In his first term as state senator, Ed Perlmutter, being a lawyer, initially believed that the emotional testimony of a victim’s family would taint a death-penalty trial.
Then, he sat through the trial of a man charged with killing a police officer, and Perl mutter changed his mind. In 1997, he sponsored a bill that would allow victims’ families a voice in the sentencing phase of a capital trial.
Nearly a decade later, Perlmutter’s ability to listen to all sides and make a rational decision is touted by supporters as one of his main strengths to represent the 7th Congressional District seat being vacated by GOP gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez. He will face Peggy Lamm and Herb Rubenstein in the Aug. 8 Democratic primary.
“There will be no issue he won’t be able to grasp,” said former Senate President Stan Matsunaka, who served in Senate leadership with Perlmutter. “He will listen to both sides. He’s not an ideologue.”
But Perlmutter’s ability to switch positions has his detractors questioning whether he will keep his promises.
The same year as the victim-testimony bill, Perlmutter voted against a domestic-partners bill that would have helped gay residents. During his current campaign for Congress, however, Perlmutter has repeatedly said he supports gay marriage.
“I really think he does the politically expedient thing,” said Nick Bush, a gay activist from Lakewood who is supporting Lamm. “I don’t believe he would actually fight for our community.”
But Perlmutter said the change came because he initially believed that wills and power-of-attorney contracts could protect same-sex couples, but he now realizes lawmakers have to step in.
“At the end of the day, I’m proud of my record,” he said.
Perlmutter was born in Denver in 1953 and his family moved to Jefferson County a couple of months later. He was introduced to politics early, walking the precincts with his father before his 10th birthday.
He attended the University of Colorado and CU’s law school, joining the only firm he would ever work for: Berenbaum, Weinshienk & Eason PC. There, he earned a reputation as a hard-working and reliable attorney, concentrating on bankruptcy, construction and real-estate litigation.
“He is almost hard-wired for honesty and fairness,” said Charles Bewley, a partner at Berenbaum who has known Perlmutter since college. “He couldn’t be otherwise if he wanted to.”
Perlmutter married in 1980.
Having fond memories of those times with his father and working on various Democratic campaigns, Perlmutter decided to run for state Senate. In 1994, he was the first Democrat elected in the district in more than three decades.
Perlmutter quickly rose to prominence, pushing bills to toughen animal-cruelty sentences and to replace Mile High stadium. He worked hard to help Democrats take the state Senate in 2000 for the first time in four decades and was elected president pro tem.
Perlmutter’s legislative work earned him the respect of political opponents such as former Senate President John Andrews, a Centennial Republican who often battled Perlmutter in the Capitol.
“He was in the middle of efforts to craft bipartisan solutions that are fair for all,” Andrews said.
Perlmutter twice passed up a chance to run for the congressional seat, prompting opponents to say he is not dedicated to the job. Perlmutter said he had family issues that prevented him from running until now. He has three daughters, ages 15, 19 and 25.
If elected, Perlmutter vows to push for an end to the war in Iraq, make health care affordable and protect the environment by increasing renewable energy.
Perlmutter believes he can help the Democrats retake the U.S. House of Representatives and believes that change is best for middle-class Americans.
“We’ll change the focus from the wealthiest 1 percent to the hard-working people,” Perlmutter said.
Staff writer Arthur Kane can be reached at 303-820-1244 or at akane@denverpost.com.
