Start off your week with political news from across the state. We’ve got an update on the Senate District 8 race; a political debate in Avon; a new face in the House; Democratic Convention logo contest; and more tidbits for the water cooler chats.
Read on….State Senate 8th Plot Thickens
We’re over a year away from the 2008 elections and one race already heating up is in the northwest section of the state. Senate District 8 includes Routt, Rio Blanco, Eagle, Garfield, Jackson and Moffat Counties and is currently represented by Republican Sen. Jack Taylor.
This area is earning hundreds of millions of dollars in severance taxes for the state from oil and gas drilling, so the area is gaining political clout.
And because of the social impacts of this energy boom, Democrats are making inroads in once was a Republican dominated political scene on the Western Slope.
Rep. Al White (R-57) has already announced to replace the term-limited Taylor. Eagle County Commissioner Arn Menconi and Steamboat Springs councilman Ken Brenner have been mentioned as possible Democratic contenders. Menconi was in the local news lately when a recall effort against him failed to gain traction.
Last week, Eagle County Republican activist Muhammad “Ali” Hasan told the Craig Daily Press that he might be considering an 8th District primary run against White.
Conservative blogs have been hammering White over his close working relationship with Democrats in the House, so could Hasan be the Right’s perfect candidate to take on White in a primary?
Hush, Hush will fill you in on Wednesday after an interview with Hasan.
Debate Night in Avon
Speaking of Ali Hasan, on Tuesday from 7:30 to 8:30pm at Loaded Joe’s Coffee House in Avon, Hasan has organized a debate between the “Eagle County Young Republicans VS. the Eagle County Democrats.”
Hush, Hush asked some Eagle County Democratic Party members about it and they were mystified. So, to pass on the debate organizers’ clarification, the invite to the debate should have read: “the Eagle County Young Republicans VS. some very visible Democratic Party activists of Eagle.”
Read about it more on Wednesday.
Dem Party Leaders Lining Up Behind Presidential Candidates
Dan Slater noted in his blog DemNotes.com that most of the Democratic Party officers and Democratic National Committee reps have declared their presidential preferences.
First Chair Slater has thrown his support to Sen. Barack Obama, DNC members Debbie Marquez, Ramona Martinez and J.W. Postal are backing New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson while Mannie Rodriguez is supporting Senator Hillary Clinton. So far, party chair Pat Waak has kept her preference a secret.
Speaking of CDP officers, party treasurer Mark Ferrandino was appointed to fulfill the rest of Rep. Mike Cerbo’s term in HD2. Cerbo left the legislature for the AFL-CIO.
Vote for Your Favorite Denver Convention Logo
Recently, college students in the Rocky Mountain West were encouraged to propose a new logo design for the Denver Convention Host Committee. It was no small feat; here were the parameters:
This request is for the development and design of a logo that will brand Denver, the metro area, the state of Colorado and the western states (Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Wyoming and Montana) as hosts of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
The logo will be used by the Denver 2008 Convention HOST COMMITTEE on all communications that will be developed in 2007 and 2008 to support the convention. This logo represents Denver and the West and will identify the City of Denver and the region as the host of the Democratic National Convention.
Well, one thing for sure, the logo better include mountains.
After a series of committee decisions, the selected finalist logos will be posted online between September 26 – October 3, 2007 so you can vote on your favorite design.
Republican West Sloper Runs for US Senate
Two-termed Republican Delta County Commissioner Wayne Wolf announced his intention to run for US Senate. Former Congressman Bob Schaffer of Ft. Collins was the first Republican to seek retiring Sen. Wayne Allard’s seat.
Everyone from Republican Party chair, Dick Wadhams to former Congressman Scott McInnis has tried to discouraged Wolf from pursuing his dream, but so far to no avail.
At least Wolf has described his platform, an item missing on Schaffer’s website.
From a Durango Herald interview, Wolf said he would:
