Tipton conspicuously absent from SLV forum

When Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar returned to the San Luis Valley to pitch his proposal for conserving the area's cultural heritage Wednesday, he was joined by all but one of the area's congressional delegation. U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Colo., was absent. His spokesman said Friday it was because the congressman was not invited. Adam Fletcher, a spokesman for Salazar, said the congressman was invited, but Fletcher did not respond to questions about how or to whom in Tipton's office an invitation was extended. Brenda Felmlee, a Tipton aide, did attend. Tipton, the owner of a Cortez pottery business, defeated the secretary's older brother, John Salazar, in the 2010 race to represent the congressional district that includes the valley, Pueblo and nearly all of the Western Slope. Josh Green, a spokesman for Tipton, said the congressman supports the preservation of the state's scenic, historic and cultural sites but that land-use designations should be initiated and driven at the local level. Salazar has raised the possibility that some parts of the valley may merit national historic park designation, although such a proposal would first require a study from Congress to determine whether it is feasible or appropriate for the U.S. Park Service to take it on. Green said Tipton would not oppose such a study, as long as it was accounted for in the Park Service's budget. Tipton sits on the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public lands. U.S. Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., chairs the Senate Subcommittee on National Parks and said Wednesday he would move ahead with the study if valley residents favor Park Service designation. Udall was on hand for the forum, as were Sen. Michael Bennet and Gov. John Hickenlooper. Pueblo Chieftain