editor’s note: Each week during the legislative session, Denver Post political reporters will sit down with Capitol newsmakers. This Q&A was edited for length.
Republican Kevin Priola beat the odds in 2008, winning an Adams County House seat Democrats had expected to retain. Priola, 36, is involved in his family’s property management and development enterprise, Cap Land Co.
He and wife Michelle have two children, Turin, 7, and Bremma, 4, and are expecting a third child in August.
Q: How did you end up getting involved in the Ralphie program when you attended CU from 1992 to 1996?
A: I was just interested in the whole spirit part of it, and supporting the football team, and being one of the guys that runs the buffalo down the field at the start of the game and at halftime. . . . I’m still involved with the program. I’m the co-director with my cousin Ben Frei, who also ran with Ralphie in college. We help set up appearances, take care of the buffaloes, manage the kids and set up the practices. It’s a great hobby. It’s great fun.
Q: Did running with a buffalo help prepare you for being in the legislature?
A: It did. We did a lot of public speaking. And a 1,200-pound buffalo sometimes has his own mind and wants to do his own thing. Same down here.
Q: Tell me about one of your bills this year.
A: I have a bill that I believe will help the trucking industry. They’ve had a tough time making a go of it. House Bill 1285 would allow them to qualify for enterprise-zone and sales-tax credits. It also increases the fines on egregiously overweight trucks that are ruining our roads and basically cheating those following the rules.
