Republican Sen. Josh Penry, who has battled his own caucus this year, is stepping down as minority leader when the session ends May 12.
Sen. Mike Kopp of Littleton has emerged as the lone candidate to succeed Penry, who is resigning his leadership post to manage the campaign of Republican Jane Norton, who is running for U.S. Senate.
The election is scheduled for 9 a.m. today.
The leadership change caps an at-times tumultuous year during which Senate Republicans have battled Penry on legislation, staffing and issues of leadership style.
One lobbyist dubbed the session “Penry v. Caucus.”
“There is intrigue. People are talking,” said Penry, of Grand Junction.
But he said tension is “inevitable” when a person in leadership is on the way out. He said his decision to not seek a second Senate term this fall meant there was “behind-the-scenes jockeying from the first day in January” to determine who would succeed him.
Other Republicans said some colleagues in the 14-member caucus have talked for weeks about needing a new direction. The talks became moot when Penry announced last week he would step down as minority leader, but remain a senator.
Asked about the criticism, Penry said, “When it comes to carrying the flag for Republicans and the conservative cause, I don’t feel a great need to defend my bona fides. Ask (Democratic Gov.) Bill Ritter, who I’ve challenged relentlessly for four years.”
Sen. Ken Kester, R-Las Animas, who was not pushing for a new minority leader, said Penry has been supportive but has made mistakes.
Penry laid off a popular staffer without telling Republicans first, which Kester said “caused some hard feelings.”
At the start of the session, conventional wisdom said the assistant minority leader, Sen. Greg Brophy of Wray, would likely succeed Penry.
But Brophy sided with Penry and against most of the caucus on two key pieces of legislation: pension-fund reform and a bill giving natural gas the edge over coal for fueling power plants.
Brophy declined to comment, as did a number of senators who were asked about the leadership post.
“I think it’s fair to say an election year adds a new dimension,” Kopp said. “It doesn’t change our level of friendship and affection for Josh.”
Lynn Bartels: 303-954-5327 or lbartels@denverpost.com
