public costs associated with the use of that purposely addictive drug. The funds, which are to be distributed annually for 25 years, are broadly used to reduce smoking.

Ballot measures would upend Colo.’s water law

In 2012, Colorado voters may have the opportunity to vote on two proposed changes to the Colorado Constitution Article XVI, which would radically alter Colorado water law and the way water has been allocated since pioneers first began settling in Colorado.

In a recent Opinion piece by (“A river runs through it,” Herald, Jan. 15) Andy Corra, owner of 4Corners Riversports, pits public interests against the so-called private concerns of neighborhoods and citizens adjacent to the Animas River. This is unfortunate.

We had a gallery and house full of 4-H’ers at the Capitol on Monday of this last week in honor of “4-H Day.” There was a good group from La Plata County that I had the pleasure of taking a picture with in front of the “well” where potential laws and resolutions are argued on the House floor.

The last week was a busy one as I had three bills in committees for hearing. The first is a bill I’m carrying on behalf of numerous tow-truck operators in my district who object strongly to the imposition of a new bond requirement in order for them to obtain a permit to operate in Colorado.