Former State Representative Rep. Bernie Buescher (D-Grand Junction)
Representative Buescher served two terms in House District 55 and was the chair of the Appropriations Committee and Vice-Chair of the Joint Budget Committee.
A native of Mesa County, Rep. Buescher practiced law in Grand Junction for many years, representing small businesses; in 1986, he was named CEO of West Star Aviation and grew the business from 28 employees to over 220. In 1996, Governor Romer asked Buescher to reorganize the Colorado State Fair. This project was so successful that Romer appointed Buescher to his cabinet as Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Finance where he made his mark inaugurating the Colorado Children’s Basic Health Plan. Since 1996, Rep. Buescher has owned and managed two small businesses.
Rep. Buescher’s extensive community involvement was crowned in January, 2004 when he was named Citizen of the Year by the Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce along with his wife, Mary Beth. Rep. Buescher was recognized for his work as Chairman of the Board of St. Mary’s Hospital, member of the boards of the Colorado Health and Hospital Association, and Riverview Technology Corp. where he worked to preserve jobs at the Department of Energy site in Mesa County.
Rep. Buescher has also served on boards including the Mesa County Economic Development Councils and the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Panel on Transportation.
Rep. Buescher received his JD degree from the University of Colorado and a BBA from the University of Notre Dame. Rep. Buescher and Mary Beth have been married for over 30 years and have four children.
