Why Joan Fitz-Gerald Can't Be Governor

We've written in this space before about the fact that despite her legions of fans, Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald has an equally large number of enemies. Hers' an example of why:

We hear that she is actively seeking a candidate to challenge State Senator Paula Sandoval in the 2006 Democratic Primary, with former Denver Auditor Don Mares as a potential opponent. Fitz-Gerald has a long-running feud with Sandoval and her husband, former State Senator Paul Sandoval, and most recently is miffed that Paula Sandoval supported Peter Groff over her for Senate President.

Fitz-Gerald has a reputation for looking for primary candidates against legislators who go against her will, and the threats are silly and wasteful. The last thing Democrats need in 2006 is to waste money, time, and energy in a primary where they won't have a viable Republican opponent anyway. Republicans have put Fitz-Gerald, who won a narrow victory in 2002, fellow Jeffco Senator Mo Keller, who won by less than two points, and Senator Jim Isgar on the top of their hit parade in 2006. She should be more concerned with that.

And while she has been screwing around looking for a primary challenger for Sandoval, Fitz-Gerald has yet to find a strong opponent for the weakest Senate Republican, Ed Jones. Some Democrats think that Mike Miles would be a suitable opponent in that district against Jones, though Miles may consider that sort of race beneath him.

Fitz-Gerald has engaged in this sort of petty nonsense on more than one occassion, which is a prime reason why she would have a tough time getting out of a statewide primary for governor.

Comments

[Joan Fitz-Gerald]

I don't know where you get your information. The Sandoval-Mares primary was the first I heard of it. I am not seeking to have any primaries in Senate races nor have I been. I'm sure that I have my enemies but at least get it right as to why. I read many of your anonymous remarks with amusement, you are frequently wrong as to your facts but this one I must correct because it is harmful to my caucus. Joan Fitz-Gerald

[jim]

Another example of the Polis croud getting the facts absolutley wrong. Colorado Pols is, yet again, not even close. Giddy up Jared.

[Ed]

Joan - Are you saying that this feud does not exist between you and Sandoval? You seek to correct the facts but you don't correct anything. You just say that Colorado Pols are wrong ... how are they wrong?

[ColoBLT]

Ed - I think it's pretty clear what Joan is saying. She is not pushing for a primary between Sandoval and Mares. I also doubt her relationship with either Sandoval is as bad as Coloradopols claims it is. And to suggest that the President of the Senate is doing anything other than working to maintain the Democratic majority without absolute rock-solid evidence is simply irresponsible.

[Essaywhuman?!!]

Pretty cool the JF-G responded herself. I wonder why if so much of this stuff is wrong why she clearly reads it. I would hope that she wouldn't just read it to see her own name, where's the fun in that?

[vladimir]

So,l I assume that Joan Fitz-Gerald is publicly endorsing the reelecton of Paula Sandoval?

[poli.hack]

Joan Fitz-Gerald (if it is in fact your comments above):

With all due respect, I believe the point of this post is well conveyed despite any minor factual errors. The beauty (and power) of this blog is they can get away with it and still spur intelligent political commentary.

I believe the gist of the argument here is you have become a divisive figure within your own caucus and Colorado democratic politics as a whole. You have a tendency to create enemies within your own party strictly out of paranoia. I think the simple fact that you took the time to respond to a post here, rather than focus on your legislative duties, is a prime example of your political pettiness.

This type of triviality is your downfall and the reason you will fail in any attempt at the governor's seat or, CD-2 for that matter. You may currently have labor wrapped around your finger but they will only tolerate this type of behavior for so long.

I think at this point you need to focus less on the minor skirmishes within your own caucus and more on maintaining your razor-thin majority.

[Strider]

I think the real threat to Ed Jones is going to be house representative Michael Merrifield currently in HD 18. Rumors of Merrifield running are rather persistant.

I think that the desire to run for office is temporarily gone from Mike Miles.

[Strider]

Poli-hack,

You are making some pretty serious allegations. I have to say that you sound like you are the only one here with an axe to grind.

Joan Fitzgerald a "divisive figure"? Ummm ok.

And are you honestly saying that her responding to this blog (a message that probobly took an entire 10 seconds to write) is a dereliction of her duties in the Senate?

Gimme a break!

[Ed]

I don't think he's saying that at all. JF-G is complaining about bad information but not leaving us anything different to refute it. I think everyone who has read her comments have to assume that she is a part of a feud with Sandoval and is likely looking for primary opponents. From her comments above, I think it's safe to say that she is very divisive.

[Strider]

Actually I think it is safe to say that we have some ColoradoPols people desperate to save some credibility.

If Joan had made a longer comment someone would then be complaining that she was bloging instead of working!

[Phoenix Rising]

You know, most blogs and bloggers would be overjoyed at having someone like Joan personally responding online (and it does look like it's really Joan...).

I say we should welcome our State Senate President online!

Please feel free to elaborate when you can, Senator, to appease the unsettled masses ;^)

[sparky]

Joan can't win here. If she responds then it's not enough. If she doesn't respond then she's hiding. I have heard gossip regarding Joan's divisiveness outside of this blog, but that's all it has been: gossip. What politician doesn't have friends and enemies within their own party anyway?

As for Miles and Jones? Miles would be wise to 'stoop' to a state senate race. One problem at the moment though is that he doesn't live in Jones' senate district - he lives in D10, Ron May's district.

[Ed]

It's not about being devisive. Her comments leave a lot of questions, more questions than before.

[sparky]

For all questions to Joan Fitz-Gerald, her contact information is readily available on the state legislative site. I highly recommend you contact her directly if you have any concerns. If she doesn't respond, then you really have something to blog about ;)

[Alva Adams]

As always, we stand by what we report.

[peterco]

I would imagine that she holds a grudge with you guys since the only picture of her you ever put up was her with a mustache.

But by responding, the rumor stops here, and not getting to the Denver Post like all of the Hefley retirement comments. And she might have other things to do during the day, like running the Senate?

[Alva Adams]

But it was a nice-looking moustache.

Seriously, though, we encourage everyone to give their side of the story. But we're not just printing rumors here - unless we're confident it's true, we don't run it, and we stand by what we do run.

[polis hand]

If this site is indeed supported by Jared Polis, as someone suggested earlier, that would explain the constant abuse hurled at Fitz-gerald. He probably is trying to preempt her run for CD-2 in 2008.

[Alva Adams]

Colorado Pols has no affiliation whatsoever with Jared Polis.

And now, on to the next rumor...

[vladimir]

Hey, what was Joanie to do?
Sit back and let something fester as Kerry did or respond? Let us take the Senate Leader at her word -- The Rocky and Post and even the Washington Post and NY Times sometimes get it wrong. It was a classy move on the part of Joanie to take a minute to set the record straight...but, would still love to hear what Donny Mares is now saying

[beardedlady]

I think all coloradopols did to give jf-g a moustache was take a picture of her after a week away from her bleach. Can't wait to see her picture when they do the same for beards.

[yow]

Ouch! Has anybody bothered to contact her office and ask if it really was her on the blog? Also, I wish Alva wouldn't respond to allegations, as per usual. The fact that you denied a connection to Polis raises my eyebrows. Could all this be a ruse?

[Alva Adams]

Yow makes a good point, and his comment at the end speaks to the exact reason why we denied this affiliation. We did consider whether or not to respond to this at all, because we usually just let all rumors run their course.

We went against that policy in this case because some of what Polis does is very partisan, and he does tend to be involved in a lot of publicity stunt-type gags. We don't want to be lumped in as a Polis "gag" or "ruse."

Does saying all of that make us more or less believable? It's hard to say, but it's the truth.

[Ed]

Thanks for your honesty Alva.