DENVER—The top Republican in the state House of Representatives withdrew his resignation Tuesday and accused unspecified “outside influences” of trying to sway the election to pick his successor.
House Minority Leader Mike May, who operates hotels in Colorado and Utah, had said Friday he was resigning his seat because it had become harder to manage his business because the economy has soured.
May issued a terse statement Tuesday saying he was delaying his retirement “because of my sense of duty to the members of the Republican caucus.”
“With the possibility that outside influences may have attempted to interfere with the leadership election, and the reality of a delayed election, I do not feel that now would be an appropriate time to leave,” May said.
He refused to elaborate, saying House rules prohibited him from doing so.
May was first elected minority leader in 2006 when state Rep. Joe Stengel stepped down after a complaint that he drew state pay while on vacation. May co-sponsored the bill to ban smoking in bars, restaurants and most hotel rooms.
House Republicans still have to elect a new leader. But the rest of the GOP leadership team—Assistant Minority Leader David Balmer of Centennial, caucus chair Amy Stephens of Monument and Whip Cory Gardner of Yuma—issued a joint statement saying it wasn’t yet time to discuss who that should be.
Balmer and McNulty have indicated an interest in the leadership position.
“I have no idea what’s going on,” Balmer said about May’s decision.
McNulty did not return phone calls seeking comment.
