The
Crestone Eagle, November 2007:
Crestone resident Cal Cali annouces run for Colo. House District 60 rep.
by Rick King
 Crestone/Baca
resident Cal Cali has annnounced that he is running for Colorado
State Representative for House District 60. He is running
on the Democratic ticket against Republican incumbent Tom
Massey, a real estate owner/broker living in Chaffee County.
District 60 includes the eastern portion of Saguache County,
Chaffee, Custer, Fremont, and sections of Park and Pueblo
Counties.
Crestone’s one man “stalwart tourism booster”
would bring his knowledge and experience of the region and
its people to the state legislature, say supporters.
“Friends have been encouraging me to run for this seat
for the past four months. Once the Sacred Peaks Conference
was over it became clear that I truly wanted to help Governor
Ritter and Senator Schwartz make a difference in our state.”
Said Cali in a written notice of the candidacy that went out
to the HD 60 State Chair.
“I’ve never been a politician but have helped
candidates win their offices, and I especially worked hard
to get out votes for Bill Ritter and Gail Schwartz.
“It’s a new adventure that I’m looking
forward to. As one of my friends wrote when I was undecided:
‘What we have is an outlet for you to express yourself
and to do good works for the land, the people, the water,
the air, and the animals. Why not run for this office? Give
it a try. It is good for the soul!’
Cali states, “Rather than focusing on attacking or
defending against my opponent, I’m campaigning for what
I believe we need in Colorado and District 60.”
One of several critical issues Cal would address is reforming
a severance tax code and regulatory regime, currently favorable
to the oil and gas industry.
According to a press release issued by Cal Cali’s campaign,
low severance tax on oil, gas drilling is costly to Colorado.
Colorado has lost out on more than $1 billion from oil and
gas development because of ‘bargain basement’
taxes on the industry in comparison with neighboring states.
Colorado’s low severance taxes, coupled with a “dizzying
array of exemptions and deductions,” leave Colorado
short of money for higher education, transportation, health
care and dealing with the effects of drilling on Western Slope
communities, says a report by the nonprofit Carbondale based
Community Office for Resource Efficiency, which promotes renewable
energy sources and green building techniques.
Cali believes that all concerned will be better served by
requiring fair compensation for what is taken from us, and
more careful long-term environmental and social evaluation
of what is allowed to be taken and how it is to be regulated.
The additional revenue can be used for education, affordable
health care, and alternative energy projects that will create
new jobs.
On another critical issue, he says Colorado must be smarter
than Massachusetts about health insurance. We can’t
place the burden on Coloradans to choose between rent or their
monthly, mandatory insurance premium. Good, affordable health
care should be available to each and every citizen of our
state. We can not take the easy door out on this.
“I sincerely ask for your support” says Cal Cali
who will be visiting every town in HD 60 to meet the residents
and to listen to your voices. You are always welcome to visit
Cal at the CAVA (Crestone Area Visitors Association) office
in the Sangre de Cristo Inn in downtown Crestone. You may
also reach him at 719-256-5210 or toll free 1-866-351-CAVA
(2282). Email cava@crestonevisit.com.
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