Colorado Politics reports members of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission aren’t political appointees, even though they were appointed by a political governor and confirmed by a political legislature, all from the same political party.

Which might explain why Republicans took issue with the legislature’s confirmation this week of Polis’s appointees picks, none of whom are from areas that represent “high levels of current or anticipated oil and gas activity or employment,” as required by Senate Bill 19-181.

“I’m not aware of a lot of oil and gas production going on in Lakewood,” Coram said, noting that 30% of the commissioners come from the Denver suburb.

 

Sen. John Cooke, R-Greeley, opposed all five nominees, saying there was no inclusion nor diversity on this board. “This is not the intent of the law,” he said.

The new members are Priya K. Nanjappa of Lakewood; Bill Gonzales of Denver; Karin McGowan of Lakewood; John Messner of Gunnison; and, Jeff Robbins of Durango.