Duvernay puts self back in the hospital

County commission hopeful Ramon Duvernay has been hospitalized for a second time in connection with a stroke he had earlier this month.

Duvernay, 35, is in the Veteran’s Hospital in Denver and is not scheduled to be discharged until July 2.

An outspoken opponent of rail, Duvernay plans to run this fall against incumbent Mick Ireland for a seat on the Pitkin Board of County Commissioners. Ireland is seeking a third term, while Duvernay, a veteran of the letters to the editor pages of both local newspapers, has no local political experience.

Duvernay said he readmitted himself to the hospital over the weekend to ensure that he fully recovers from a stroke he suffered in the first week of June. He said it was a family decision.

A source close to the county commission candidate said he may have suffered a second stroke last Saturday, losing motor skills on one side of his body.

The Gulf War veteran was transferred to Veteran’s Hospital in Denver, which he said is better equipped to care for his condition than Aspen Valley Hospital. Duvernay said his stroke was caused by his blood being too thin, and part of his treatment in Denver is aimed at thickening his blood “so it’s like a milk shake.”

Duvernay still plans to run for county commissioner. He said the stroke has had no long-term effect on his mental or physical abilities, and he expects to fully recuperate. “There’s no impairment – thank God,” he said.

Duvernay has not been able to work since the first stroke.

“My life has been on hold for more than three weeks,” he said. “I’m ready to get back to work, and I was thinking I wanted to drill the commissioners on why they’re spending all that money on transportation instead of housing.”

[Allyn Harvey’s e-mail address is aharvey@aspentimes.com.]