Is Gov. Polis micromanaging the wolf relocation efforts in Colorado that seem to keep going sideways?
It’s a legitimate concern, especially considering the overly active interest by the governor’s partner, First Gentleman Marlon Reis, an animal rights activist who keeps getting into social media spats with voters opposed to forced migration of apex predators into their backyards.
It was Democrat state Rep. Dylan Roberts of Eagle who finally pressed the question during a committee meeting this week with Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials.
Thanks to a report in the Denver Gazette, which has been doing some incredible journalism of late by the way, we have a pretty good indication that is exactly what’s happening.
From the report:
Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director Jeff Davis Davis didn’t directly answer the question initially.
It’s a balancing act, he said.
The Gazette further reported that in a follow-up question, Roberts pushed again asking if the governor’s office is involved in daily decisions.
The response this time:
As the executive of the state, the governor has a responsibility to be aware of what’s going on and what decisions Colorado Parks and Wildlife is making, Davis said.
“It’s part of good governance,” the official said.
In other words, yes.
With so many critical issues on the governor’s desk like the economy, immigration, crime, housing, homelessness, and turning Colorado into a socialist state, a pack of wolves should not command so much of Polis’s attention.
We all know the answer why, which is the same reason state employees won’t directly answer the question.