|
By Rosemary Pollock
Mo Udall's Son And Nephew Filling His Environmentalist Shoes
WASHINGTON, DC -- Environmentalist Rep. Bruce F. Vento died last
month leaving a legacy of hundreds of successful environmental
protection measures. Many have been concerned about who in the House
would carry on his legacy of conservation. A generation ago, Bruce
Vento followed the lead of Mormon Rep. Morris K. "Mo" Udall, who served
as the chairman of the House Interior Committee. Today, Udall's son
Mark, a Colorado Democrat, and nephew Tom, a New Mexico Democrat will
try to fill his shoes.
"In my office, I have a pair of size-15 Nikes that belonged to my
dad," said Mark Udall, 50. "It's probably impossible to fill my
father's shoes, and the same thing applies to Bruce. "I'm a junior
member of the House, so it will take a number of us to pick up and
shoulder the load that Bruce was carrying."
Mo Udall was an Arizona Democrat who served from 1961-1991. He was a
forceful voice on environmental issues who ran an unsuccessful bid
for president in 1976. Mo died in 1998. "He was the one House member
who Bruce has consistently quoted," said Larry Romans, Vento's
longtime chief of staff. "He was someone that Bruce loved and
respected. He felt very good when Mo's son and nephew were elected
and went out of his way to work with them on the Resources Committee
because he felt they would carry on the tradition."
Bill Meadows, president of the Wilderness Society is looking to the
Udall cousins. "Neither has the experience or the time in Congress
that Bruce had, but both are extraordinary leaders, and in the short
time they've been in Congress, they've demonstrated a real interest
in conservation."
Sources:
Udalls inherit environmental mantle
Washington Times 27Nov00 T2
Associated Press
|
