Face The State Staff Report
Late last week, state Rep. Kathleen Curry, D-Gunnison, cast a vote in committee that critics say could come back to haunt her if she seeks re-election in 2010.
CurryState of Colo.
Curry voted against House Bill 1255, which would have weakened the roles of the Division of Wildlife and Department of Public Health and Environment in the state’s new regulatory process for oil and natural gas drilling. In 2008, the Colorado Oil and Gas Commission created new permitting rules after the General Assembly voted to have the agency design better protections for wildlife and public health.
Without legislative clarification about the role of the DOW, opponents say the new rules could devastate the oil and gas industry in Colorado. Energy companies had hoped HB 1255 would have addressed their pressing concerns about the implementation of the new rules. According to Kathy Hall, western slope director for the Colorado Oil and Gas Association, Colorado has already seen a loss of about $3 billion in drilling activity since the new regulations passed last year. The economy of Curry’s western slope district relies heavily on the energy industry.
“The drop in drilling translates into a loss of millions of dollars of severance tax revenues,” said Hall. “[Curry] is going to have to answer to her voters why she worked so hard to destroy an industry that supplies money to local municipalities, schools and fire districts.”
Lois Dunn is in charge of government affairs for the Grand Junction Realtors Association and she testified in favor of HB 1255. She said it troubled her that Curry was not even present for the bulk of testimony regarding the measure, especially since she chairs the House Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resources Committee where it was heard. Curry was gone for all of Tuesday's testimony and gone for about the first hour of Wednesday's testimony.
“It seemed strange to me that she originally said she was for this bill, and then didn’t show up for the committee hearing when so many Western Slope people were there to testify,” Dunn said.
According to Rep. Cory Gardner, a Republican from Yuma and sponsor of HB 1255, Curry was originally willing to work with him on the legislation. After Wednesday's testimony and a conversation with House Speaker Terrance Carroll, however, Curry postponed the vote on the legislation. When the bill came up for a vote two days later, it was killed on a party line 7-6 vote.
Curry did not return Face The State’s request for an interview.
“We always have to be cognizant that a vote against our district is a vote against our constituents,” Gardner said, referring to Curry’s energy rich district.
Former Rep. Bernie Buescher, D-Grand Junction, who was appointed as secretary of state by Gov. Bill Ritter, is remembered around the Capitol for voting in favor of a property tax increase alleged to have cost him his legislative seat. The property tax increase hit Buescher's home district of Mesa County hard, and Republican challenger Laura Bradford made it a successful campaign issue. Bradford holds Buescher’s former seat.
“It is very frustrating to see western slope lawmakers represent us when they are out here, but not at the Capitol,” Dunn said.
Cory Watt, governmental affairs liaison for the Gunnison County Contractors Association and one of Curry’s constituents, said she was disappointed but not surprised by Curry’s vote.
“Back in 2002 when she was initially campaigning, we endorsed her,” said Watt. “She was campaigning on water issues and came off to be a pretty genuine person, but that is not what I have seen of her. Once she got elected, opposed to listening to the community as a whole, she just panders to environmental and liberal interest.”
Watt is involved with the Gunnison County Republican Party and said its members are already cultivating candidates to challenge Curry for House District 61 in 2010. The district includes parts of Eagle, Garfield, Gunnison, Hinsdale and Pitkin counties. Sen. Al White, R-Hayden, who overlaps with Curry’s district, said it has always been “pretty competitive.”
In spite of Curry’s vote against HB 1255, White says Curry still has a good shot in 2010. “Hard core oil and gas is west of her district,” he said. “It’s possible this vote could affect her, but I wouldn’t draw any quick conclusions that she’d be easy to beat.”
White said Curry is perceived as good on water issues and well liked by the ranchers since her husband is one. “She does have good rural credentials,” he said.