Press Release- Jan 20, 2007
OFFICE OF GOV. BILL RITTER, JR.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
EMBARGOED UNTIL 5 P.M. SATURDAY, JAN. 2007
Contact:
Evan Dreyer, 720-350-8370
Craig Bannister, 720.635.9779
GOV. RITTER NAMES RUSSELL GEORGE TO HEAD CDOT
RIFLE - Gov. Bill Ritter today selected former Department of Natural Resources executive director and one-time House Speaker Russell George to lead the state's transportation department.
Ritter made the announcement in George's hometown of Rifle as part of a three-day tour of the state. The nomination fills the final executive director position in the new Ritter administration.
"I have long admired Russ George's leadership style and his unmatched list of accomplishments," Ritter said. "I'm elated that the people of Colorado will continue to benefit from his wisdom, his strong management skills and his knack for overcoming challenges with creative solutions.
" Ritter said one of George's immediate responsibilities will be to work with the new Colorado Transportation Finance and Implementation Panel. Ritter intends to name panel members within the next 90 days. The blue-ribbon task force will identify long-term solutions to Colorado's declining transportation revenue sources.
"I'm deeply flattered that Gov. Ritter has invited me to join his administration in this new capacity," George said. "Building a modern and efficient transportation system is vital to our future quality of life and the state's economic well-being. I look forward to working with our dedicated CDOT employees, our regional partners and the people of Colorado to create one of the best transportation systems in the country."
George served as executive director of the Department of Natural Resources for Gov. Owens from Jan. 9, 2004, to Jan. 9, 2007. Before that, he was director of the Colorado Division of Wildlife, and from 1992 to 2000 he served in the state House of Representatives. His colleagues selected him as Speaker of the House in 1999.
George is a graduate of Rifle High School, Colorado State University, where he was a Boettcher Scholar, and Harvard Law School. He served as a VISTA volunteer for the Crow Tribe of Indians in Montana and as a municipal judge in Rifle.
George is married to Neal Ellen George, who continues to teach elementary special education in Rifle. They have four grown sons: Russell, Charles, Thomas and Andrew.
George's nomination requires Senate approval. Two of Ritter's Cabinet appointees received Senate confirmation on Friday: Department of Local Affairs Executive Director Susan Kirkpatrick and Department of Personnel and Administration Executive Director Rich Gonzales. |
The Senate confirmed six nominees Jan. 12:
- Karen Legault Beye, Department of Human Services
- Donald Mares, Department of Labor and Employment
- David Skaggs, Department of Higher Education
- John Stulp, Department of Agriculture
- Peter Weir, Department of Public Safety
- Ari Zavaras, Department of Corrections
- Joan Henneberry, Department of Health Care Policy and Financing
- Roxanne Huber, Department of Revenue
- James B. Martin, Department of Public Health and Environment
- LRico Munn, Department of Regulatory Agencies
- Harris Sherman, Department of Natural Resources