Jim Dyer

Jim Dyer

Constituents wish well-liked senator luck at new job

Mar. 24, 2001

When word reached here Wednesday afternoon that Sen. Jim Dyer had decided to leave the Legislature for the state Public Utilities Commission, it was greeted by some surprise, disbelief and plenty of political speculation.

How could Dyer do this to his fellow Democrats? How could he leave an 18-17 Democratic majority in the state Senate? While a Democrat would be appointed to succeed him, who would be strong enough to withstand even a so-so Republican in a district that has some 9,000 more registered Republicans than Democrats?

Dyer, who would have been up for re-election next year, hasn’t seemed to enjoy life in the state Senate as he much as did he in Colorado’s House. The former, with its committee system, is more formal, requiring attention to detail.

He is chairman of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, but this kind of assignment is not his strength.

Dyer is everybody’s friend, a nice guy who is widely known to keep his word, and who remembers names. He builds credibility, and his method works to pass bills.

His Senate district is huge compared to the House district he served for 12 years and in which he knows practically everybody. To the north in the Senate district, he has found hostility from those partisans who have never before met a Democrat.

Dyer, regularly greeting passersby in front of the South City Market coffee bar, seemed to be having a wonderful time doing his legislative job while in the House. Lately, this has not appeared to be the case.

Republican Gov. Bill Owens has likely won a political coup with his appointment of Dyer to the PUC. In 2002 the Senate probably will return to Republican control – especially if Democrats in Senate District 6 are not able to hold Dyer’s seat.

Though the position on the PUC pays $87,000 annually compared to the $30,000 a state senator receives, his friends do not believe Dyer has shifted jobs because of the salary difference. He has never seemed to be an individual powerfully motivated by money.

Dyer has suggested Julie Cooley and Montrose Mayor William Patterson as possible candidates to replace him. (Cooley lost a race for the state House to Mark Larson of Cortez.) La Plata County Commissioner Josh Joswick’s name has been mentioned as well.

Everybody throughout the district wishes the Dyers the best of luck in their new lives, destined to begin after May 9 when the Legislature adjourns. Even those Democrats who wish Dyer had held on to that fragile seat for the sake of the party want to see him happy again.

That’s the kind of reaction he draws.