editor’s note: Each week during the legislative session, Denver Post political reporters will sit down with Capitol newsmakers. This Q&A was edited for length.
Democrat Bruce Whitehead brought an expertise in water issues to the legislature when he was appointed to a vacant Senate seat last summer.
The 51-year-old Fort Collins native lives about 15 miles southwest of Durango with his wife, Becca, and their daughters, Isabel, 10, and Risa, 8.
Q: You took the seat held by Sen. Jim Isgar, D-Hesperus, who resigned to take a federal ag job. I think people were surprised to learn that in this vast Senate district, Isgar’s successor also hailed from Hesperus.
A: I live in a very rural community. I got the choice of two post offices, Hesperus or Marvel. I asked what was the difference, and they said in Marvel, I would have a post office box and Hesperus delivered. So I opted for Hesperus for my mailing address.
Q: As soon you got appointed there was a target on your back. In fact, Republican Sen. Shawn Mitchell got into a bit of trouble from Democrats this year when he referred to you as “Sen. OneYear” during debate on the Senate floor.
A: It’s been challenging, but I have taken the position that I am here to do my job, and I’ll worry about the campaign after the session.
Q: What surprised you the most when you got up here?
A: There is a huge volume of work, and it moves very quickly. I’m up late at night and up early in the morning trying to read bills and staying up with e-mails.
Q: What are some of your hobbies?
A: I love music. I play the guitar and sing. I play in a bluegrass band — these days as time allows. It’s called the High Desert String Band. We play mostly for fun, but we’ve played at some local festivals. I also have ridden motorcycles since I was 10.
