County hosts wide-ranging discussion with Pitkin County

Mutual membership in lobbying group Club 20  debated

Like any neighbor extending a dinner invitation across a backyard fence, the Gunnison Board of County Commissioners had their counterparts from across the mountains in Pitkin County as guests for lunch and a work session on Tuesday, August 12, to discuss several matters that affect both counties.

Among the topics discussed at length was the membership both counties have in Club 20, an organization composed of county and industry representatives, business groups and individuals from the Western Slope. The group’s goal is to present a “unified voice on issues of mutual concern” to the state and federal governments.
The name of the group is derived from the 20 counties in the region that share many of the same unique interests, but there are also 1,120 other groups and individuals that have a vote. When all of the votes are cast, the simple majority is presented as the unified voice.
That is where Gunnison County commissioner Paula Swenson and Pitkin County commissioner Rachel Richards, both representatives to Club 20 for their respective counties, feel the group has strayed from its original purpose.
“After the spring meeting, there was a sentiment that minority viewpoints were really not getting much respect anymore. The nature of Club 20 is changing to become dominated by the oil and gas industry’s sponsorship,” said Richards.
She said representatives of the industry have been running “rough shod” over the minority interests, like those pertaining to the environment, in conversations and group discussions.
However, a Club 20 representative argues that county commissioners’ concerns are unwarranted. After the discussions take place and the vote of each member is cast, a board of representatives considers the outcome and casts their own votes that will determine the message the group takes to government.
“The majority rules but the minority always have their day in court,” says Reeves Brown, executive director of Club 20. “No matter if you pay $100 in dues or $1,000, everybody has one vote and I think that is pretty unique.”
Although membership is open and diverse, there is a feeling among the commissioners that the disproportionate number of representatives from the oil and gas industry overrides the voices of those concerned about the environment, agriculture and other interests on the Western Slope.
“At some level the ideas that are a little bit more progressive are being used as a kind of green wash to say ‘Oh look, we’re a diverse group. We’re the voice of the Western Slope’ without respecting or incorporating the diversity,” said Richards.
Specifically, Richards said, she was dismayed with Club 20’s stance on the state’s oil and gas regulations, which she says pay little attention to the ranching, agricultural, tourism and recreation industries that rely on the same open space.
While there may be the perception Club 20 represents the county governments of the Western Slope, Brown admits, “Anyone with a checkbook and pulse can join.”
Among the commissioners there was mutual frustration about the inability of Club 20 to relay to the public that there is no broad agreement between all members of the organization, and whether it is proper for the group to present a unified front when there is often dissent.
“I wonder if it is appropriate for governments to be members of organizations that don’t totally represent government. The point of the matter is that it is not a governmental organization,” said Gunnison County commission chairman Hap Channell. “Club 20 reaps a lot of benefit from saying that they’re the voice of the Western Slope.”
But there was also a feeling among several commissioners from Pitkin that there needed to be a dissenting voice represented at the meetings.
“I think it is important to continue participating and being that consistent minority voice,” said Richards.
The role of special interest groups in government has been the focus of much media attention and addressing the issue has even entered the campaign promises of both presidential candidates.
Brown presents the argument that every member of the group is representing a special interest but the commissioners feel they represent the diverse special interests of their constituents. Those representing oil and gas companies, however, are only serving their industry’s special interest.
“So there is a sentiment that the group so strongly represents industry that there is no accommodation whatsoever [for minority interests], and at what point do you want to dedicate county money and have the county name associated with the organization?” asked Richards.
When asked about the role Club 20 plays in government, Brown joked, “We pretty much run the state. We have a representative on the Front Range called the Governor.” However, he concedes that much of Club 20’s influence and legitimacy is derived from the involvement of the counties.
“Every county is important to the club. We are only as influential as we are able to represent that collective voice,” he said, adding that even if a county doesn’t participate in the process, the group still tries to represent their views.
And for Brown, the argument that the minority interests are under-represented doesn’t hold much water.
“If anybody is screaming about being under represented, it should be the energy company in Mesa County [that] has hundreds of employees and 130,000 county residents to represent and they only have one vote,” said Brown. “They’re the ones that are under-represented.”