Senator Mark Hillman has filed for his Treasurer’s run in ’06…
…While Representative Joe Stengel is rumored to be re-thinking a move up the ballot.
The Senate Minority Leader has now jumped in with both feet – already raising serious money, solidifying endorsements and surrounding himself with seasoned campaigns workers.
This move nearly solidifies the Republican Sate Candidates; if Stengel is really getting mixed-reviews from his consideration of a Treasurers run, Suthers, Hillman and Coffman will be able to focus on the GE with no Primary contests – allowing money and talent to be concentrated on November and anchoring the Ballot for the eventual Republican Gubernatorial nominee.
Go, Mark, Go!
Posted by: A Fan | June 05, 2005 at 02:56 PM
Here's a link to an editorial today by Hillman on Colorado's budget "crisis" http://www.chieftain.com/editorial/1117963804/5 and here's a link to his blog, albeit with few entries so far: http://www.markhillman.com/
Posted by: Dan O. | June 05, 2005 at 06:05 PM
I doubt Stengel will jump in this point. He seems to have very little support both grassroots and financially behind him. I think his best bet is to wait for Sen. Dyer's seat to open up.
Posted by: Also a Fan | June 05, 2005 at 08:21 PM
Do the Dems have anyone in sight to run for Treasurer other than Chris Romer? I haven't heard anything about Romer in months... I think Bernie Buescher would be a much better choice.
Posted by: politicalprincess | June 05, 2005 at 08:51 PM
I think Bernie would be a great choice if Chris doesn't run. Having said that I hope Bernie doesn't run! His seat (baring a minor miracle) would be a Republican pickup in the next election.
Posted by: ql | June 06, 2005 at 01:09 AM
Bernie "One and Done" Buescher's seat is going to be a Republican pick-up THIS election cycle.
Posted by: One and Done | June 06, 2005 at 10:44 AM
Why don't you try running Shari Bjorkland against him again? Please? Pretty please?
Posted by: ql | June 06, 2005 at 10:54 AM
Hillman's coming off a strong legislative session that's earned him plenty of praise, including from the media. He is also a hard campaigner and will definitely be tough to beat. He should have no problem in the primary, but I would be curious who the D's will throw at him. Will it just be a sacrificial lamb or a real contender? Will they have enough resources that will trickle down from the governor's race?
Posted by: Dan | June 06, 2005 at 11:48 AM
Why don't you guys start a treasurer line?
Posted by: galo | June 06, 2005 at 11:54 AM
Bernie's worst nightmare, Mesa County Commissioner Janet Rowland, is being drafted into the State House race by the Governor and Mesa County Republicans. Like I said, ol' Bernie is One and Done.
Posted by: One and Done | June 06, 2005 at 03:00 PM
Janet Rowland would be tough, the Party would unite behind her, she's smart and Orbanek would have a tough choice on who the paper would back. Great news from god's country! The GOP may actually have their act together this cycle.
Posted by: GJ Native | June 06, 2005 at 03:17 PM
Are you sure you can't Shari to run again? Please. :o(
Posted by: ql | June 06, 2005 at 03:37 PM
Shari earns the record for Most Expensive Self-Delusion last cycle when she blew over $140,000 of her own money to lose badly in a Republican district. Guest what?? It's gonna take more than that to beat Bernie -- an moderate incumbent on the Joint Budget Committee who had no problem raising $140,000 from his many friends. You're gonna need to collect checks from Jesus, Allah, Vishnu, Budah, and Yaweh in order to beat Big Bernie.
Posted by: showmethemoney | June 06, 2005 at 04:02 PM
Janet would be a great candidate in that House race. A smart, qualified public servant that can make Bernie eat his abysmal voting record would be just what the doctor ordered in 55.
Posted by: dan | June 06, 2005 at 04:07 PM
I am fairly sure that, until today, no one has ever, ever called Bernie Buescher "Big Bernie."
Posted by: jon | June 06, 2005 at 04:13 PM
"Big Bearnie"? JBC to DOA.
Posted by: JBC to DOA | June 06, 2005 at 04:41 PM
House 55 has over a twenty point GOP registration advantage, and is the only place on the west slope that somewhat reliably votes party. Any warm body not named Bjorklund will beat Buescher, and nothing the JBC does will stop it.
Posted by: numbers | June 06, 2005 at 09:29 PM
And this just in - Coloradans for Cofffman is reporting just over $70k available to roll over into the Secretary of State's Race - this after money from the gov race was returned last month.
That's a lot of money for a relatively small race.
Posted by: RedHawk | June 06, 2005 at 11:40 PM
Well then that is the finaly nail in the coffin for Stengel. With Hillman already so far ahead, Coffman with so much money in the bank, there is nothing for Joe to do now but wait for Dyer to go away.
Posted by: Rock 5 | June 06, 2005 at 11:55 PM
Janet Rowland: any liberal, caucasian, middle aged mans worst nightmare. She's bright, attractive, effective and the kind of person you wouldn't mind having a cup of coffee with. This spells disaster for the Dems in HD 55!
Posted by: westslopehope | June 07, 2005 at 08:31 AM
As a resident of Burlington,Co I know the other side of Mark Hillman that many people do not know.
Here is a guy who gained polictical office only by boycotting his home town businesses and as chairman of a committee(ACT) who hired private investagators to look into the private lives of city elected officals and their families.
Mr. Hillman is nothing more than a cheap vigilante masquerading as a politician.
Ken Yersin
Posted by: Ken Yersin | June 29, 2005 at 10:12 PM