March 5th, Montrose, CO. Today, former Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar joined Gail Schwartz and his brother John Salazar, endorsing James Iacino for US Representative in Colorado’s 3rd district. Prior to serving as Secretary of the Interior under Barack Obama, Salazar served as Colorado’s Attorney General from 1999 until 2005, then as United States Senator from 2005 until 2009.

With deep roots in Southern Colorado’s San Luis Valley, Ken Salazar has served the entire state of Colorado for over 15 years. In announcing his support Salazar stated:

“I am proud to endorse James Iacino to represent the 3rd Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. My family is rooted in the life and history of the San Luis Valley and the farming and ranching heritage of our place. In the same way, James and his family have been in Colorado for over a hundred years including a major presence in Montrose. James will be a champion for us in addressing the economic, health care and educational challenges in our rural congressional district. And he will be a champion for our beautiful public lands. It is time we take back the 3rd, and James Iacino is the person that will do it. I am proud to be on his team.”

Secretary Salazar is the third endorsement Iacino has secured over the past three weeks and caps a period that has seen him visit communities throughout Southern Colorado including Alamosa, Walsenburg, Pagosa Springs, Center, La Jara, Saguache, and Creede.

“I’m humbled to have the support of Secretary Salazar as we work to build a campaign for the people of Western and Southern Colorado. His family’s roots in the San Luis Valley go back generations, and his experience representing it and the rest of Colorado as our Attorney General and Senator helps bring a deep understanding to the issues we are facing,” said James Iacino. “We are building a coalition that has the skill and experience to beat Scott Tipton, I look forward to working with Secretary Salazar as we grow our team and bring a voice back to the people of Colorado’s 3rd district.”

James and his wife Meghan have two sons. Former CEO of the Seattle Fish Company, he has a proven record of creating jobs and growing a business while showing a commitment to his employees and sustainability. Having helped build operations in rural Colorado, James knows the impact that quality education and skills training can bring to a community. Covering over 52,000 square miles, Colorado’s 3rd District is one of the largest in the country and home to diverse communities from Grand Junction to Pueblo, Cortez to Steamboat Springs.

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