A screenshot of Colorado GOP chairman Ryan Call’s since-deleted tweet about U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo.
A screenshot of Colorado GOP chairman Ryan Call's since-deleted tweet about U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo. (ColoradoPols.com)

After Colorado GOP chairman Ryan Call likened U.S. Rep. Jared Polis to a "terrorist" Friday for his efforts to increase local control over oil and gas drilling, the Boulder Democrat dismissed the remark as "ridiculous" and counter-productive.

About 2 p.m. Friday, Call tweeted, "We shouldn't negotiate with terrorists," in response to another Twitter user's question about Polis. The tweet has since been deleted, but ColoradoPols.com captured a screenshot.

"Of course it's ridiculous that over differences of opinion on an important issue, people are calling each other names," Polis said. "There's plenty of arguments on all sides. We want to have a strong energy sector in Colorado, but we also want to protect homeowners, and we need to find a balance between the two."

Call, in a statement Friday afternoon, apologized for the tweet.

"It's a fact that Congressman Jared Polis' proposed regulations will put thousands of Colorado jobs and our state's economic future at risk," he said. "While I passionately believe that we must protect these jobs and energy development in our state, I understand that my comment has distracted from this important conversation.

"I apologize for that, and I sincerely apologize to Congressman Polis."

Polis has been vocally opposed to oil and gas activity in densely populated neighborhoods, and has fought Sundance Energy over the company drilling near a home he owns in Weld County. In December, state officials fined Sundance $26,000 and ordered them to relocate two wells near the congressman's home.

On Friday, Polis said his fight for local control over drilling may have to be settled in November's election, in which his seat also will be on the ballot.

"Fundamentally, what my constituents feel needs to occur is that communities need to have a role in the siting of fracking activities in their areas," he said. "Currently, that debate is co-opted by the state, which allows fracking to occur anywhere and everywhere.

"We realize there are major economic interests at stake, but it's an issue the Colorado voters are demanding to be addressed, either by the legislation or at the ballot box."

Call's tweet, Polis added, is "distracting from finding a solution."

Also on Friday, Rep. Jenny Sonnenberg told The Denver Post that "Polis' jihad against responsible energy development is reckless."

"To throw our words like 'terrorist' or 'jihad,'" Polis said, "is completely inappropriate in this context."

Contact Camera Staff Writer Alex Burness at 303-473-1389 or burnessa@dailycamera.com.