The Colorado Democratic Party is set to elect a new chairman today at its biennial reorganizational meeting at the Colorado Convention Center.
Three candidates — Polly Baca, Adam Bowen and Rick Palacio — are vying to fill the seat being vacated by three-term chairwoman Pat Waak, who announced in January she would not seek another term.
“The challenge for the Democratic Party is to find solutions that will affect the most people. We need to keep listening to the voters and building the bench of excellent candidates,” said Waak, who would not publicly endorse a candidate.
Each of the three candidates brings a diverse background but a similar focus for the party’s direction.
Assuring that Colorado helps re-elect President Barack Obama, regaining control of Colorado’s House and protecting the state’s Senate and congressional seats are all priorities shared by the candidates.
Baca, a former state senator, brings a lengthy resume to the race. She was elected to both chambers of Colorado’s General Assembly, where she served for 12 years. In addition, for 16 years she served on the Democratic National Committee, eight of which were as its vice chair.
“The next chair of our Democratic Party has to hit the ground running. This is not the time for on-the-job training,” said Baca, of Denver. “My vision for our state’s Democratic Party is to unify, energize and expand heading into 2012.”
Bowen, a businessman from Fort Collins, is the former chair of the Larimer County Democratic Party. He was elected to the position in 2007 and 2009, but in 2010 stepped down to wage an unsuccessful bid for Larimer County commissioner.
“Under my leadership, the CDP will be a modern, professionally run political party. By working together, we need to continue building infrastructure and capacity that ensures we elect Democrats in all parts of Colorado, and across the local, state and federal levels,” he said.
Palacio, of Pueblo, works in Washington, D.C., as deputy director of member services for U.S. House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md. Previously, Palacio was an assistant to then-House Majority Leader Alice Madden at the state Capitol. He’s won the endorsement of former state House Speaker Terrance Carroll, D-Denver, in his quest to become the state’s next party chairman.
“Fundraising will be critically important in 2012. I have an aggressive fundraising strategy that will utilize my extensive Rolodex of contacts both here in Colorado and across the country to ensure that our resources are strategically focused and will provide our Democratic candidates the tools they need to win,” Palacio said.
Kyle Saunders, an associate professor of political science at Colorado State University, said the race is “spirited” but not at all contentious.
Today’s vote precedes tonight’s annual Jackson-Jefferson Dinner, which is the Democratic Party’s annual fundraising event. The keynote speaker at the dinner will be Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick.
Kurtis Lee: 303-954-1655 or klee@denverpost.com
