Rollie Heath, the Democrats’ unsuccessful nominee for governor in 2002, said Thursday that he is considering another run for the state’s top office.
“I think the key word is that I’m ‘thinking’ about it,” Heath said. “Obviously I had a dream back then and it’s safe to say that I’ve never given up on that dream.”
Heath, a 67-year-old business executive who lives in Boulder, said he would make a decision before the end of the year.
The only Democrat who has declared that he is running for governor is former Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter, who is now a lawyer in private practice in Denver.
Other Democrats have dropped out of the race, ruled themselves out as candidates or have not made a commitment to run.
This week, state Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald, D-Jefferson County, said she wouldn’t run because she would be too busy coping with the state budget in the aftermath of Tuesday’s balloting on Referendums C and D.
Those ballot measures would let the state keep more tax money during the next five years and borrow money to pay for roads, schools, health-care programs and pensions.
Other top Democrats – Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar, U.S. Reps. John Salazar and Mark Udall – have said they are not running for governor.
In 2002, Heath was defeated 2-1 by Gov. Bill Owens, who was running for a second term. Because of term limits, Owens cannot run for re-election next year.
Heath said he believes his experience as former president of the international and domestic divisions of Johns Manville Corp. would help him run the state.
“You know how close C and D are shows how torn this state is,” Heath said. “I know how to bring folks from widely disparate views together.”
Staff writer Mark P. Couch can be reached at 303-820-1794 or mcouch@denverpost.com.
