Political intrigue makes the rounds across the state

Political intrigue makes the rounds across the state

April 26, 2001

Capitol Report
By Senator Jim Dyer

I’m sure that you, like I, have followed our courageous star Rep. Mark Larson and his colossal struggle with House Speaker Doug Dean, R-Colorado Springs.

The defining issue of the struggle was Senate Bill 93, Mark’s bill that would have established a telemarketing no-call list for Colorado citizens.

This is wildly popular in the state, with approval ratings above 80 percent.

But the speaker has telemarketing boiler rooms in his district that employ hundreds, and he claims to have First Amendment freedom of speech qualms as well.

This was not a level playing field for Mark. The speaker called for support, and the bill was killed in the House Business Affairs Committee.

This is one idea that I believe should find its way onto the ballot by citizen initiative. I’d sign up.

As might Durango’s Karen Midkiff.

My wife, Shari, and I attended a Business After Hours event Friday evening sponsored by the Durango Area Chamber Resource Association. This is always a great opportunity to meet old friends during the legislative session that keeps me in Denver five nights a week.

While enjoying snacks and a Tecate, I talked with good friend Midkiff about her many responsibilities at Mercy Medical Center and the direction of health care in Southwest Colorado.

Then she told me about an unsolicited phone call she had gotten the previous week around 7:30 p.m.

A firm from Kentucky was doing some research "related to the replacement of a political position."

Karen correctly read that as a call regarding a replacement for the Senate seat I am resigning when (if?) I am confirmed by the Senate for a seat on the three-member Public Utilities Commission.

Karen is a Republican, and the interviewer said she was selected at random. The interview was very structured, thought-provoking and lasted 15 minutes, Karen said.

While not remembering every detail, Karen related that:

There were some general questions on issues of gun control and the performance of President Bush.
Some of the questions were related to what she would think about supporting "a rancher and longtime resident of La Plata County."

Or "a local attorney.

Or "the mayor of a Western Slope city."

Or "a former Durango City Councilor." And others.

Those are not very difficult tea leaves to read.

I don’t know who sponsored this, but I’d guess that the State Democratic Party is looking for the best candidate to run in the general election of 2002.

I’m staying out of the selection process, although I have spoken with several candidates about the demands of the job.

He or she will have one full session in 2002 and probably a special session n congressional redistricting this fall. Salary and per diem will amount to about $72,000 for the next 20 months until the next General Assembly is convened in January 2003.

The selection committee, as I understand it, will consist of the chairs and vice chairs of Democratic parties in the nine counties in the 6th Senate District. Each will have an equal vote, so the tiny populations of San Juan and Ouray will have the same voice as the tens of thousands in La Plata, Montezuma and Montrose counties.

* * * * * * * *

A careful reader may have noticed a few paragraphs back. I hedged and said "when (if?) I’m confirmed for the PUC."

As surmised by Peter Blake in the Saturday, April 21, Rocky Mountain News, there seems to be some gamesmanship being played out regarding that confirmation process.

He said the majority Democratic leaders in the Senate were "overcome by diabolical inspiration" and had the following thought process:

"Dyer is quite conservative — that’s why (Gov. Bill) Owens tapped him — and we have a bare 18-17 lead. Big partisan issues inevitably crop up in the waning days. To keep him from straying from the reservation and siding with his new boss, let’s delay his confirmation hearing until the end."

Would they do that? Would Doug Dean blindside Larson? Is the poll that Karen Midkiff answered foreshadowing a professional campaign next year unlike the benign matchup Jasper Welch and I ran in 1998?

Jim Dyer is a state senator from Durango. He can be reached in Durango at (970) 259-1942, or at the capitol in Denver at (303) 866-4884.