Democratic candidate Cary Kennedy narrowly won the state treasurer’s race.
Almost complete returns Wednesday showed her at just over 50 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Mark Hillman.
“I know that this was a close vote,” Kennedy said. “I am very respectful that half the voters supported my opponent. My commitment is to represent all the people of Colorado.”
A co-author of the school-financing Amendment 23, Kennedy said she thought her support for public education resonated with voters.
She also credits her advantage to her campaign promise to increase clarity in reporting the state’s finances, and with the overall success of Democrats.
“I think this was a reflection of the strength of Bill Ritter’s candidacy, and also of the voters of Colorado wanting to elect candidates with experience in solving the state’s problems and making government more transparent and accountable.”
Kennedy and Hillman were known for running civil and policy-oriented campaigns. Both candidates kept fundraising to well below $500,000.
“Obviously, I’m disappointed,” Hillman said as he prepared to call Kennedy with his congratulations. “But I think both of us ran good, solid campaigns. I would like to think that in a year that the headwinds hadn’t been so directly blowing against us, things might have been different.”
Staff writer Chuck Plunkett can be reached at 303-954-1333 or cplunkett@denverpost.com.
