I’ve worked with Senator Ellen Roberts during her entire service to the good people of Southwest Colorado. I asked Senator Roberts to serve this state as the president pro tem, a position of leadership she obtained with a unanimous vote of 35 senators who represent the entire citizenry of Colorado.

Ellen was elected by her peers to serve in this significant capacity for more reasons than can be named in this letter, but allow me to offer the following highlights:

Ellen’s work on conservation issues has been outstanding. She has worked tirelessly to elevate the important issue of water conservation and she led the charge to get the public and the legislature involved in the development of the state water plan. Last August, when the EPA unbelievably spilled millions of gallons of toxic mine waste into the Animas River, Ellen was devastated, but the strength of her resolve and her Colorado commitment guided her actions. She refused to engage in partisan posturing, instead, she got right to work as chairwoman of the legislative water committee to pass a bipartisan resolution addressing Colorado’s abandoned mines and their watershed impacts. Ellen also ran a bill enabling better state emergency assistance for such disasters.Ellen’s work on forest health issues has no equal. It was her leadership that helped persuade our caucus’ budget committee members to fund the wildfire mitigation work that the governor intended to zero out. She successfully negotiated for the passage of the Colorado Public Lands Day bill and the rain barrel legislation – neither would have passed into law this year without her.Some have sought to tarnish her reputation and her work. While our voting records differ on some issues, I wanted to set the record straight on her commitment and her proven ability to promote pragmatic and positive conservation legislation in Colorado.

Ellen’s service, creativity and tenacity will benefit the great state of Colorado well past the 70th General Assembly. Most who serve in this institution are hard-pressed to leave a legacy anywhere near the caliber of Senate President Pro Tem Ellen Roberts.

Bill Cadman

Colorado Springs

Editor’s note: Sen. Bill Cadman (R-Colorado Springs) is currently the president of the Colorado Senate.