Pols rail against expansion
Tells crowd they are ‘patriotic’ for opposing Army's plans.
KIM — Candidates and elected officials from across party lines stood united Saturday against the proposed expansion of the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site. Billed as the Pinon Canyon Preservation Festival, members of the Pinon Canyon Expansion Opposition Coalition invited several politicians to speak.
All speakers agreed the threat of the proposed expansion of the 238,000-acre maneuver site east of Trinidad looms over the entire region.
"Don't ever let anyone tell you that it is un-American to stand up for your ranches and farms. Don't you ever let anyone tell you that you are un-American," U.S. Rep. John Salazar told the crowd of more than 100 people.
The Colorado Democrat said that without farms and ranches the country is dead. "As long as I am in Washington (D.C.) the Army will not expand its Pinon Canyon," Salazar said drawing applause from the crowd.
Salazar said the Army can't justify the expansion. Salazarand Rep. Betsy Markey, D-Fort Collins, helped renew the annual funding ban against spending money for expansion for fiscal year 2010. This is the third year a ban to block funding has been in effect. The original legislation was authored by former U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave and co-sponsored by Salazar.
This week, Salazar asked the Department of Defense to investigate the Army’s efforts to acquire more land at the maneuver site. He cited violations of federal law and a federal court decision in a letter this week to Inspector General Gordon S. Heddell. "This investigation will show that the Army has defied 435 members of the United States Congress. Two presidents have signed into law a bill not allowing the Army to utilize any financial means that comes from the United States government for expansion of Pinon Canyon," Salazar said.
State Rep. Scott Tipton, who is vying for the Republican nomination to run against Salazar, told the crowd that he will fight to protect their property rights.
"We are rural Coloradoans and I don't think urban Colorado, Denver, let alone Washington, D.C., understands this," Tipton said. Tipton said the issue is critically important. "It's about your livelihoods," Tipton said.
Tipton's primary opponent, Bob McConnell, a combat veteran, said that if he is elected he will hold the Army's feet to the fire. "No. Not on my watch. Not without a fight, no," he said about the expansion.
McConnell said he appreciates the moratorium on funding for the expansion and that there is a push to make it permanent. McConnell said he has met with Army officials and has talked on the telephone with them on several occasions. "I have been told once again that the Army does not need any additional land at the present. (Present) is the key word right there," McConnell said.
"If they tell us that in the present we don't need to expand but next week we do, I am going to find out why and I am going to ask for alternatives. I will never surrender you or Pinon Canyon or our way of life as long as I am alive."
Former Colorado Speaker of the House Andrew Romanoff spoke by telephone and said when he gets to the U.S. Senate he will help the Army find some other place to conduct its training. Romanoff is fighting incumbent, appointed U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet for the Democratic nomination. "I really appreciate the work you are putting in. I know what it's like to fight when the odds are against you and a lot of powerful institutions are against you too. I admire your courage and your patriotism."
State Senate District 2 candidate Matt Heimerich, a Crowley County commissioner, said he realizes the issue is complex. "It's almost like the cloud that we have had over our head in Crowley County these last four decades when we've struggled to make improvements to our farms knowing that there may be one more water sale down the road. But we persevered and we continue to do the things that are right," Heimerich said.
His opponent for that state Senate Republican nomination Kevin Grantham said the issue is far-reaching. "This issue is vital, not just to this area, but to every corner of Colorado," Grantham said."There should be no expansion period."
Gloria Stultz, the Democrat running for Senate District 2, also said she is against the expansion. "I share your passions for your land. I live on a 125-year-old homestead in Fremont County. I understand your heritage, your devotion to it and your allegiance to it," Stultz said.
Incumbent state Rep. Wes McKinley, who has spoken against the expansion on several occasions, said the citizens in communities surrounding the base brought the issue to light. "It's the people's government. It takes dedication. It's you the people standing up and doing your duty," McKinley said.
Lisa Kellogg, his Republican opponent for District 64, said she also is opposed to the expansion. "We are all here today because we believe in the sanctity of private property rights and because we believe that a promise made should be a promise kept," Kellogg said. Kellogg said she would take the battle over Pinon Canyon to the federal courts if necessary.
"For years the very threat of the expansion looming over us has devastated the economy. Almost as if the government had already come in and taken the land," Kellogg said.
Gubernatorial candidate Dan Maes and Markey sent representatives to the meeting.
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