Gov. Bill Ritter heads to Pueblo today for the first time since the tongue-lashing he received in January, in part over his pick for the U.S. Senate.
Ritter will speak tonight at the Pueblo County Democrats’ annual St. Patrick’s Day Dinner.
And on Saturday, he has two events in Pueblo, a bill signing and a job fair for a wind-tower plant scheduled to open later this year.
“It is essential, on Gov. Ritter’s part, to be there,” said Sen. Abel Tapia, D-Pueblo. “I think the governor has heard loud and clear the cries of Pueblo Democrats.”
Ritter’s spokesman, Evan Dreyer, said Pueblo is important to the governor. He pointed out Ritter made nine visits in 2007.
But two back-to-back events soured relations between Pueblo County Democrats and the governor.
Pueblo bid to be the site of a new Department of Corrections headquarters but lost in October 2008 to Colorado Springs, where the DOC already is located. Since then, the budget crisis has forced the state to scrap plans for a new building.
And Ritter in late December selected Denver Public Schools chief Michael Bennet, a dark-horse candidate, for the Senate seat about to be vacated by San Luis Valley native Ken Salazar.
Both Ritter and Bennet got an earful when they visited Pueblo on Jan. 13.
“Pueblo has a history of letting elected officials know when they think they’re doing something right or wrong,” said Rep. Sal Pace, D-Pueblo. “Politics is sport in Pueblo.”
Some Pueblo leaders were upset that Ritter didn’t choose a Latino, such as Salazar’s brother, U.S. Rep. John Salazar, or someone such as then-House Speaker Andrew Romanoff of Denver, who has connections outside the Front Range.
“Romanoff has been to Pueblo many, many times,” Tapia said.
Party activist Gil Ortiz said he was already upset with Ritter over labor issues when the governor picked Bennet.
“I’m not upset with Bennet because he didn’t pick himself and am not as upset as I used to be,” Ortiz said. “But it’s good the governor is coming because he needs to mend some fences.”
At 9 a.m. Saturday, Ritter will sign House Bill 1083 by Tapia and Rep. Buffie McFadyen, D-Pueblo West. It allows the Department of Personnel and Administration to save $750,000 by purchasing a 35,000-square-foot building the department currently leases. The ceremony will be held at the Pueblo Airport.
Then at 10 a.m., the governor plans to visit those attending Vestas’ career and job fair at the Pueblo Convention Center.
Vestas is building the world’s largest wind-tower manufacturing plant in Pueblo. The facility is set to open later this year and will employ about 500 people, according to the governor’s office.
“People in Pueblo are very happy about the Vestas plant,” Dreyer said. “This project would not be happening if not for Gov. Ritter and his Office of Economic Development.”
Lynn Bartels: 303-954-5327 or lbartels@denverpost.com
