Bill Ritter is running for governor.
While political observers speculate ad nauseam that a certain Denver mayor might force him out of the Democratic race, Ritter has blocked out the noise, jumped into his white Ford pickup truck and rumbled along the paved and dirt roads of Colorado.
He’s learned perhaps more than he’s politicked, he says, which is important when it comes to understanding the needs of voters in a state where a few miles can separate rain and drought, farms and ski resorts.
La Plata County residents are worried about oil and gas extraction creeping up on their developed areas, he says. In Garfield County, an emerging concern is air quality. Archuleta County voters are talking about education and the CSAPs; in Elbert County, it’s illegal immigration and the Super Slab toll road.
Crowley County still lacks a doctor, and in Gunnison, it’s all about the water.
“If you divert it, they say, ‘we aren’t for you,”‘ Ritter said. “It’s that simple.”
The issues are overwhelming in some ways, but that’s why Ritter’s running, he says.
“I believe in public service that protects people and gives them opportunities,” he said. “It’s not that government is the solution, but it has a legitimate role in areas where people struggle. A budget is a moral document.”
Ritter also said he isn’t going anywhere, despite talk by some Democratic leaders that Ritter should consider stepping aside if the popular John Hickenlooper, Denver’s mayor, decides to jump in.
“No matter who is in the race, I’m in to stay,” he said. “I’m not distracted by the noise. I’m looking at the best interests of the state.”
The former Denver district attorney, who announced his candidacy in May, has the makings of a strong statewide contender but has always been considered by many Democrats as their backup quarterback.
The primary reason is his opposition to abortion rights. Although he said he will “respect the law” and not undermine Roe vs. Wade, Ritter’s opposition makes him an unacceptable candidate to many in the liberal wing of the party – regardless of his chances in November against Congressman Bob Beauprez or former University of Denver president Marc Holtzman.
“There is some degree of disconnect between activists and real people who vote in the primary but are leading lives where politics and abortion are not front and center,” said consultant Eric Sondermann.
In June, fellow Democrat Rutt Bridges, a self-made millionaire and chief executive of the Bighorn Center, joined the race. He didn’t have more statewide name recognition than Ritter but was flush with cash and, more important, supported abortion rights.
Two months after his announcement, Bridges dropped out, creating a Democratic feeding frenzy. Everyone from state Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald (D-Jefferson County) to U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar was considered a potential candidate.
Ritter, with his stance against abortion rights, just wasn’t enough. Freshman state Rep. Gary Lindstrom has entered the race, but he is a virtual political unknown.
“There was, or at least Democrats thought there was, a political vacuum, and they rushed to find someone to fill it,” said Denver pollster Floyd Ciruli. “That became the story, not Ritter.”
Hickenlooper became the filler when he suddenly decided he would consider running for governor. The process, which has lasted nearly two months, has started to wear on his staff, many Democrats and Ritter’s supporters. Some contend Hickenlooper’s indecisiveness has hurt Ritter’s fundraising efforts, as contributors wait on the sidelines to see what happens.
Even so, last night Ritter was preparing to go to a meeting with members of Denver’s Latino community.
“Despite the mayor’s indecision, Bill is still working really hard and trying to recruit caucus attendees and bring people over to his campaign,” said Denver City Council President Rosemary Rodriguez, who was attending the meeting.
Ritter is driving to Weld County on Friday to meet with Democrats and on to Sedgwick, Logan and Phillips counties Saturday.
Ritter says voters are focused on health care, education and how to create economic opportunities so their kids don’t continue leaving the area – not abortion.
“They want a vision to take us to the next level, and we can’t do that without integrating all these issues,” Ritter said. “You can’t talk about education and economic development separately.”
His campaign has put together a group of people to look into the technology opportunities in the state, ranging from tele-medicine to safer and cleaner mining procedures.
Raised on a farm, Ritter says the state needs a “serious conversation” about the role agriculture can play in clean-fuel technology.
If elected governor, he said he plans to appoint real people – not industry insiders, who he says make up Gov. Bill Owens’ appointees – to insurance, utility and conservation commissions.
He and his campaign have looked at economic development by dividing the state into separate areas and looking at the needs.
“There can’t be one monolithic plan for the Eastern Plains and the valley and the resorts,” Ritter said.
Staff writer Karen Crummy can be reached at 303-820-1594 or kcrummy@denverpost.com.
Still mulling
The latest glimpse into the political
deliberations of Denver
Mayor John Hickenlooper,
whom many Democrats are
urging to run for governor,
comes from state Rep. Kathleen
Curry, D-Gunnison.
After Curry called Hickenlooper
to urge him to run last
week, he returned the call
Monday and wound up picking
her brain about Western
Slope policy issues, she said.
“He kind of wanted to discuss
energy and water,” Curry
said. “I told him, ‘You have to
have a broad perspective to
represent the whole state.’ he said, ‘I know I have to diversify.
I have to get educated
on the issues of interest to
the people statewide.'”
He then told Curry that he
would make his decision in a
couple of days, she said.
No such announcement has
been scheduled, Hickenlooper
spokeswoman Lindy Eichenbaum
Lent said Tuesday
night.
Jim Hughes
