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Brophy honored at end of Senate term

12-year legislator acknowledged as leader, ally

By Marianne Goodland

For the Times

Posted:
06/01/2014 09:00:00 PM MDT

As they near the end of their legislative careers in their respective chambers, Sen. Greg Brophy (R-Wray) and Rep. Jerry Sonnenberg (R-Sterling) talked about what they are most proud of, what the future holds and about each other. Both will be busy during the summer on the interim water resources review committee. Sonnenberg is running for the Senate; his only opposition as of this story is Douglas Aden of Fort Lupton, from the American Constitution party.

Brophy and Sonnenberg have jointly sponsored more than two dozen bills and resolutions in the past seven years, with more than half coming in the past three years. The bills have covered water issues, daylight savings, trucking and perhaps most notably, the repeal of the tax on certain agricultural products in 2011.

Brophy was first elected to the Colorado House in 2002, representing the 63rd district. In 2005, when Sen. Mark Hillman was appointed state treasurer, Brophy was named as his replacement for the Senate District 1 seat. Brophy has served on both House and Senate agriculture committees, the joint Legal Services committees, and on finance. With the end of the 2014 session, Brophy will have served 12 years at the state capitol, the last nine years in the Senate.

On the last day of the 2014 legislative session, senators on both sides of the aisle lined up to pay tribute to eight outgoing members of the Senate. The tribute to Brophy was the last one, and went on for well over an hour. Senate Minority Leader Bill Cadman (R-Colorado Springs) told this reporter that Brophy's tribute would be the hardest for him, given his respect for the former assistant minority leader.

"When you come here for the first time, you learn from those who had been here before," Cadman said in his remarks. He called Brophy his "go-to guy" on policy and politics. "I looked for a mentor, and [Brophy] became that mentor," even though Brophy joined the Senate two years after Cadman. "I have been dreading this day," Cadman said. "I don't want him to leave...You are truly among the giants of this institution and will never be forgotten."

Senate President Morgan Carroll (D-Aurora) noted Brophy's "quick wit, extremely well-honed strategy and someone who delves deeply into public policy. Your district has been well-served. This chamber has benefited from your intellectual acumen and service."

Sen. Mary Hodge (D-Brighton) is among the Democrats who have sponsored bills with Brophy over the years. "It's been a pleasure to work with Sen. Brophy," Hodge told this reporter. "He does think outside the box and doesn't let small roadblocks get in the way."

Brophy is not only known for his work on water and agricultural issues; he has carried bills telecommunications, trucking, daylight savings time and driverless vehicles. Brophy also is well known as a cyclist and passionate about that issue, and that has led to working with legislators who might not see eye-to-eye with him on other issues. Sen. Andy Kerr (D-Lakewood) said Brophy has been an excellent legislator, which is borne out by the bills he's sponsored that have become law. Kerr also said that Brophy has been "a formidable opponent and a valuable ally, sometimes at the same time."

Brophy's the reason there shouldn't be term limits, Cadman told this reporter. "There is no one with more understanding on how legislation and how government works. You need people with expertise in those issues. In my time, he's the go-to guy on policy and politics. I defer to him on leadership, expertise, and ability." Cadman said.

Brophy made a strong impression on Cadman almost immediately after coming to the state capitol. He pointed to Brophy's effort in 2003 to impeach a judge in the House Judiciary Committee. "When I observed Greg in that process, it was as professional and intellectual a debate as I have ever seen." He said the relationships Brophy has developed over time is among his strongest assets. "He works at it and is committed to investing his time and effort in others, and it's returned to him exponentially."

On his time at the capitol, Brophy quipped that being in the minority "sucks." He spent his first two years in the state House in the majority, but the last nine years in the Senate have all been in the minority party. "It seems like I've spent most of my effort playing defense, protecting oil and gas jobs in eastern Colorado from legislative and regulatory overreach."

Brophy said he takes great pride in leading the team effort on opposition to gun control bills in the 2013 session, "changing the nature of that debate and winning that debate," since it later led to recalls of two state senators, including the Senate President, who had sponsored those bills.

Brophy said he has been "super happy with my work on water issues and saving agriculture in eastern Colorado" although he was disappointed that he couldn't bring in more balance between surface water rights and use of alluvial aquifer wells. As to the bills on cycling, most notably the successful legislation to require a three-foot passing buffer, Brophy said he appreciates the indulgence he got from his constituents who might not care as much about that as the rest of the state does.

What he has learned most in 12 years at the capitol is that "relationships matter. You might have the greatest idea in the world, but if you haven't developed the relationships and the ability to see that idea, it won't go anywhere."

Brophy said he is quite worried about the nation and the state of Colorado on the issue of debt, and governments, both federal and state, that make promises to spend money without having the revenue to support it. "If we don't solve this before it becomes a crisis, the solutions will be bad." It would be better if "we take our medicine a little dose at a time instead of waiting for the full-blown crisis."

In his closing remarks at the Senate, Brophy thanked the people of Wray for their support. "It's the best town in the state...filled with the nicest people and supportive of my wife and family." He also thanked the people of his district who have trusted him with their support. "It's been an honor to serve them." To his wife, Angela, who joined him on the floor of the Senate on its last day, he thanked her for her patience "of living with a guy who's gone four nights a week and four months a year. In effect, she's been a single mother to our three kids."

Where does he see himself in the next few years? "I can't figure out what I'll do in five months, let alone five years," he said with a smile. "This is truly like graduating from college, but I have a heck of a lot more wisdom now. I will make better decisions about where I want to go and what I end up doing...I will spend a lot of time with my son, baseball team and my wife and my bicycle and figure out what I want to do now that I have the liberty to choose a new path. It's the first time since I was 23. I can do anything I want."

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