Representative Kathleen Curry is the Colorado State Representative for House District 61, which includes Hinsdale, Gunnison, Pitkin, Eagle, and Garfield counties. She served as Speaker pro tempore in 2009, and served as the Chair of the Agriculture, Livestock, and Natural Resources Committee for 5 years. For the 2010 session, Kathleen serves on the Agriculture Committee and the Appropriations Committee.

Rep. Curry is very familiar with natural resources issues and policies. She has a broad understanding of agriculture, property rights, ranching, oil and gas, water rights, and economic development issues. Rep. Curry has served as manager of the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District, as a Water Rights Specialist for Wright Water Engineers in Denver, and as a Physical Scientist for the State of Colorado Water Conservation Board. She also helps her husband, Greg Peterson, ranch in the Gunnison Valley and is a part-time professor at Western State College.

Rep. Curry received a Master’s Degree in Water Resources Planning and Management from Colorado State University, and a Bachelors Degree in Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She has two sons, one in high school and one in middle school.

Education:
MS, Colorado State University, 1995    (Water Resources Planning and Management)
BS, University of Massachusetts, 1982   (Agricultural and Resource Economics)

Professional Experience:
Co-Owner, Tomichi Creek Natural Beef, Incorporated, present
Manager, Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District, 1998-2003
Water Rights Specialist, Wright Water Engineers, 1995-1997
Physical Scientist, Colorado Water Conservation Board, 1994-1996
Water Rights Specialist, ENSR Consulting Engineers, 1990-1994
Watershed Protection Specialist, City of Worcester, Massachusetts, Department of Public Works, 1986-1990.

Legislative Resume & Accomplishments for District 61:

After being elected in 2004 I was appointed Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resources and began working in that capacity to provide leadership on a number of issues. My work as a legislator has been diverse but in general I have focused on the issues that are most important to my district. Oil and gas development, water, agriculture, and tourism have been personal interests. Here is a list of some of what I have been doing:

I sponsored the bill reinstating graduate programs at Western State and the bills requiring that new rules be developed to protect public health and the environment in gas development regions

Sponsoring legislation to provide compensation for surface land owners that have been damaged by gas drilling activities,

Reconfiguring the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to ensure that public health and environmental considerations would be fairly represented,

Funding water projects such as the Republican River Compact Compliance pipeline project,

Protecting endangered species by funding efforts to try and avoid listings,

Sponsoring legislation to require that local governments make a determination that adequate water supplies are available before new development projects are approved,

Sponsoring legislation to license naturopathic doctors to protect consumers and allow them to choose alternative forms of treatment,

Sponsoring legislation to integrate coal bed methane gas wells into the prior appropriation system to ensure that senior water users are not injured,

Sponsoring legislation to fund water commissioners to ensure that water users get the water they are entitled to,

Sponsoring legislation to eliminate landowner liability when minors trespass and get hurt in water facilities,

Protecting brand board cash funds and producer fees from being transferred.