Photo by Rebecca Van Dyke Jose Gurule, junior at Centauri High School, and Celina Espinoza discuss Gurule’s employment as a Page for U.S. Senator Ken Salazar. Gurule will spend 5 months in Washington D.C. working for the senator.

Salazar hires Gurule



BY REBECCA

VAN DYKE

LA JARA — Jose Gurule had 24 hours to decide if he would leave home for 5 months to go to Washington D.C. as a Page for Senator Ken Salazar.

Celina Espinoza, counselor for Centauri High School, cornered the junior at Jack’s Market in La Jara on August 3 while he was working with the offer and a deadline of one day for he and his family to decide.

Espinoza received a phone call from Salazar’s administrative assistant with an urgent need for Espinoza to find him a Page. In a last minute change of plans, a senator from Nevada turned down the offer for a Page, giving Salazar the opportunity.

Immediately she thought of Gurule.

On August 4, Gurule and his mother went to Espinoza’s office and accepted the offer.

Gurule has been filling out paperwork and packing ever since. “Everyone told me not to pass this up - it’s an opportunity of a lifetime,” he said.

Gurule had expressed severe interest in politics and fit the requested profile - male, over 16, and a junior in high school. He is also second state vice president for Family Career and Community Leaders, a member of the Democratic Committee in La Jara, an election judge, a member of the Chamber of Commerce, a member of the committee for the Cultural Center for Conejos County, and two-time world team member for the gifted and talented program Destination Imagination.

In the fifth and sixth grade, Gurule had the opportunity to attend the state Democratic conventions. He also attended Democratic Committee meetings with his father, Conejos County Sheriff Robert Gurule.

Gurule hopes to pursue a political science degree for a career in criminal justice and as an elected official. Espinoza thought this would be a “real good outlet to explore the career.”

Gurule says he is ready to go. Once in D.C., he will move into the Daniel Webster Dormitory for Pages where he will continue his schooling while working for the U.S. Senate.

According to the United States Senate website, “For more than 100 years, messengers known as Pages have served the United States Congress. Pages are appointed and sponsored by a member of Congress and must be high school juniors and at least sixteen years old. Senate Page duties consist primarily of delivery of correspondence and legislative material within the Congressional complex. Other duties include preparing the chamber for Senate sessions, and carrying bills and amendments to the desk. Pages also attend classes in the early morning at the United States Senate Page School. The Page School is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.”

During his time in D.C., Gurule will attend high school courses from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. then report to the capital by 11 a.m. where he will carry out his Page duties until 5 p.m., or whenever the Senate is adjourned. At 11 p.m. all phones will be confiscated from the dormitories and lights will be shut out. No cell phones are allowed or personal computers. Emails and mail will be screened, leaving a 2-week gap between when letters are sent and received. Rooms will be inspected for cleanliness and demerits will be handed out if the room is not cleaned to the dorms rigorous standards. To work off half a demerit, four hours of chores will need to be completed. Gurule expects it to be similar to his time spent at the Colorado State Patrol Youth Academy.

He will share a dorm and one bathroom with four other Pages. Gurule is worried he will not have enough time to get ready in the morning, given it takes him 45 minutes.

It’s not all work though. On the weekends, the Pages will go on trips to museums, the beach, movies, et cetera. They will also be paid a yearlong stipend of $21,500 for their services. Of that stipend, $600 per month will go towards housing costs.

Gurule will also be present for the presidential inauguration.

This Sunday, his parents and brother will drive him to Denver to fly out of Denver International Airport. He said his mother will cry, but he’ll be home for a week at Thanksgiving and three weeks at Christmas.

Gurule will return in January to finish out his junior year at Centauri High School.