Sunday, September 25, 2005

WALSENBURG - “Hi, I’m Bill, Governor Bill!”

That was Gov. Bill Owens’ standard greeting to anybody who wanted to meet him here Saturday, for a rare visit by the Colorado governor.

The governor made his presence an event in Walsenburg by meeting as many residents as he had time for during a nearly three-hour visit to the down-town business community and at a barbecue and dedication of Black Diamond Park, the city’s new master-planned subdivision.

Owens made it a point to enter almost every Main Street business, whether it was a barbershop, restaurant-saloon or gift shop, meet its owner and have his picture taken with anyone who asked. He also took time out to talk state politics and answer questions, specifically about Referendums C and D at a community forum breakfast at the downtown La Plaza Inn.

Owens was accompanied by state Sen. Ken Kester, R- Las Animas, nearly every elected local public official and it seemed like almost every city policeman and county sheriff’s deputy to provide security and traffic control.

After his tour of both sides of Main Street businesses, Owens helped dedicate Black Diamond Park. He was presented a key to the county, signed over a $97,500 state energy impact grant check to the La Veta Regional Library for its future expansion project and engaged in casual conversation with hundreds of citizens.

Colorado’s economic health or lack thereof was Owens’ primary topic of discussion with the many residents who asked him about it. While the governor praised Walsenburg’s new look downtown storefront redevelopment as being good examples of what private enterprise can do on its own, he never veered far off his favorite November general election topic, Referendums C and D.

Owens continued to emphasize that ballot measure as being the only way for the state to catch up to where it was five years ago due to the Taxpayers Bill of Rights ratcheting down effect that has led to a 16 percent reduction in state revenues.

While he repeated the standard voter incentives on what sectors of the state economy will be hit hardest should C and D fail (higher education and state infrastructure). Owens also addressed a newer concern: how the poor would be pressed to pay utility bills this winter with an expected 40 to 70 percent increase in the cost of natural gas.

“If we don’t pass ‘C,’ the state’s just not going to have any money for anything extra,” said Owens. “We do want to use the low-energy assistance program. As governor I’ve put federal and state funds in it.

“We also have a new check-off on utility bills that hopefully will bring in some money we will be able to allocate through Energy Outreach Colorado,” said Owens. “The passage of C would in fact allow us to have an ability to help the poorest of Coloradoans deal with those 40 to 70 percent increases in their heating bills.”

“The guys on the other side say Owens is just trying to scare the elderly, but I’m just stating the facts,” he said. “They don’t like the facts and when you state the facts, they say we’re trying to scare people. But if people really knew the facts they would be scared.”

Owens also discussed state prison issues and how the state construction industry is likely going to take a major hit with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita drawing so much of its lumber, concrete and steel industry to the Gulf Coast.