U.S. Rep. Jared Polis will correct the Congressional Record after misidentifying a Bayfield family as his constituents, said Jessica Bralish, Polis’ spokeswoman.
The congressman, a Democrat running for governor of Colorado, represents Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District, which includes 10 counties in north-central Colorado.
He referred to Edin Ramos – who is facing deportation – and his family as “constituents of mine” during an April 2016 speech on the U.S. House floor.
But, the family lives in Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, which encompasses La Plata County.
During his nearly six-minute speech, Polis advocated for a permanent solution for Ramos, who has since been arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“Mr. Edin Ramos of Colorado ... fled his home county to avoid persecution and extortion,” Polis said in his speech. “He’s a very successful business owner in my district. He and his wife employ 12 people, make investments in our local community, and we rely on them for jobs and the services they provide.”
The Durango Herald contacted Bralish last week to ask if Polis had considered correcting the record. She declined to answer several questions related to Polis’ comments on the House floor, including whether he would correct the Congressional Record.
“Although Mr. Ramos is not a resident of the 2nd Congressional District of Colorado, he has close family ties in Fort Collins,” Bralish wrote in an email to the Herald on March 28. “Assisting constituents, or their close family members, is standard practice.”
On Tuesday, Bralish said Polis submitted a correction to the clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives.
“She (the clerk) will correct the transcript of the record,” she said.
Bralish went on to defend Polis’ comments on the House floor.
“I know him as a person, and I know he was never coming from a nefarious place,” she said. “He was never trying to deceive anyone. We want to be as transparent as possible.”
Other Democrats in the race for governor include former state Sen. Mike Johnston, former state Treasurer Cary Kennedy and Lt. Gov. Donna Lynne.
mrupani@durangoherald.com
