DEL NORTE— Several area residents and business owners gathered at the Rio Grande Pharmacy in Del Norte for a chance to meet Attorney General Democratic candidate Phil Weiser.
Weiser was in the Valley throughout the day on July 23 to speak with residents, business owners and local government officials about his campaign and what he planned to do once elected in November.
According to his background, Weiser is the Hatfield Professor of Law and Telecommunications, executive director and founder of the Silicon Flatirons Center for Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship and dean emeritus at the University of Colorado Law School. He previously served in the Obama and Clinton Administrations in the White House and Justice Department. He announced summer travel earlier in the year, hoping to gain perspective of issues facing rural communities.
Weiser began his listening session by introducing himself to the attending crowd and speaking on behalf of the issues he has heard about from Coloradoans around the state. “I have lived my entire life as a connector, building strong relationships on trust. This country is in a state of cynicism. People no longer trust their government officials, but I want you to get to know me. I want to build that foundation of trust and be the lawyer for Colorado,” stated Weiser.
“Water is the lifeblood of our state. Our agricultural economy, tourism industry and quality of life in this beautiful state depend on it. Because of climate change and the projected growth that will take place in Colorado over the decades ahead, we need innovative leadership to protect, conserve and manage our water. I will bring innovation to the office of attorney general, and that includes leadership on water as a top priority.”
Another topic of discussion that pertained to issues here in the Valley was brought up by one of the attending citizens, who spoke on behalf of the opioid epidemic, stating that even some of the local pharmacies, including the Rio Grande Pharmacy, refused to even carry opioid medication for fear of adding to the increasing epidemic.
“I was made aware after visiting with officials in Alamosa, that 92 percent of the people in jail are there because of opioid-related crimes. I want to go back to the pharmaceutical companies that collected all of that money from people to sell their medications and get that money back, so that we can create sustainable rehabilitation clinics in towns like this that need it the most,” stated Weiser.
“I also want people to know that I will come back after the election and continue to talk with you about issues in the area. A lot of government officials get elected and never come back to rural communities to talk with the people— I will. I will come back and do what I can to help. We need an attorney general that will work with the people and for the people as a partner.”
Weiser spent the next hour speaking with constituents one on one, hearing about other concerns that related to the Valley as a whole and made sure to take notes on some of the topics.
Weiser is running against Republican candidate Cynthia Coffman in November.