Debbie and I are in Tampa, Florida this week for the National Republican Convention. I am honored to be elected as one of 36 delegates to represent Colorado. We will try to inform you next week on what has happened. We have a great delegation from every corner of Colorado. It has been a privilege to meet these folks of different backgrounds and different jobs, but with the same philosophy of limited government, a return to more freedom, and a demand for more personal individual responsibility.

The Tampa welcoming committee treated us with a lavish reception of great food and entertainment including a concert by Rodney Atkins. The Republicans were having a great time. The first real day of speakers was postponed due to Hurricane Issac, but everything is to be made up on succeeding days. The postponement gave us the opportunity to see the movie "2016". I would recommend that everyone see this movie.

On the campaign front we continue to work as hard as we can. In addition to attending the start of the USA Pro Challenge Bicycle Race in Durango on Monday, August 20, I also attended the third stage start of the race in Gunnison on Wednesday after going to Denver for a Transportation Legislative Review Committee hearing on Tuesday. I followed the Gunnison event with a trip to Lake City where I was introduced around town by my good friend Dan File and finished up the day as a participant in a Hinsdale County Commissioner meeting discussing the wilderness study area in the Alpine Triangle located above Lake City, Ouray, and Silverton. It was good to see the interest in handling these issues at the local level.

Last Thursday I traveled to Pagosa Springs where I met with representatives of the Colorado Hospital Association and received a check of support from their Political Action Committee for which I am very thankful, humbled and proud. We have a huge job in front of us to reduce health care costs and the hospital association is doing everything that they can to find a solution.

Thursday was concluded with a fund raiser hosted by the Archuleta County Republicans. This is a great bunch of folks that are very concerned about the direction this country is headed. Gratefully I spent Thursday night at home and then went on to Ouray on Friday where I met many good hard working citizens many of whom have young growing families and many of whom are thankful for mining jobs. It is important for the economy of the 59th district to have a diverse job market. Ouray County is a beautiful part of Colorado.

On Saturday we attended a fund raiser at the home of Betsy and Paul Romere, a family that works as hard as anyone in the world for freedom. Thank you so much!

Don't forget about the fund raiser at the home of Patty and Wayne Buck, southeast of Ignacio on September 15. (...more details will be forthcoming...)

J. Paul Brown is the State Representative for House District 59, which includes Archuleta and La Plata Counties.