For a decade, immigration firebrand Tom Tancredo has represented the 6th Congressional District in a full-throttle, take- no-prisoners style of politics.
When Tancredo decided not to seek re-election, he opened the door for new representation — and, thankfully, a wider range of issue advocacy.
In the primary election, Republican voters have four choices: Wil Armstrong, a businessman; Mike Coffman, Colorado’s secretary of state; and state Sens. Ted Harvey and Steve Ward.
We think Coffman’s political and policy experience makes him the best choice.
Armstrong is an affable, smart and well-connected candidate (his father, Bill, was a two-term U.S. senator representing the state). Harvey is a stalwart conservative and Ward possesses broad knowledge of economic and policy issues.
But we think Coffman, a fiscal conservative with experience in the state House, the military and as state treasurer, is the best qualified candidate.
The 6th District — which includes Douglas and Elbert counties and parts of Arapahoe, Jefferson and Park counties — is solidly Republican, and Coffman’s views are in keeping with the district.
On energy, he favors increasing fossil fuel supplies in the near term while concurrently exploring renewables like cellulosic ethanol.
He believes government is part of the country’s problems with health care costs, and he favors tax incentives to help individuals buy their own health insurance. On immigration, he favors secure borders and denying citizenship to those who violate the law.
Coffman, whose oversight as state treasurer helped guide the St. Vrain school district out of a budget deficit in 2002-03, has shown he knows how to deal with difficult financial situations.
A few of his fellow Republicans don’t want Coffman to win because they don’t want the party to lose the Secretary of State’s office. But we’re confident that if he’s elected, whatever the party thinks it may be losing, constituents in the 6th would gain a tireless fighter.
His opponents may have similar policy views, but Coffman is a proven leader and is best positioned to serve Colorado’s 6th District.
