Colorado state Senator Dan Gibbs, D-Silverthorne, (in picture on the right) is being criticized by one of his constituents for helping to fight the 3,000+ acre Neva fire near Boulder on January 7. Gibbs, who has been a qualified Type 2 Wildland Firefighter since 2007, missed the second day of the legislative session while he was working on the fire.The criticism was in a letter submitted to the Summit Daily News by Breckenridge resident Jason Kaufman. In part, Mr. Kaufman said:
If you did miss a day of work or more, for which you were elected, to fight a fire, then I’m a little confused. Obviously your priorities are not in order and I’m having a difficult time understanding your actions.In the fall of 2007 Senator Gibbs traveled to California to work on some of the fires that devastated areas in the southern part of the state.
Sen. Gibbs, in case you didn’t notice, there is a huge inferno engulfing many of us. We don’t need any more tough guys or heroes, what we need are people who will show up for work and do the job they were elected to do. I know your pal Gov. Ritter gave you a pat on the back for you outstanding job on the front lines of a devastating wild fire. But like I said, that’s not the problem at hand.
1 comment:
It seems that Jason Kaufman wasn't aware of statute 31-30-1131 that went into effect June 2008 to protect volunteer firefighters such as Senator Gibbs from being fired from their job for doing their duty as firefighters when called up.
Thank you Senator Gibbs. I'm glad to hear that your priorities were in order. Please keep up the good work you are doing in the State Senate as well as any fire you may be called to fight in the future. Stay Safe.
Ffemt161
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