Second Congressional District candidate Will Shafroth “cuts the closest image” to outgoing U.S. Rep. Mark Udall,” the Roll Call newspaper said in an article last week.
Shafroth is among three Democrats vying for the 2nd CD seat being vacated by Udall, who is running for the Senate.
Roll Call says that even though the focus seems to be on candidates Joan Fitz-Gerald and Jared Polis, both of whom the newspaper calls “experienced and formidable,” Shafroth has an impressive record as an environmentalist in a district where that issue is key. And he’s been a solid fundraiser so far.
“Significantly, Shafroth, with the look and feel of a friendly, rugged outdoorsman, cuts the closest image to the one cultivated and projected by well-liked Rep. Mark Udall,” the article said.
No one is quoted by name in the piece, but one Democrat described Shafroth as having “the more collaborative personality” among the three candidates. Shafroth’s campaign quickly put the Roll Call article up on its website.
A pint to make a point
Who knew drinking and talking politics could be so popular in Colorado? Political progressives around the state have now opened 15 chapters of Drinking Liberally — the happy-hour-type event that brings together mostly left-leaning folks to talk politics, network or simply socialize with people of roughly the same political persuasion.
The slogan of the group, which got started in New York in 2003, is “promoting democracy, one pint at a time” and the idea has caught on in a big way here since the first chapter opened two years ago. Only California has more chapters.
John Erhardt, of the Drinking Liberally Denver chapter, said the name carries a double entendre.
“We’re not going to shy from the fact that we enjoy a few drinks while we talk about politics,” he said. But the group preaches responsible drinking.
Erhardt said the idea of the gatherings is to “make politics fun and interesting and get people to think about politics in an everyday fashion, not something they just do every November .”
The people who drop in to the happy hours run the political spectrum “from very liberal to moderate,” although Republican state legislators came by “on one occasion,” he said.
Hmmm. Maybe they were spying, or perhaps looking to start their own chat group. The conservative counterpart is Drinking Right, which is catching on in a few states, although not in Colorado — as far as anyone would ‘fess up.
Thomas staying connected
Former Jefferson County District Attorney Dave Thomas is running for an uncontested seat on the Jeffco school board. The seat is being vacated by treasurer Hereford Percy.
Thomas served as district attorney from 1993 to 2005 and became a household name during the shootings at Columbine High School. He twice ran unsuccessfully for Congress. He was the Democratic nominee in 2004 but lost to Bob Beauprez.
Thomas is currently executive director of the Colorado District Attorneys Council. He serves on the governor’s DNA task force, helping to ensure that prisoners who claim innocence have access to DNA evidence.
“I’m trying to be a good public servant and stay connected to my community,” he said. His school board goals are to increase the graduation rate and prevent truancy.
Julia C. Martinez (jmartinez@denverpost.com) is a member of the Denver Post editorial board.
