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Senator Gail Schwartz, at home in Snowmass Village.
In the past week, Sen. Gail Schwartz rode the Cumbres-Toltec train, spoke to “Brazen Business Women” in Salida about health care and found time to co-sponsor a bill on easier routes to home equity lines of credit for qualified green projects.
Is it election season already for the Democratic state senator from Snowmass Village?
“I will be running for re-election. I have filed for 2010,” said Schwartz, who fought a hard-won battle for her District 5 seat in November 2006. And now, during four months of the year when the senate is not session, “I'm really passionate about being out and being in the district, connecting and understanding communities. That is really gratifying,” she said.
Schwartz's sprawling district spans from Basalt to New Mexico and includes some of the wealthiest communities in the state (Aspen/Snowmass) coupled with a trio of poor counties (Conejos, Costilla and Saguache). It's been there, in south-central Colorado, where Schwartz has been focusing her efforts on renewable energy, particularly solar. The chair of the Joint Senate and House Select Committee on Job Creation and Economic Growth, Schwartz spoke glowingly of investments that have been made of late at solar plants in the San Luis Valley.
While the senator's focus on renewables is laudable, according to Sen. Al White of Hayden, who represents District 8, that shouldn't come at the expense of “more conventional types of energy which are abundant in Colorado.”
“I am certainly interested in renewables, but not if it means turning our backs on the hydro-carbon industry that once thrived in our state,” said Sen. White. “Senator Schwartz is very determined to push forward her plans, once she has set her sights on an issue. But that is likely the competitive nature of most legislators once we sink our teeth into an issue. All of Colorado's natural resources are vital to our economy. The trick is figuring out how to develop them in a reasonable, sustainable way that doesn't sacrifice air, water, or wildlife quality and abundance,” he said last week by e-mail.
Schwartz said: “I did support rules put on gasoline. I am supportive of maintaining a strong industry but we also need to have balance in our communities and in our landscapes.”
Schwartz's other passion is education. A former member of both the Colorado Commission on Higher Education and the University of Colorado Board of Regents, Schwartz sponsored a school bill last year that brought $1 billion to the state for new construction of K-12 schools in rural areas. She said in the first cycle of grant-giving, schools from Delta to Crestone and San Luis are realizing funds that “bring buildings up to 21st century standards.” With those improvements in the buildings come some job growth in construction and ancillary fields, she said.
Looking ahead to the state's cash-strapped budget, Sen. Schwartz sees challenges ahead for higher education – she recalled a 40 percent budget cut during her last term as a Regent – all the way down to funding for full-day kindergarten.
“We're back in that day” when higher education is again under the knife as it has no single dedicated funding stream. That could beg the question, “What are the priorities for the state” which is 47th in its rate of taxation?” she asked. “We get tremendous value for our tax dollars and we run a pretty mean budget.”
But dollars can only be stretched so far and Schwartz said it's possible that in 2011 there will be something on the ballot about TABOR (Taxpayer's Bill of RIghts) and Amendment 23, the latter which was approved by voters nine years ago and supports K-12 education, as well as the State Education Fund, which pays for increased spending. Amendment 23 promises are being kept, she added, but it may be time to reassess its funding methods.
Controversy? No problem
About 65 locals turned out for a recent town hall meeting in Antonito, the terminus of the Cumbres-Toltec sightseeing train. “It was a pretty heated exchange,” Schwartz said.
There was also no shortage of opinions bandied about later in the week by the Brazen Business Women of Salida (which includes some Brazen Men). Chaffee County, which Schwartz characterized as “pretty divided politically,” went Republican in the last presidential election. Obama lost by four votes in the county while Schwartz's shortfall was eight votes, she said.
Back to the Brazen Women: “They look at business-related issues. So I gave them a quick rundown on state health care committees. Then we had about an hour-and-a-half of questions where I could respond to people's concerns,” she said.
Since taking office, Schwartz hasn't shied away from differing opinions or controversial topics. On her to-do list, she said, is to check in with the veterinarian who recently scrutinized Krabloonik Kennels and gave it a clean bill of health.
“I was involved in (an animal care) bill last year. In terms of making sure, wanting to make sure there's adequate oversight of the kennels and animal treatments, I think this is our role. Yes, I have gone down there and met with Dan MacEachen...the well being of animals should be our number one priority. I think the community has some varied opinions on the appropriateness of the number of dogs. I do support really strong oversight. We're looking to the best practices in today's environment, which may be different than 35 years ago.”
Personally, she's finding a changed landscape from just three years ago. That's when the then-political newbie lacked contacts in 10 of the 11 counties of District 5. “I had very few relationships” in those far-flung places, she said.
One-hundred-and-forty-thousand road miles later, “I've really been present to so many communities in the district. There's a better rapport,” she allowed. “It's really an extraordinary district with extraordinary resources and extraordinary people. It's really a blessing how many friends I've made,” said Snowmass Village's state senator.
Madeleine Osberger's e-mail address is mosberger@snowmasssun.com
Is it election season already for the Democratic state senator from Snowmass Village?
“I will be running for re-election. I have filed for 2010,” said Schwartz, who fought a hard-won battle for her District 5 seat in November 2006. And now, during four months of the year when the senate is not session, “I'm really passionate about being out and being in the district, connecting and understanding communities. That is really gratifying,” she said.
Schwartz's sprawling district spans from Basalt to New Mexico and includes some of the wealthiest communities in the state (Aspen/Snowmass) coupled with a trio of poor counties (Conejos, Costilla and Saguache). It's been there, in south-central Colorado, where Schwartz has been focusing her efforts on renewable energy, particularly solar. The chair of the Joint Senate and House Select Committee on Job Creation and Economic Growth, Schwartz spoke glowingly of investments that have been made of late at solar plants in the San Luis Valley.
While the senator's focus on renewables is laudable, according to Sen. Al White of Hayden, who represents District 8, that shouldn't come at the expense of “more conventional types of energy which are abundant in Colorado.”
“I am certainly interested in renewables, but not if it means turning our backs on the hydro-carbon industry that once thrived in our state,” said Sen. White. “Senator Schwartz is very determined to push forward her plans, once she has set her sights on an issue. But that is likely the competitive nature of most legislators once we sink our teeth into an issue. All of Colorado's natural resources are vital to our economy. The trick is figuring out how to develop them in a reasonable, sustainable way that doesn't sacrifice air, water, or wildlife quality and abundance,” he said last week by e-mail.
Schwartz said: “I did support rules put on gasoline. I am supportive of maintaining a strong industry but we also need to have balance in our communities and in our landscapes.”
Schwartz's other passion is education. A former member of both the Colorado Commission on Higher Education and the University of Colorado Board of Regents, Schwartz sponsored a school bill last year that brought $1 billion to the state for new construction of K-12 schools in rural areas. She said in the first cycle of grant-giving, schools from Delta to Crestone and San Luis are realizing funds that “bring buildings up to 21st century standards.” With those improvements in the buildings come some job growth in construction and ancillary fields, she said.
Looking ahead to the state's cash-strapped budget, Sen. Schwartz sees challenges ahead for higher education – she recalled a 40 percent budget cut during her last term as a Regent – all the way down to funding for full-day kindergarten.
“We're back in that day” when higher education is again under the knife as it has no single dedicated funding stream. That could beg the question, “What are the priorities for the state” which is 47th in its rate of taxation?” she asked. “We get tremendous value for our tax dollars and we run a pretty mean budget.”
But dollars can only be stretched so far and Schwartz said it's possible that in 2011 there will be something on the ballot about TABOR (Taxpayer's Bill of RIghts) and Amendment 23, the latter which was approved by voters nine years ago and supports K-12 education, as well as the State Education Fund, which pays for increased spending. Amendment 23 promises are being kept, she added, but it may be time to reassess its funding methods.
Controversy? No problem
About 65 locals turned out for a recent town hall meeting in Antonito, the terminus of the Cumbres-Toltec sightseeing train. “It was a pretty heated exchange,” Schwartz said.
There was also no shortage of opinions bandied about later in the week by the Brazen Business Women of Salida (which includes some Brazen Men). Chaffee County, which Schwartz characterized as “pretty divided politically,” went Republican in the last presidential election. Obama lost by four votes in the county while Schwartz's shortfall was eight votes, she said.
Back to the Brazen Women: “They look at business-related issues. So I gave them a quick rundown on state health care committees. Then we had about an hour-and-a-half of questions where I could respond to people's concerns,” she said.
Since taking office, Schwartz hasn't shied away from differing opinions or controversial topics. On her to-do list, she said, is to check in with the veterinarian who recently scrutinized Krabloonik Kennels and gave it a clean bill of health.
“I was involved in (an animal care) bill last year. In terms of making sure, wanting to make sure there's adequate oversight of the kennels and animal treatments, I think this is our role. Yes, I have gone down there and met with Dan MacEachen...the well being of animals should be our number one priority. I think the community has some varied opinions on the appropriateness of the number of dogs. I do support really strong oversight. We're looking to the best practices in today's environment, which may be different than 35 years ago.”
Personally, she's finding a changed landscape from just three years ago. That's when the then-political newbie lacked contacts in 10 of the 11 counties of District 5. “I had very few relationships” in those far-flung places, she said.
One-hundred-and-forty-thousand road miles later, “I've really been present to so many communities in the district. There's a better rapport,” she allowed. “It's really an extraordinary district with extraordinary resources and extraordinary people. It's really a blessing how many friends I've made,” said Snowmass Village's state senator.
Madeleine Osberger's e-mail address is mosberger@snowmasssun.com
