Maybe we should leave the governorship open for four years. Nobody qualified seems to want it.
Mayor John Hickenlooper’s announcement that he won’t jump into this year’s gubernatorial race has left a lackluster field for a job with tremendous potential.
We’re comfortable with Hickenlooper’s decision – while he’s done excellent work as Denver’s mayor, there’s plenty more to be accomplished. But we’re disappointed that the gubernatorial race hasn’t drawn a more credible field. Economic development skills and fiscal acumen will be sorely needed at the statehouse, and the existing field falls short.
The two Republicans in the race, Rep. Bob Beauprez and Marc Holtzman, showed their yellow stripes during the Referendum C race last year, ditching fiscal responsibility in favor of campaign expediency. They both knew better. It’s hard to imagine a more extreme example of no-leadership. Holtzman has never held elected office. Beauprez is abandoning a seat in Congress to follow his blinding ambition.
Democratic “front-runner” Bill Ritter has been overshadowed by the specter of a Hickenlooper candidacy. He had an impressive run as Denver district attorney, but he is anti-choice and has been hard-pressed to earn the party’s consensus. State Democratic chairwoman Pat Waak told The Associated Press, “If there was another candidate who wanted to get in … now’s the time.”
The list of those who have taken a pass – U.S. Rep. Mark Udall, Sen. Ken Salazar, former Congressman Scott McInnis, House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald and now Hickenlooper – is more impressive than those who are running.
McInnis is focusing on his job with the Hogan & Hartson law firm and some corporate board memberships. He admitted Monday that his trigger finger has spasms, but said – only half-joking, we think – that he’s more likely to run for county commissioner than governor. Udall ruled out a run last year, saying he intends to run for the U.S. Senate in 2008. On Monday, he told us, “Two-letter word: no.”
Freshman Democratic lawmaker Gary Lindstrom is running but has gained no traction, or money. Rep. Alice Madden of Boulder was a Hickenlooper supporter and may now be considering a bid.
Denver will benefit from Hickenlooper’s decision. He has an ambitious agenda and a first-class team, and it will take more than one term to see things through.
In struggling with his decision, Hickenlooper came to understand that the governorship can be a compelling position with enormous impact on our state. We wish the early field looked up to the challenge.
