The Chaffee Board of County Commissioners took a step to honor outgoing State Representative Jim Wilson Tuesday morning, issuing a proclamation honoring his years of service before and during eight years in the State House representing House District 60.
Chair Greg Felt read the proclamation, pointing out his years of advocacy for student education, service as Salida School District Superintendent and the Colorado High school Athletic Association, and his unfailing example of legislative decorum. The unanimous vote and thanks from the commissioners, each of whom represent different parties or unaffiliated status, spoke volumes for how Wilson has approached his public service.
“He represented respect for the institutions of government,” said Felt. “He put the interests of the state above the party, asserting a voice of reason during a volatile time in our country.”
Wilson for his part, noted that “recognition is not why we do this … it is such an honor to be able to serve House District 60 over the last eight years, and I think we got lots done for the state, the district and for Chaffee County.”
A Conversation with Wilson
Ark Valley Voice spoke with Wilson on Tuesday afternoon, his last day as the State Legislator representing Colorado House Dist. 60. He was reflective, content with his record and as usual, spoke with good humor.
We began with his strong comments after a disturbance a few weeks ago, on the floor of the House Assembly. What he referred to as a”ruckus”, was in fact, caused by Ron Hanks, his Dist. 60 replacement in the House, who, not yet sworn in, was invited to sit on the House floor during a proceeding. Wilson delivered a strong reprimand, urging House members to respect the office, and respect the democratic proceedings.
“It was ironic. I did not know when I made my comments that he was the one causing the disruption,” said Wilson. “I thought it was normal stuff, disrespecting, not paying attention. But my comment still applies.”
His motto through the years has never changed, said Wilson. “You have to cooperate. When we had the split chambers with the Senate Republican and the House Democrats, everyone has to play nice, especially when you’re outnumbered.”
That said, Wilson says that this particular point in time is concerning because, he says, “There are extremes are on both sides. They had a pro police rally in Denver that the left shut down. That’s wrong. What happened at the Capitol building this last week was wrong – wrong !!!”
He paused and cleared his throat. “I want to say ‘OK wackos, shut up’. The rest of us want to get along here. People who go and introduce their ‘message bills’, they just got people riled up. I’m a gun owner and I conceal carry, but I’m not wild about people using open carry to fly in the face of everyone … they are the radical folks.”
Getting Things Done
After eight years in the Colorado House, Wilson admits he has a lot to be proud of. Asked to name that of which he is most proud, he chuckles, commenting that “good legislation is good legislation.”
“I got more things done in the 2019 year than I had in prior years. You can get things done when you work with people. You got to find out what the people really need and go for it.”
Asked to name his favorite pieces of legislation, he responded instantly.
“It’s the full day kindergarten thing [HB 19- 1262]. It was my crowning achievement, I think, to see Governor Jared Polis sign that into law, and to have June 3 declared as Kindergarten Day in Colorado. Boy, I worked for years for that.”
Wilson says it never would have happened if it had not been a bipartisan effort. “The governor and I are far apart politically, but he called me the day he got elected and said ‘I want to work with you on full-day kindergarten.’ So it was collaborative. We don’t have to agree politically, but we can get things done.”
Asked about other efforts, Wilson took a minute to respond. “There were so many bills signed that are important to Chaffee County and Dist. 60. The manufacturing and education and heath bills; bills on assisted living for senior citizens, the long term care centers.”
“I never would have brought the bill that now allows pharmacists to tell customers who have reached their annual deductibles that their expensive prescription drugs are available over the counter, if Lucas Smith [BV and Salida Pharmacies] hadn’t brought it to my attention,” he explained. “Say the prescription is $60 and it’s over the counter for $15 – you couldn’t even tell people that! So we passed the law that says your pharmacist can tell you there is a cheaper choice.”
Even more than individual bills, says Wilson, is the respect gained for rural districts at the State House. “The respect that we gained for rural Colorado is huge. They are listening to our voice — the voice of rural Colorado.”
Asked about the support he has on both sides of the aisle, Wilson says that he has managed to cross party lines, and knows that while he and Democrats don’t always agree, getting that support means “you’re probably trying to do the right thing.”
The Use of Violence
He decries the critical juncture the country stands at with the mob attack on the Capitol last week. “What happened was there is no excuse for lawlessness. When you break the law you break the law. We are a nation of laws. That said, our governor commented on the national Capitol, but not what happened to the state house this past summer … I don’t care if its BLM or Trump-ers, if you are destroying public and private property, it is wrong.”
Wilson agreed with a question posed by Ark Valley Voice that the country is standing on a knife edge at the moment. “You are pretty darn accurate about that … it saddens me that people are so polarized that they can’t sit down and talk about the things they agree on. One of my favorite things at the Capitol was to say, ‘man, that doesn’t look nearly R enough for me.'”
He laughed and concluded, “I didn’t go there to make a point. I went there to make a difference.”
It could honestly be said — he made a big difference.
Featured image: Representative Jim Wilson, who sponsored and carried the bill, standing to Governor Jared Polis’s left as the governor signed into law HP 19- 1262, authorizing Full Day Kindergarten for the state of Colorado.
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