Looking to the Senate

Looking to the Senate
Contest for seat could benefit Southwest Colorado

May 10, 2001

Although the next election for state legislators is more than a year away, the situation is looking good for Southwest Colorado.

In 2002 both the 6th Senate District seat being relinquished by Jim Dyer and the 59th House District seat now held by Mark Larson will be up for grabs. In an odd twist, however, it is easier to identify prospective candidates than to define the districts.

This is a reapportionment year and population changes necessitate a realignment of district boundaries. The speculation is that the 6th Senate District will lose some or part of Delta County. The 59th House District is also likely to change. Both play into political calculations.

With Dyer’s resignation, Democrats chose La Plata County’s Jim Isgar to fill his Senate seat, at least in part, for his perceived electability. Redistricting may help by lessening the large advantage the GOP enjoys in the district.

It would not, however, come close to eliminating it. Republican leaders see an opportunity to erase the Democrats one-seat advantage in the Senate. Rep. Kay Alexander, R-Montrose, announced her intention to run against Isgar on Tuesday.

When the redistricting music stops, however, it is Mark Larson who may find himself without a seat. He has done a lot of work, and made more than a few friends, in all parts of the 59th. If his Cortez home winds up in another district he may not want to see those ties lost. The 6th Senate District seat might be appealing.

GOP leaders do not want a primary fight, but how that would play out is anybody’s guess. Larson — to his credit — is no darling of the House leadership.

For his part, Isgar is something of an unknown. He is a well-respected rancher with solid ties to higher education and the ag community, but his political skills have yet to be tested.

Likewise, while Alexander is strong on her home turf, it remains to be seen how she might fare in Isgar’s — or Larson’s — territory.

The permutations are legion, but the upshot is that Southwest Colorado stands to gain. Larson has been an outstanding representative and would likely continue to excel in the Senate. Isgar, too, has the potential to be a top-notch legislator. And, regardless of where she ends up, we can only benefit from Alexander becoming more familiar with the needs and interests of this area.

In any case, Southwest Colorado wins.