Even if acting state Treasurer Mark Hillman, who’s campaigning for the permanent title of treasurer, were to chain himself to his desk, his last day on the job is today. Mike Coffman will officially return to his job as treasurer tomorrow after a stint with the Marines in Iraq.
It’s been widely assumed Coffman would get his job back whenever he returned. Gov. Bill Owens on Friday likened it to a gentleman’s agreement.
But, in fact, a little known state statute (28-3-604) guarantees that Coffman, or any elected official who goes on a tour of duty, will get his job back – gentleman’s agreement or not.
Coffman first must sign a reinstatement certificate today and file it with the Secretary of State’s office, saying he was honorably discharged or properly released. His Golden Retriever, Buckley, will be most pleased. He’s been staying at the treasurer’s office each day since Coffman left in June.
RNC’s top dog in town
Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman is making a whirlwind visit to Colorado on Wednesday. Officially, he’s the keynote speaker at a Lincoln Day dinner for Republicans in Pueblo.
Unofficially, Mehlman also will meet in Denver with Rick O’Donnell‘s congressional campaign for a strategy session, a GOP source said. O’Donnell’s race for the 7th Congressional District is one of the most closely watched races in the country, and some Republicans worry the changing demographics in the district, and general discontent with the party in power, could tip the race to the Democrats.
Mehlman will invest a lot of “time and attention” in O’Donnell’s bid, the source said. Several GOP bigwigs already have traveled to the district for fund-raisers, including Vice President Dick Cheney, House Speaker Dennis Hastert and a handful of cabinet members.
O’Donnell will face the winner of the Democratic primary between former state lawmakers Peggy Lamm and Ed Perlmutter and professor Herb Rubenstein.
DeGette in Ritter’s camp
Each member of Colorado’s congressional delegation has endorsed a candidate in this year’s gubernatorial race expect one – Rep. Diana DeGette. Despite worries that ardent pro-choice Democrats, such as DeGette, will shy away from Bill Ritter because he’s pro-life, DeGette’s office confirmed she will endorse her fellow Denver Dem soon.
Denver steps up
Of the handful of cities actively vying to host the 2008 Democratic presidential convention, so far only two, Denver and Orlando, have signed up to host committee receptions next month when the Democratic National Committee meets in New Orleans.
New congressional hire
Speaking of DeGette, Brandon MacGillis, who spent the past five years working for the National Environmental Trust, begins work today as the congresswoman’s communications director.
Aloha, Rep. Stengel
This morning’s chuckle brought to you by the Aurora Sun & Sentinel, which has referred to the Littleton lawmaker who tried to bill taxpayers for days he was vacationing in Hawaii as Rep. Joe Stengel, R-Waikiki.
Those happy Republicans
It seems even President Bush‘s garden-level approval ratings haven’t cheered up Democrats.
Republicans are still happier than both Democrats and unaffiliated voters, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey, and they have been every year since the survey began in 1972.
Some figure Republicans may be happier because they often earn more, but conservatives were happier than liberals across all income groups.
Maybe it’s because they’re not as worried about global warming.
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Haley’s Comment, which appears here every other Monday, will now have an online companion that will be updated throughout the week by Post editorial writers. The blog launches today at denverpostbloghouse.com/editorial.
Visit often.
Dan Haley (dhaleydhaley@denverpost.com) is a member of The Post’s editorial board.
