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Press Release- April 09, 2007

OFFICE OF GOV. BILL RITTER, JR.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2007

Contact:
Evan Dreyer, 720.350.8370

GOV. RITTER MAKES NOMINATIONS TO GREAT OUTDOORS COLORADO AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION

Gov. Bill Ritter has made several nominations to the Great Outdoors Colorado board and the Colorado Wildlife Commission. He also has named two additional public trustees and a new chief administrative officer for the Office of the Governor.

The following nominations were made to the board of the Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund:

  • James A. Smith of Denver (unaffiliated, 1st Congressional District);
  • Karla L. Shriver of Monte Vista (Republican, 3rd Congressional District);
  • Kathleen "Kae" B. Rader of Colorado Springs (unaffiliated, 5th Congressional District);
  • Matt J. Sugar of Winter Park (Democrat, 2nd Congressional District);
  • State Sen. Ken Kester of Las Animas (Republican, 4th Congressional District);
  • Thomas W. Swanson of Evergreen (Republican, 6th Congressional District).
The GOCO board is a 17-member panel with 14 members appointed by the governor. Terms are for four years and Senate confirmation is required. The board uses state lottery and lotto proceeds to purchase and enhance Colorado¿s recreation areas, parks, wildlife, wildlife habitat and open space.

The governor also made the following nominations to the state Wildlife Commission:
  • Dennis G. Buechler of Centennial to serve as a representative of sportsmen or outfitters from Wildlife District 5 and as a Democrat;
  • Chaffee County Commissioner Timothy R. Glenn of Salida, to serve as a representative of the boards of county commissioners from Wildlife District 4 and as a Democrat.
The Wildlife Commission is a nine-member panel. Terms are for four years and Senate confirmation is required. The commission is responsible for licensing requirements and the promulgation of rules, regulations and orders concerning wildlife programs. Senate confirmation is required.

Gov. Ritter also has named Nicholas Gradisar as the public trustee for Pueblo County and Susie Velasquez-Jojola as the public trustee for Weld County.

Public trustees handle all public transactions for their counties, including foreclosures of deeds of trust, releases of deeds of trust, and tax escrow accounts for land purchase contracts for properties. Senate confirmation is not required.

In addition, Gov. Ritter has named Norm Brisson as the chief administrative officer for the Governor's Office. Brisson most recently worked in the Denver District Attorney's Office as legal administrator.

He also has worked as an instructor at the University of Colorado at Denver and the Community College of Aurora, and has experience as a victim's advocate and counselor.