DENVER—Gov.-elect John Hickenlooper is promising to scour the state for Cabinet and commission members and he promises to consider Democrats, Republicans and anyone else who qualifies for the job.
Hickenlooper said what happens in the first six months will define his governorship for the next four years.
Hickenlooper met Friday with the new incoming House Speaker, Republican Frank McNulty. McNulty said he takes Hickenlooper at his word that the new governor will be as non-partisan as possible and he promised to do the same.
“For all of us, the tone set in the next six months will set the tone for the next four years,” McNulty said.
McNulty said outgoing Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter’s proposed budget for next year was a nonstarter because it raises spending by nearly $1 billion over last year’s $18.2 billion budget. He said Hickenlooper promised to work with them.
“We’re going to be fiscal conservatives, but we’re not going to be unreasonable,” McNulty said. He also promised to reinstate some of the tax breaks eliminated this year by Democrats, but only if they are fiscally responsible.
Both men promised to never deliberately embarrass the other with press releases or attacks, though Hickenlooper warned that he has been known to put his foot in his mouth and he apologized in advance if it happens.
“Sometimes I can be so ignorant and do things so clumsily,” he said. He cited one example when he embarrassed former GOP Gov. Bill Owens, who was having a tough time with the loss of a ballot issue to expand water storage, and immediately called to apologize.
McNulty took the unusual step of appointing a freshman Republican lawmaker, Rep. Jon Becker of Fort Morgan, to the Joint Budget Committee that sets state spending priorities, saying it’s “a strong signal to Colorado that, for Republicans, it’s no longer business as usual at the state Capitol.”
Hickenlooper has refused to provide details on his plans to balance the state’s budget shortfall next year, saying it would defeat the purpose of a compromise. He said he wants to find cuts with Democrat and Republican lawmakers that do the least damage and provide the greatest benefit.
Lt. Gov.-elect Joe Garcia said he has a different outlook on policy, but shares the same goals with his new boss.
Hickenlooper said his father told him if he couldn’t talk his way out of a fight, he deserved to get whipped.
“My outlook is to try to avoid fights, but if you can’t, make sure you land the first punch and fight dirty if you have to, but we’re going to try John’s approach,” he said.
