Bill Owens' Budget Director to be Hickenlooper's, Too

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by: Colorado Pols

Today’s release from Gov.-elect John Hickenlooper after the jump–Henry Sobanet, who some will recognize as former GOP Gov. Bill Owens’ budget director, has been appointed to fill the same position in Hickenlooper’s administration. Sobanet is credited as a key negotiator for 2005’s Referendum C, experience that will certainly help the new administration in today’s much greater fiscal crisis. Says Hickenlooper, “There is no secret pot of money to help solve the state’s well-documented budget shortfalls. Henry Sobanet knows his way around the state budget and will be an important part of our team as we work to recover from this historic economic downturn.”

In a related announcement, the current director of the Office of State Planning and Budgeting, Todd Saliman, has been retained as a senior advisor to the new administration, and will be sticking around for a few months to help the transition to Sobanet.

Henry Sobanet named Director of the Governor’s Office of State Planning and Budgeting

DENVER – Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011 – Gov.-elect John Hickenlooper announced today Henry Sobanet will be Director of the Governor’s Office of State Planning and Budgeting.

Sobanet is now President of Colorado Strategies LLC, a private consulting firm that specializes in economics, Colorado budget issues, legislative affairs and strategic management. The firm has provided consulting and research services to a wide range of public, private and non-profit groups. Sobanet is a frequent speaker on the economy and tax policy and has been an instructor at the University of Denver and the University of Colorado.

“There is no secret pot of money to help solve the state’s well-documented budget shortfalls,” Hickenlooper said. “Henry Sobanet knows his way around the state budget and will be an important part of our team as we work to recover from this historic economic downturn.”

Sobanet worked for the Office of State Planning Budgeting as Deputy Director from 1999 to 2004, when former Gov. Bill Owens appointed him to be Director of the office. In 2005, Sobanet was the lead negotiator and researcher for the Governor’s Office in reaching a compromise with the legislature on the State’s budget shortfall. This effort resulted in Referendum C, which was adopted by voters in November 2005. In 2006, Sobanet helped develop and negotiate an innovative plan to address the state’s then-$11.3 billion pension shortfall.

“It is an honor for me to be chosen by Gov.-elect Hickenlooper to serve again as budget director,” Sobanet said. “The idea that I have the opportunity to serve two different Governors is still sinking in. My door is open to anyone with a good idea to help balance the state’s budget.”

Sobanet earlier worked as an economist for five years at the Colorado Legislative Council, the nonpartisan research office for the state legislature. He has served on a number of boards and commissions, most recently as the District 1 (Denver) representative on the Colorado Transportation Commission. He is now a member of the Second Judicial District Nominating Commission.

Sobanet, a Denver native, attended Regis Jesuit High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Colorado and a master’s degree in the same subject from the University of Colorado at Denver.

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17 thoughts on “Bill Owens’ Budget Director to be Hickenlooper’s, Too”

GOPwarrior says:

January 5, 2011 at 12:40 am

For pointing out this this is a Ref C traitor, not a true conservative. I don’t want people getting the wrong idea.

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1. Car 31 says:
  
  January 5, 2011 at 12:59 am
  
  for ignoring reality so well.
  
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2. Ellie says:
  
  January 5, 2011 at 12:59 am
  
  Many conservative and respected R’s worked hard to pass Ref C. Henry Sobanet worked well with both sides of aisle and at the time I was in a position to know. He’s a good choice.
  
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  1. Interlocken Loop says:
    
    January 5, 2011 at 1:03 am
    
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  2. Republican 36 says:
    
    January 5, 2011 at 6:37 pm
    
    with these people (they’re not conservatives) ideology always trumps reality.
    
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3. Ralphie says:
  
  January 5, 2011 at 1:03 am
  
  Since Ref C was passed by the voters.
  
  Interesting war you’re fighting–a war against Real People.
  
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4. Phoenix Rising says:
  
  January 5, 2011 at 1:18 am
  
  At least “in the olden days” used to value a stable government that paid its bills and respected the government workers needed to promote a prosperous and safe society.
  
  You, on the other hand, seem to want something between anarchy and a corporate dictatorship.
  
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  1. dukeco1 says:
    
    January 5, 2011 at 4:12 pm
    
    there is a new definition of conservative: “I’m going to conserve all my money, interest, and compassion for ME”.
    
    GOPwingnut fits that definition perfectly.
    
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5. redstateblues says:
  
  January 5, 2011 at 1:25 am
  
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6. Cordelia Chase says:
  
  January 5, 2011 at 1:43 am
  
  The Ref C “compromise” totally screwed over the poor while keeping your tax dollars, so you should give him credit for helping to craft that part at least.
  
  Personally, I’m disappointed in the choice. From what I have seen, he is not a fan of programs to help the poor and fighting to preserve safety net programs likely just got harder. If anyone knows differently or has a different perspective on that, I would love to hear it.
  
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coloradowahine says:

January 5, 2011 at 1:19 am

I don’t know that anyone is more familiar with the state budget than Henry Sobanet (Todd S. excepted). He is whip-smart, genuinely nice, conservative in a non-crazy way. And is Todd Saliman now on the bench for future elected office?

GOPworrier hates Henry Sobanet, that’s a plus.

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John Tzekara says:

January 5, 2011 at 3:11 am

Hick’s had some interesting choices so far.

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cologeek says:

January 5, 2011 at 6:27 am

So far the Gov-elect has been reaching out to both sides in his choices of administration. Will there soon be talk of a new tax referendum coming from Denver?

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Munchkin says:

January 5, 2011 at 6:57 am

for his memorable smack-down of David Harsanyi’s idiotic column against Referendum C. It’s amazing how powerful facts are against uninformed ideologues–not that Harsanyi or most folks on the right ever pay attention to such things.

A good choice from Hickenlooper!

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Munchkin says:

January 5, 2011 at 6:57 am

for his memorable smack-down of David Harsanyi’s idiotic column against Referendum C. It’s amazing how powerful facts are against uninformed ideologues–not that Harsanyi or most folks on the right ever pay attention to such things.

A good choice from Hickenlooper!

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Ray Springfield says:

January 5, 2011 at 3:48 pm

Michael Bennet couldn’t do this without the left of the Democrats screaming.

All in all, in divided government compromise works.

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1. droll says:
  
  January 5, 2011 at 8:22 pm
  
  Or US Those People now have their own tiny governments to appoint?
  
  Could someone who speaks crazy translate this for me? In particular:
  
  What this has to do with Bennet
  
  “left of the Democrats”
  
  Thanks.
  
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