Former President Bill Clinton can draw a crowd better than just about anyone, and he’s expected to do so when he addresses business leaders and politicians later this month in Denver. The event is the Aurora Economic Development Council’s annual fundraising luncheon.
Tables for the Sept. 17 event at the Colorado Convention Center are going for $2,000 for non-members and $1,500 for members to hear one of the world’s most sought-after speakers.
Council spokesman Andy Boian said Clinton was picked to give the keynote speech because of his leadership credentials. “Aurora is an economic engine and leader in the community and we feel the same about [Clinton],” Boian said.
The event is nonpartisan. Still, in the hottest pre-presidential election year in recent memory, and with Clinton’s wife running for president, here’s betting the former president peppers his business remarks with a good helping of political spice. No word on how much Clinton, who commands top dollar for speeches, is getting for this one.
Buzz says it’s Cerbo
State Rep. Mike Cerbo, D-Denver, says he will decide this week whether to resign his legislative seat after being interviewed to be the next president of the Colorado AFL-CIO. The buzz is that he’s been offered the job and asked by labor officials to resign. But no one will say publicly that the job is his.
“I understand that I’m the pick,” Cerbo said Friday, but he said “no” when asked if he’d had a formal offer. “There is a lot involved with the AFL-CIO job. If I’m moving forward with it I have to consider resigning.”
House Speaker Andrew Romanoff said he could not comment.
Salazar, Perlmutter coasting
Democratic U.S. Reps. John Salazar and Ed Perlmutter seem to be coasting toward re-election in 2008. A Republican challenger has yet to step forward in either district.
It’s a little unusual since both congressmen represent highly competitive swing districts and had to battle opponents in past elections. Salazar is running for his third term in the 3rd Congressional District, Perlmutter for his second term in the 7th.
State Republican Party chair Dick Wadhams is noncommittal about whether the GOP will mount a challenge to either incumbent, except to say that potential candidates are not prepared to go public.
Political pundits, national and local, are saying neither race will be competitive in 2008. Still, Wadhams says: “I know both those seats are competitive. There’s still a long way to 2008.”
Tool time again?
Former state Rep. Steve Tool says he is considering returning to the legislature, although not necessarily in 2008. Tool said he also is contemplating running for a seat on the University of Colorado Board of Regents.
Either way, the former chairman of the Joint Budget Committee misses hands-on politics, even though he’s kept his feet in the mix since he left the legislature, serving as a cabinet member for Gov. Bill Owens. He currently is serving as public information officer and legislative liaison for the Department of Revenue.
Looking to power lunch?
The National Conference of State Legislatures is seeking a few good restaurants to put on a national directory for traveling legislative junkies.
“It should be authentic, have a place in local legislative legend, serve something that most people might want to eat and that they would want to return to with a couple friends,” the NCSL wrote on its blog.
The City Grille on East Colfax has been a historical favorite of state politicos. Over the years, the restaurant has been the site of many a power lunch where policy has been mapped, political strategies hatched and rumors whispered about secret dalliances involving legislators or legislative staff or lobbyists.
To send in a favorite eating spot, send an e-mail to the.thicket@ncsl.org. They plan to publish just one restaurant per city.
Julia C. Martinez (jmartinez@denverpost.com) is a member of the Denver Post editorial board.
