Tag: David Balmer

The watchdog group Colorado Ethics Watch (CEW) this week unveiled its annual list of the top 10 ethics scandals involving public officials throughout the state in 2008. There was no shortage of civic shenanigans this year.

While the state legislature's House Ethics Committee continues to investigate allegations that Centennial Republican Rep. David Balmer and a lobbyist a little too exuberantly pressed for votes to ensure Balmer's ascension to Colorado House Minority Leader, an ethics watchdog has posted the complaint dossiers online for all to see.

Big talk of the week has shifted to who would replace Sen. Ken Salazar after he, in what is looking like a done deal, leaves his Senate seat to lead the Interior Department. But days after Colorado House Minority Leader Mike May announced he was stepping down, there's no word yet on who might lead Republicans in the House into the new year. Among the top contenders to emerge: Reps. David Balmer, Frank McNulty and Amy Stephens.

For Colorado lawmakers, the economy will be the priority when the legislature convenes in January. And, judging from some of the comments about said topic, Monday was a day for commitments — along with clichés and some creative metaphors.

Another Republican lawmaker has stepped forward to complain that threats of 2010 primary challenges were wielded to muscle the results of House leadership elections last week. "I got a phone call, and it was suggested that if I would back out (of the caucus chair race), things could be easier or things could be harder," state Rep. Ellen Roberts told PolitickerCO. The Durango Republican lost a bid for caucus chair on Thursday to the more conservative Amy Stephens of Monument.

A Colorado Springs legislator complained to the state House Republican Caucus on Thursday that he'd been sucker-punched when a "multidimensional, or even multiambitional chess game" went awry and his co-conspirators backed off plans to challenge their party's sitting leadership.