Committee forwards GOCO board nominees after nominees highlight conservation projects

The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on March 5 voted unanimously to forward six nominees to the Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) Trust Fund board to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation, placing the appointments on the consent calendar.

Jackie Miller, Executive Director of the Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund, presented the slate and said she was "thankful" for the committee's consideration of six additional GOCO board appointees. The nominees who spoke described both large conservation projects and smaller community recreation projects as priorities. Tom Lee highlighted a recent GOCO commitment to conserve 18,000 acres and described it as a roughly "$27, 27 and a half million dollar investment" for the state; he called conservation easements and the resulting protections "incredible for Colorado." Patty Imhoff and Brenda May described GOCO’s work in smaller communities — playgrounds, pools and linear state parks — as essential to equitable outdoor access.

Nominees included Tom Lee (CD6), Adam Eichberg (CD1), Ray Rivera (CD7), Patty Imhoff (reappointment), Brenda May (CD4, agricultural representative), and Jim Ramey (CD3). Each offered short remarks about their motivation for service and GOCO projects in their regions; Jim Ramey noted his work with public‑lands coalitions and thanked the committee for prior legislative actions that helped preserve public lands.

Madam vice chair moved the appointments "to the full senate with a favorable recommendation." The committee recorded unanimous support and the chair placed the nominees on the consent calendar.

Next steps: the nominations will be considered by the full Senate. Committee discussion did not include changes to funding allocations or conditions on the appointments.