For Republican politicians, Colorado’s 6th Congressional District is a dream come true. Sweeping from the western suburbs down south to Highlands Ranch, Castle Rock and further east, the district is GOP-friendly. Republicans make up about 46 percent of the roughly half-million voters, Democrats only 24 percent.
It’s the kind of district that allows a politician to act like, say, Tom Tancredo – a firebrand who can say just about anything he pleases with no concerns about political repercussions. Yet the congressman, elected to his fifth term last fall, may be giving it all up for a longshot run for president.
Tancredo last week announced that he raised more than $1 million so far this year for his run, exceeding his expectations and making it more likely he’ll announce a full-fledged campaign soon.
That will set off a mad dash for his congressional seat.
State Sen. Tom Wiens is interested, as is state Sen. Ted Harvey. Both are strong social conservatives whose views on immigration would be similar to Tancredo’s. But a few party insiders say Wil Armstrong, a mortgage banker and son of former Sen. Bill Armstrong, is building the most party support and would have substantial financial backing. State Rep. David Balmer of Centennial, who considered running himself, is said to be supporting Armstrong.
State Sen. Nancy Spence, a rumored candidate, says she’s not running. But the race likely would draw a multi-candidate primary.
The district, created in 1982, has had only two representatives: Dan Schaefer and Tancredo. Schaefer won a special election in 1983 after former Apollo 13 astronaut Jack Swigert won the seat but died of cancer before he could take office.
Owens still not running
With Scott McInnis taking himself out of the race for U.S. Senate, all GOP eyes have turned to former Congressman Bob Schaffer as the next nominee. He’s still mulling a run. But guess which Republican has the strongest polling numbers against presumptive Democratic nominee Rep. Mark Udall?
Former Gov. Bill Owens. He’s been inundated with calls, and most Republicans consider him their strongest candidate, but he insists he’s not running.
No. 2 on the poll, which was done about three weeks ago, is former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton. And she’s unlikely to run, too.
Amendment 41 redux?
If state lawmakers don’t proceed quickly with a remedy for Amendment 41, Colorado’s new ethics-in-government law, its backers say they’ll move forward with a plan to put a fix before voters in November. When leaders from both parties finally agreed last week to set up an ethics commission and ask the state Supreme Court for guidance, it appeared the 2007 ballot fix was off the table.
Not so. While the compromise was a huge step forward, the coalition of 41 backers still wants the law clarified this year.
“If we don’t see real progress and passage within the next couple of weeks, we need to file the petition and proceed,” said lawyer Mark Grueskin, who’s concerned the court won’t be given enough time to respond. “They had all six leaders around the table; they should be able to proceed quickly.”
Well-deserved final salute
He’s one of the lowest-profile members of the governor’s cabinet, but probably the only one who’s been to Iraq twice and Afghanistan once.
A change-of-command ceremony was held this past weekend marking the retirement of Maj. Gen. Mason Whitney and the naming of Brig. Gen. H. Michael Edwards as the state’s new Adjutant General. Whitney was Adjutant General for seven years. His official retirement is April 30.
“This will be my military retirement,” he said last week. “I’m going to look forward to having some weekends off.”
Involved with the Colorado National Guard since 1979, his weekends are generally filled with air drills and guard drills.
“I’ll have to find a hobby somewhere,” he said. And, quite likely, some casual clothes, too.
Whitney, a pilot with more than 6,000 hours of flying time, flew 343 combat missions over South Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.
Dan Haley (dhaley@denverpost.com) is a member of The Post’s editorial board. Read the Haley’s Comment blog at denverpostbloghouse.com/haley.
