The stage is set for an interesting night in Rifle on Wednesday at the gubernatorial oil and gas debate hosted by the Associated Government of Northwest Colorado. Both Bill Ritter and Bob Beauprez have assured organizers that they will attend and their campaign advance teams will be making the last checks on the Rifle High School on TuesdayPerhaps up to just a few years ago, no one would have predicted that such an event would have attracted the attention of high caliber candidates to a small town in rural Western Colorado. Really, what role does Rifle and Northwest Colorado play in the big scheme of Colorado and national politics?
With huge deposits of energy resources such as natural gas, oil, coal, uranium and oil shale, nestled in one of the largest elk herds and special environmental areas found, seems like Northwest Colorado could be part of the political landscape for many years to come.
