Bruce Whitehead
Encyclopedia
Bruce Whitehead is a legislator in the U.S. state
of Colorado
. Appointed to the Colorado State Senate as a Democrat in 2009, Whitehead represents Senate District 6, which covers much of south-western Colorado, encompassing Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, San Juan, and San Miguel counties.
. Senator Whitehead obtained a B.S. in Civil Engineering
in 1981 from Colorado State University
, and is a licensed Professional Engineer
. After working in the Colorado Division of Water Resources
office in Alamosa, Colorado
he transferred to Durango, Colorado
where he served as division engineer for Water District 7 administering water rights in that area of southwestern Colorado. While in Durango he served on the boards of the Animas-La Plata Water Conservancy District, the Colorado Water Conservation District, and as director of the Southwestern Water Conservation District. He was appointed to the Colorado State Senate by Governor Bill Ritter to fill the vacant position of Democrat Jim Isgar. He was sworn in as State Senator for District 6 on August 17, 2009 by Colorado Supreme Court Justice Greg Hobbs. Committee assignments include the Senate Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resource Committee where he serves as Vice-Chair. He also serves on the Transportation committee. He also serves on the Interim Water Resources Review Committee, the UMTRA Oversight Committee where he serves as the Chair, and was also appointed as the Senate Ag Committee representative on the Inter-Basin Compact Committee (IBCC). Whitehead has an extensive background in Colorado water issues. The latter part of his career with the State of Colorado was in the capacity of Division Engineer for the San Juan River and Dolores River
. Prior to his appointment to the Senate, Bruce was a Director on the Colorado Water Conservation Board representing southwestern Colorado
. He has retired from the Colorado Division of Water Resources but continues to work part time for the Southwestern Water Conservation District and is continuing to serve as an Engineer Adviser for the Upper Colorado River Commission.
He and his wife Becca enjoy the arts and the outdoors, and live south of Hesperus near Breen. They are raising two daughters, Isabel and Risa.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. Appointed to the Colorado State Senate as a Democrat in 2009, Whitehead represents Senate District 6, which covers much of south-western Colorado, encompassing Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, San Juan, and San Miguel counties.
Biography
Senator Bruce Whitehead is a fourth generation Coloradoan born in Fort Collins, ColoradoFort Collins, Colorado
Fort Collins is a Home Rule Municipality situated on the Cache La Poudre River along the Colorado Front Range, and is the county seat and most populous city of Larimer County, Colorado, United States. Fort Collins is located north of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. With a 2010 census...
. Senator Whitehead obtained a B.S. in Civil Engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
in 1981 from Colorado State University
Colorado State University
Colorado State University is a public research university located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The university is the state's land grant university, and the flagship university of the Colorado State University System.The enrollment is approximately 29,932 students, including resident and...
, and is a licensed Professional Engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
. After working in the Colorado Division of Water Resources
Colorado Department of Natural Resources
The Colorado Department of Natural Resources is the department of the government of the U.S. State of Colorado that is responsible for the development, protection, and enhancement Colorado natural resources for the use and enjoyment of the state's present and future residents, as well as for...
office in Alamosa, Colorado
Alamosa, Colorado
The city of Alamosa is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Alamosa County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the city population was 8,682 in 2005...
he transferred to Durango, Colorado
Durango, Colorado
The City of Durango is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of La Plata County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau said that the city population was 16,887 in 2010 census.-History:...
where he served as division engineer for Water District 7 administering water rights in that area of southwestern Colorado. While in Durango he served on the boards of the Animas-La Plata Water Conservancy District, the Colorado Water Conservation District, and as director of the Southwestern Water Conservation District. He was appointed to the Colorado State Senate by Governor Bill Ritter to fill the vacant position of Democrat Jim Isgar. He was sworn in as State Senator for District 6 on August 17, 2009 by Colorado Supreme Court Justice Greg Hobbs. Committee assignments include the Senate Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resource Committee where he serves as Vice-Chair. He also serves on the Transportation committee. He also serves on the Interim Water Resources Review Committee, the UMTRA Oversight Committee where he serves as the Chair, and was also appointed as the Senate Ag Committee representative on the Inter-Basin Compact Committee (IBCC). Whitehead has an extensive background in Colorado water issues. The latter part of his career with the State of Colorado was in the capacity of Division Engineer for the San Juan River and Dolores River
Dolores River
The Dolores River is a tributary of the Colorado River, approximately 250 mi long, in the U.S. states of Colorado and Utah....
. Prior to his appointment to the Senate, Bruce was a Director on the Colorado Water Conservation Board representing southwestern Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. He has retired from the Colorado Division of Water Resources but continues to work part time for the Southwestern Water Conservation District and is continuing to serve as an Engineer Adviser for the Upper Colorado River Commission.
He and his wife Becca enjoy the arts and the outdoors, and live south of Hesperus near Breen. They are raising two daughters, Isabel and Risa.