As Wyatt Bair was preparing to graduate from Fort Lewis College, John Whitney was preparing to retire from his long-held role of Western Slope regional director to U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet.
The timing was perfect.
When Whitney retired June 18, Bair, who had spent the past month learning the ropes, was ready to take over.
As regional representative, Bair serves as Bennet’s eyes and ears in the area and provides critical insight into the issues and concerns facing the senator’s constituents. He sees the role as an opportunity to make tangible differences in Southwest Colorado, particularly by understanding how federal policies directly impact local communities.
Which he admits, can be overwhelming.
“Getting your head around it can be like drinking from a fire hose,” Bair said. “I just try to take it one day at a time, one conversation at a time. There's a saying in our office: Treat the little things like they're big and the big things will come.”
More about Wyatt Bair
What are you reading right now?
“Demon Copperhead” by Barbara Kingsolver.
Do you have any favorite books?
“Evicted” and “Poverty, by America,” by Matthew Desmond, and “The Tsar of Love and Techno,” by Anthony Marra.
What is on your summer playlist?
A lot of John Prine.
Favorite quick bite in Durango?
A Bread sandwich or a glass of wine and plate of pasta at Primi.
If you could be any aquatic creature, what would you be?
A mantis shrimp.
A Colorado native, Bair grew up in Carbondale and graduated high school in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. He said the disruption to higher education made his early college years challenging but after a few false starts at other universities, he eventually found what he was looking for at Fort Lewis College.
There, Bair said he received a rich, hands-on political science education where he became deeply involved in local and regional politics.
“I cannot say enough good things about Fort Lewis,” Bair said. “I think they've really punched above their weight in terms of the quality of the professors and the students they have there.”
Bair said professors made a concerted effort to connect students with relevant local leaders, opportunities and internships.
In his junior year, one of his professors introduced him to Restore the Balance, a bipartisan group working to combat political extremism.
That experience led to a job on Adam Frisch’s congressional campaign, where Bair worked his way from assistant organizer to managing campaign operations in Durango.
“It was a cool experience to be working in the western side of CD3. I love this area,” Bair said. “Organizing people to try and win the district and seeing people come out for Adam Frisch rallies – that was a really fantastic experience.”
His new role also came about through a classroom connection.
About a year ago, one of his professors invited Whitney to speak to Bair’s class. Over time, they developed a working relationship, and eventually Whitney encouraged Bair to consider stepping into the role.
Bair’s interest in politics started young, almost through osmosis, he said.
Growing up, he had a 30-minute commute to school, with NPR playing every day.
“’Morning Edition’ on the way there and ‘All Things Considered’ on the way back,” he said with a laugh. “I think I didn't have a choice at a certain point.”
Outside of work, Bair can usually be found outdoors.
“If I'm not working, I'm out rock climbing with my partners or taking trips around the area. It's a big part of my identity,” he said. “Growing up on the Western Slope and enjoying all these great public lands – I've grown a deep connection to rocks.”
He’s also a book lover. During college, Bair worked at Maria’s Bookshop in Durango and said he can still recommend a long list of both fiction and nonfiction titles.
As he settles into his new position, Bair said the work can be stressful, but it’s a challenge he welcomes.
“Taking over for John Whitney – it’s very big shoes to fill,” he said. “I'm going to try my best. Not to uphold everything he was known for – he was brilliant and did the job for 20 years – but to strive to be just as good at maintaining those indirect relationships with all the players.”
jbowman@durangoherald.com
