We need Gail Schwartz in Congress. Currently Scott Tipton represents the 3rd Congressional District — an area covering about half the state from Wyoming to New Mexico to the Rocky Mountains plus Alamosa and Pueblo.
Gail Schwartz has served eight years in the Colorado state Senate. She is an articulate, energetic, informed candidate who wants to represent the 3rd District effectively. She has done her homework and has traveled the District meeting the people and listening to the concerns of rural western Coloradans — especially for protection of public lands. She is a consensus builder and has worked effectively in the Senate to pass over 100 bills.
Protected for us and future generations, the public lands in the 3rd District are world class, providing recreation opportunities and thousands of jobs and boosting our economy by hundreds of thousands of dollars. Scott Tipton supports the group in Congress unofficially called the “Anti-Parks Caucus” that has filed approximately 44 bills or amendments whose purpose is to undercut or remove protections for parks and public lands.
What a travesty that would be to lose our public lands where people hike, bike, hunt, and fish. The League of Conservation Voters has rated Tipton 3 percent this year — 8 percent over his career, whereas the rating for Gale Schwartz is 97 percent for her tenure as Colorado state senator. Tipton has been criticized for his association with the oil and gas industry due to his proposal to settle a drilling issue in the Thompson Divide area that was written mostly by one of his campaign donors who would profit if drilling was allowed. He voted for an appropriations bill in 2016 that would block any use of funds for any national monument created by President Obama under the Antiquities Act. Tipton also voted for measures to limit the authority granted the president under the Antiquities Act. The list goes on.
Please think carefully when you mark your ballot. Vote for the future of our public lands. Vote for Gail Schwartz.
Jane C. Anderson
Dolores
