{"id":21372,"date":"2025-07-19T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-19T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/meet-wyatt-bair-sen-michael-bennets-new-southwest-colorado-representative\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T22:06:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T04:06:06","slug":"meet-wyatt-bair-sen-michael-bennets-new-southwest-colorado-representative","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/meet-wyatt-bair-sen-michael-bennets-new-southwest-colorado-representative\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet Wyatt Bair, Sen. Michael Bennet\u2019s new Southwest Colorado representative"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Wyatt
Wyatt Bair, recent graduate of Fort Lewis College, took on the position of Western Slope Regional Director to U.S. Sen. Michael F. Bennet in June (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

As Wyatt Bair was preparing to graduate from Fort Lewis College, John Whitney was preparing to retire from his long-held role of Western Slope regional director to U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet.<\/p>\n

The timing was perfect.<\/p>\n

When Whitney retired June 18, Bair, who had spent the past month learning the ropes, was ready to take over.<\/p>\n

As regional representative, Bair serves as Bennet\u2019s eyes and ears in the area and provides critical insight into the issues and concerns facing the senator\u2019s constituents. He sees the role as an opportunity to make tangible differences in Southwest Colorado, particularly by understanding how federal policies directly impact local communities.<\/p>\n

Which he admits, can be overwhelming.<\/p>\n

\u201cGetting your head around it can be like drinking from a fire hose,\u201d Bair said. \u201cI just try to take it one day at a time, one conversation at a time. There\u2019s a saying in our office: Treat the little things like they\u2019re big and the big things will come.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

More about Wyatt Bair<\/h4>\n

What are you reading right now? <\/strong>\u201cDemon Copperhead\u201d by Barbara Kingsolver.<\/p>\n

Do you have any favorite books? <\/strong>\u201cEvicted\u201d and \u201cPoverty, by America,\u201d by Matthew Desmond, and \u201cThe Tsar of Love and Techno,\u201d by Anthony Marra.<\/p>\n

What is on your summer playlist?<\/strong>A lot of John Prine.<\/p>\n

Favorite quick bite in Durango?<\/strong>A Bread sandwich or a glass of wine and plate of pasta at Primi.<\/p>\n

If you could be any aquatic creature, what would you be?<\/strong>A mantis shrimp.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

A Colorado native, Bair grew up in Carbondale and graduated high school in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. He said the disruption to higher education made his early college years challenging but after a few false starts at other universities, he eventually found what he was looking for at Fort Lewis College.<\/p>\n

There, Bair said he received a rich, hands-on political science education where he became deeply involved in local and regional politics.<\/p>\n

\u201cI cannot say enough good things about Fort Lewis,\u201d Bair said. \u201cI think they\u2019ve really punched above their weight in terms of the quality of the professors and the students they have there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bair said professors made a concerted effort to connect students with relevant local leaders, opportunities and internships.<\/p>\n

In his junior year, one of his professors introduced him to Restore the Balance, a bipartisan group working to combat political extremism.<\/p>\n

That experience led to a job on Adam Frisch\u2019s congressional campaign, where Bair worked his way from assistant organizer to managing campaign operations in Durango.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a cool experience to be working in the western side of CD3. I love this area,\u201d Bair said. \u201cOrganizing people to try and win the district and seeing people come out for Adam Frisch rallies \u2013 that was a really fantastic experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

His new role also came about through a classroom connection.<\/p>\n

About a year ago, one of his professors invited Whitney to speak to Bair\u2019s class. Over time, they developed a working relationship, and eventually Whitney encouraged Bair to consider stepping into the role.<\/p>\n

Bair\u2019s interest in politics started young, almost through osmosis, he said.<\/p>\n

Growing up, he had a 30-minute commute to school, with NPR playing every day.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2019Morning Edition\u2019 on the way there and \u2018All Things Considered\u2019 on the way back,\u201d he said with a laugh. \u201cI think I didn\u2019t have a choice at a certain point.\u201d<\/p>\n

Outside of work, Bair can usually be found outdoors.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I\u2019m not working, I\u2019m out rock climbing with my partners or taking trips around the area. It\u2019s a big part of my identity,\u201d he said. \u201cGrowing up on the Western Slope and enjoying all these great public lands \u2013 I\u2019ve grown a deep connection to rocks.\u201d<\/p>\n

He\u2019s also a book lover. During college, Bair worked at Maria\u2019s Bookshop in Durango and said he can still recommend a long list of both fiction and nonfiction titles.<\/p>\n

As he settles into his new position, Bair said the work can be stressful, but it\u2019s a challenge he welcomes.<\/p>\n

\u201cTaking over for John Whitney \u2013 it\u2019s very big shoes to fill,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m going to try my best. Not to uphold everything he was known for \u2013 he was brilliant and did the job for 20 years \u2013 but to strive to be just as good at maintaining those indirect relationships with all the players.\u201d<\/p>\n

jbowman@durangoherald.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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