James Tarpey announced Tuesday that he is resigning as a commissioner of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission effective Jan. 6.
Tarpey, by then-Gov. Bill Ritter, said in a statement that he is resigning “to work less and play more.” He said the PUC post “has been very challenging, and I definitely have enjoyed it.”
Tarpey is the sole Republican commissioner, serving alongside Democrats Joshua Epel and Pamela Patton. State law requires that no more than two commissioners be from the same party.
Gov. John Hickenlooper this year reappointed Tarpey to a four-year term. “He helped Colorado establish solid, fair rules and regulations for protecting the environment and promoting business,” Hickenlooper said in a statement. “We will miss his calm, analytical presence on the commission.”
