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I haven't been following this as closely as I should have, but as I understand it, our state legislature has just declared that Gov. Roy Romer's picture will not henceforth appear on official state highway maps.
That's quite an insult. Not only has the governor's picture been on the map for many years, but it is a common courtesy.
At hand are two relatively recent highway department
maps of neighbor states. New Mexico's displays a mug shot
of Garrey Carruthers. The other is for a place called
Utah!
-- which must be the official name, since it
is the official map. On it is a picture of Norman H.
Bangerter.
Compare their accompanying welcome messages to Romer's, and you might believe that the real reason the legislature banished the picture was to get rid of his generic welcome message.
In New Mexico, Gov. Carruthers says you will find
desert sands, alpine and ponderosa vistas, mountain lakes
and vast plains.
And in Utah!, Gov. Bangerter says you can unearth
fossils of prehistoric dinosaurs, follow trails made by
explorers and pioneers as they settled the West, watch
Shakespeare performed under the stars or water ski on a
lake nestled between cliffs of sandstone hundreds of feet
tall.
But in Colorado, Romer says to take the time to
recognize the varied agricultural, mineral and natural
resources Colorado has to offer.
Couldn't you say that about any state -- the varied
agricultural, mineral and natural resources of New Jersey
or Ohio? Besides, can you imagine an Iowa family in the
station wagon: Honey, slow down. The governor wants us
to take time to recognize this late Mesozoic anticlinal
fault with supergene enrichment that is among the varied
mineral resources of Colorado.
At least Romer was truthful; he didn't promote cultural or educational resources.
Other governors use a different trick to put their names
before the public. The last time I drove into the Coyote
State, the border sign said Welcome to South Dakota.
GEORGE S. MICKELSON, governor.
Why does he put his name on the signs?
one of the
kids asked.
After I dodged several potholes only to contend with a
crumbling shoulder, I was finally able to reply. Beats
me. If my highways were like this and I were the governor
here, I'd put somebody else's name on the sign.
A similar tactic might be the best course for Romer. If the legislature doesn't want him to speak for various facets of Colorado, then he should make sure that the right people do.
At remote borders, such as Colo. 17 or U.S. 666, the
sign might say Welcome to Colorado. Due to the funding
levels for rural emergency services, five-hour delays for
ambulances are quite possible during the next 300 miles.
TED STRICKLAND, senate majority leader.
Or at the eastbound I-70 overlook near El Rancho:
Beneath the opaque, toxic cloud directly ahead likes
Denver, FEDERICO PEÑA, mayor.
Along the Arkansas River near Elephant Rock, in a vale
most pleasant for fishing, hiking, kayaking and the like:
BOB ISAACS, mayor of Colorado Springs and rumored
candidate for governor, wants to put this valley under 200
feet of water.
On the edge of a one-time wilderness study parcel now
being clear-cut during a below-cost timber sale: This
area was opened for exploitation by the unceasing efforts
of BILL ARMSTRONG, U.S. senator from Colorado.
Since the legislature wants to play silly election-year games, the governor should make it clear that two can play. If they won't put his picture on the map, he should hire a sign painter and insure that credit is given where credit is due.
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