Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colo.), the only American Indian in the U.S. Senate and Colorado's senior senator, "never forgot his roots or his constituents," The Denver Post says in an editorial.

"He worked to improve funding for Indian education and tried to encourage the Interior Department to resolve the Indian trust fund mess," the paper says. "He has been one of the main proponents of restoring and preserving open-space lands along Red Mountain Pass in southwestern Colorado. He also was a co-sponsor of the legislation to expand the Great Sand Dunes National Monument into a national park. Years earlier, he had championed a measure that similarly expanded the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument into a national park."

Campbell entered Congress on the House side as a Democrat. He switched parties on March 3, 1995, and was re-elected as a Republican in 1998.

Get the Story:
Editorial: Campbell leaves the stage (The Denver Post 3/4)

Relevant Documents:
Campbell Statement | White House Statement | Reaction to Campbell's Decision | Sen. Wayne Allard

Relevant Links:
Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell - http://campbell.senate.gov

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