Even though the Colorado Legislature is only in session for 120 days, the job is pretty much full-time and year-round for Republican Sen. Ken Kester, who represents Senate District 2.

Of the dozens of county commissioners, mayors, school boards, and chambers of commerce within Kester’s geographically-large district, there is always someone in need of his representation and attention.

“Sometimes we’re the only connection people have with a problem or issue in the state,” he said.

“The hardest part about serving in the legislature is making time for every event, every constituent and every lobbyist.”

One of the biggest issues Kester has been focusing on this term is prison reform. He is introducing two bills addressing related issues, Senate Bill 52 and Senate Bill 32.

SB 52 creates a Competency Evaluation Advisory Board in the Department of Human Services. The board will study and recommend the level of training, education and experience needed by psychiatrists or psychologists in order to perform competency evaluations in criminal cases. SB-32 deals with juvenile court proceedings.

“Colorado has to be hard on crime, but the result has been overcrowded and under funded prisons,” Kester said.

The prison issue hits close to home because the senator’s district boasts more prisons than any other state senate district in America, and the correctional facilities are one of the biggest employers in Colorado’s 2nd District.

Kester also has big plans to focus on renewable energy. There are more than a dozen bills this term targeting alternative energy via solar and wind power, and Kester is behind them.

The senator lives in Las Animas in Southeast Colorado. The arid region competes with cities on the Front Range for the water necessary to sustain local agriculture, and Kester is always looking for ways to support his community’s farmers.

Kester, who has never lost an election, often spends his weekends visiting different cities within his district in order to mingle with constituents.

Before becoming a state senator, Kester was a General Motors auto dealer for 30 years. He also served as a Bent County commissioner for four terms before being elected to the Colorado State House in 1998 and 2000.

In 2000, there was a redistricting push that left nine counties in need of a state senator. Kester stepped up in 2002, and true to form, he won the election with an overwhelming majority.