Iron Mike Proves His Agility, Too

In a truly surprising move this morning, Mike Coffman announced he has volunteered to serve as an Active Duty Major in the Marine Corps, specifically assigned to the Marine Civil Affairs Corps, for the purpose of  “establishing a stable, democratic government in Iraq.”

This volunteer activation follows weeks of speculation concerning the future of our current State Treasurer and once gubernatorial candidate.

“The coming months are vital to the success of the coalition’s rebuilding mission. Our nation has made a commitment to the people of Iraq and the world community that democracy and peace will be brought to this nation. I will apply my skills, expertise and leadership to make a difference in this important assignment.”

Coffman’s return from Service will occur early to mid spring of ’06 – plenty of time to launch a bullet-from-the-chamber campaign for Secretary of State…

…leaving Rick O’Donnell to be the preeminent Republican Candidate in the race for 7^th CD.

How all of this affects our next Treasurer, Mark Hillman, has yet to be settled.

One possibility might be to appoint an interim State Treasurer (read: Hillman), allowing Mike to return to his pre-deployment position (it’s required by Federal Statute for employees, but Elected Officials are a still undefined employment class) in May of ’06.

This could certainly prove useful to Mark, whom would then be able to run a full-fledged state-wide campaign without the restrictions of holding a current office.

It would also mean Senate Republicans have a new Leader (Steve Johnson) and Hillman’s Senate Seat would go to Vacancy (Greg Brophy), leaving a House Seat (HD 63) up, as well. 

Or – of course – Bill Owens could surprise everyone, too, and decide to ask the Deputy Treasurer to serve until the (hopefully eventual) return of Coffman.  This may very-well be the easiest way to appease those over 590,000 Military Families who live in the state (proving that even the State Treasurer is protected by the Serviceman’s Act), but according to those in the office, Ben Stein doesn’t want the job.

And with an upcoming fierce battle over Referendum C, it would seem the State would need a full-time Treasurer – while Bill would probably appreciate having someone on board who’s supportive of the measure. Hillman’s not.

No matter how this battlefield shapes up in the next year, Coffman has successfully managed to not only remove himself from starting another campaign too early, but has also cleared the way for a clean O’Donnell win in the 7^th and his own easy campaign for SOS (who wants to go against a glorified war hero?). 

The Republicans seem to have the Office Shuffle down to a science – all while the Democrats are still muddling around looking for anyone to beat the eventual Republican State Candidates: Beauprez, Hillman, Coffman and Suthers.

(The impending marriage? Yes – the private family affair is still scheduled for May 28^th. Deployment to North Carolina, and then Iraq, comes in early August.)

Comments

[Donald E. L. Johnson]

After stories like this:

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/news_columnists/article/0,1299,DRMN_86_3759868,00.html

Who's gonna run against him? He'll have a $1 million to $2 million campaign fund waiting for him when he comes home, if he comes home.

[VulgusVexamen]

Norma Anderson is a RINO - we all know that. Thank God she is termed. She's just envious that Coffman has a promising political career ahead of him. Maybe she should go to Iraq. But how would you get a helmet over that 'do??