OURAY, Colo.—Gov. John Hickenlooper has appointed former Ridgway Mayor Patrick Willits to fill the seat of former Ouray County Commissioner Heidi Albritton, who resigned Aug. 14 to accept a job outside the county.
Albritton was a Republican but changed her party affiliation this summer to “unaffiliated.” That meant it was up to Hickenlooper, rather than a party vacancy committee, to choose who would finish the last few months left of her term.
Willits, who is registered as unaffiliated, is the executive director of The Trust for Land Restoration.
He also has held positions with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, The Nature Conservancy, Nichols Expeditions, Eldora Mountain Resort and Boulder Valley School District.
His appointment was effective Tuesday.
