Bill Owens held his final scheduled news conference as governor Thursday, saying he will miss being involved in policy debates but is looking forward to a second career in business.
During a lunch at the Denver Press Club, an upbeat Owens alternately joked and reminisced with the Capitol press corps about his eight years in office.
“You know, you never seem to write about the good things. For example, when you quoted me as saying, ‘All of Colorado is burning,’ actually I said, ‘All of Colorado is learning,”‘ he joked in reference to a comment that garnered national attention as wildfires swept through the West in 2002.
Owens said his biggest accomplishments included cutting taxes, improving highways, increasing accountability for public schools, guiding the state through recession and passing Referendum C, which allows the state to keep more tax revenues.
But at age 56 and after 24 years in public office, he said he “seriously doubts” he will run for the U.S. Senate in 2008.
“I am looking forward to doing a number of things in business,” Owens said.
Last week, he announced plans to partner with two Denver-area developers. The governor said he also plans to get involved in international development.
Asked what he would miss most about public office, he said, “Being in the middle of the policy debate and having the opportunity to effect it.
“I also got to ride in an F-16, I got to drive an Abrams tank, and I got to throw out the first pitch – and throw out a better pitch than (Denver Mayor) John Hickenlooper.”
And in his parting note, Owens emphasized a few things about politicians in general:
“Most of us are honest. Most of us are hardworking. Most of us really care about what it is we do.”
Staff writer Jeri Clausing can be reached at 303-954-1555 or jclausing@denverpost.com.
