So many state lawmakers want to work for Gov.-elect Bill Ritter that he’s been forced to apply the brakes. For the time being, anyway, Ritter has decided not to consider appointing newly elected or re-elected lawmakers to his administration. He’ll continue to consider lawmakers whose terms are expiring at the end of the year, his spokesman Evan Dreyer said.
Former Gov. Roy Romer had a similar policy, as did some governors before him. Hiring lawmakers diminishes the level of experience in the General Assembly, and the word is that as many as a dozen had expressed interest.
Reps. Val Vigil, D-Thornton, and Mark Larson, R-Cortez, are two interested parties who remain eligible; their terms end this year. Vigil, chairman of the House Finance Committee, is interested in Local Affairs. Larson is a veteran of the Transportation Committee and has his eye on the top job at the Colorado Department of Transportation (though he’s willing to serve in another capacity if Ritter needs a “work horse or a plow horse).” Denver’s Public Works manager, Guillermo “Bill” Vidal, is said to be vying for the CDOT post.
Sens. Abel Tapia, D-Pueblo, and Jim Isgar, D-Hesperus, were disappointed with Ritter’s decision on appointments. Tapia is assuming the chairmanship of the Joint Budget Committee this month. He’d wanted the CDOT post. Isgar wanted the Department of Agriculture directorship.
Rep. Rosemary Marshall, D-Denver, denied the buzz in political circles that she is seeking the top job at the Department of Labor. But Steve Adams, president of the Colorado AFL-CIO, said he might apply. “I’m looking at a few different opportunities. That may be one,” Adams said. “I haven’t submitted a resume yet.” He and others interested need to hurry. Deadline for resume submissions is a week from today.
It’s the hair
The buzz in U.S. Senate circles is that Wayne Allard might honor his pledge to serve just two terms and retire to that new home he and his wife, Joan, are building in Jackson County.
It’s not just the meager campaign coffer ($119,000) that has sparked the speculation. It’s the silver hair.
Allard is in the minority in Congress for the first time since he was elected in 1997 and word is he isn’t too keen on the situation. The list of Republicans who might run in 2008 if Allard does not includes U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo, former Reps. Scott McInnis and Bob Schaffer, and outgoing Gov. Bill Owens.
Regardless of the GOP ticket, Rep. Mark Udall plans to run and will make a formal announcement sometime next year. His campaign coffers now hold $1.2 million.
Insiders say Allard usually keeps his hair a dark hue but lately they’ve noticed there’s a strong hint of the white stuff. Or, as one observer in Washington noted last week: “His hair has been gray for awhile now. That’s pretty unusual for Allard, especially leading up to an election.”
Politics and groceries
Congressman-elect Ed Perlmutter says he’ll stay close to his 7th District constituents. How close? Perlmutter said last week he’s planning to hang out at different grocery stores on Saturday mornings to chat with shoppers and hear their concerns.
Perlmutter also thought about standing outside heavily trafficked stores like Applejack Liquors but had second thoughts about mixing spirits with politics. “It might send the wrong message,” he said.
Doubling up in prisons
Colorado prison officials haven’t given up on the idea of double-bunking inmates just because they’re sending 1,000 prisoners out of state. Department of Corrections spokesman Brent Parker says double-bunking will start next year with 250 to 500 extra beds added to ease the overcrowding.
Net growth for the prison system has been running at 80 to 100 inmates per month. The state also has 1,000 or so inmates backlogged in county jails. “So you can see, mathematically, DOC will be behind the growth for some time,” Parker said.
Julia C. Martinez (jmartinez@denverpost.com) is a member of The Denver Post editorial board.
