Not to be left out of the annual hindsight, foresight and insight game, I give you my look back on political news from the year that was and a look forward at what to watch for over the next 366 days (leap year).
Here are the 11 most notable political stories from 2011:
11.Wadhams out. In the wake of dismal GOP results in Colorado in 2010 and “tired of the nuts,” Dick Wadhams scraps his bid for a third term as state GOP chair.
10.Is that minimum wage? Saying the $68,500 salary is not enough, new Secretary of State Scott Gessler says he will moonlight at his old law firm, though he later backs down.
9. Move along. Police move to evict Occupy Denver protesters from Lincoln Park in October, the first of several clashes.
8. Double-barreled good news. Arrow Electronics announces it will relocate its global headquarters to Colorado. Days later, GE announces it will locate a solar panel plant in Aurora.
7. You can’t make this stuff up (or can you?). In the waning days of Michael Hancock’s successful and positive campaign for Denver Mayor, a pimp comes forward with allegations (never independently verified) and client logs that he says show Hancock had been a client.
6. Mapped out. Democrats outfox Republicans in battles over new boundaries for congressional and legislative districts, leaving hurt feelings and the term “competitiveness” as mementos for 2021.
5. Oucher for vouchers. More than 300 students must revisit their school choices after a judge stops a Douglas County School District voucher plan.
4. Rollie rolled. By a 2-to-1 margin, Colorado voters reject a tax hike pushed by state Sen. Rollie Heath that would have raised $3 billion for education over five years.
3. Taking stock of Aurora. The National Western Stock Show unveils a plan (since pulled) to relocate in conjunction with a planned 1,500-room Gaylord Hotel that will receive a $300 million city subsidy.
2. What’s in a name? Longtime Arapahoe County Sheriff Pat Sullivan is arrested on suspicion of offering men meth in exchange for sex and is housed in the jail that was named for him.
1. Potential bombshell. A judge sides with plaintiffs in the Lobato lawsuit and says public schools are “severely underfunded.” The decision forces lawmakers, educators and others to ponder how, whether or if Colorado can come up with billions of dollars should the decision stand on appeal.
And 12 Colorado political stories to watch in 2012:
12. A likely vote to legalize marijuana statewide, and Justice Department tolerance for medical marijuana.
11. The Feb. 7 state GOP caucuses, where Mitt Romney should win.
10. The first round of a federal lawsuit that challenges TABOR later this month.
9. June primary elections, where a Democratic battle to face Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Aurora, is shaping up as the main event to several legislative bouts on the undercard.
8. The election-year legislative session.
7. The first national presidential debate at DU on Oct. 3.
6.Fight for control of the legislature — particularly the House, where the GOP has a one-seat edge — in the November elections.
5. A likely vote to increase taxes to complete FasTracks on time.
4. House races, notably: Coffman’s effort to hold his 6th CD seat and the battles to unseat Reps. Ed Perlmutter, D-Golden, and Scott Tipton, R-Cortez.
3. Details on a plan from a private company to add toll lanes and transit to Interstate 70 between Golden and Avon.
2. Colorado’s role as a swing state.
1. The Lobato appeal.
Follow Curtis Hubbard on twitter: @curtishubbard
