October 17, 2007 01:05 AM UTC

Republican Announces, Sort Of, in SD-8

• 0 Comments
• by: Colorado Pols

We get a lot of press releases here at Colorado Pols, and some are better than others. Of course, others are also stranger than some, including this one from Republican Muhammad Ali Hasan, who announced today that he is thinking about announcing his candidacy in Senate District 8.

Eagle County resident and political news commentator Muhammad Ali Hasan has filed as a candidate for Colorado State Senate District 8 with the Secretary of State. While a final decision on a run for the seat is not expected until January, Hasan has decided to move forward in the process to adhere to state campaign laws and to allow for more liberty in exploring his options.

“I have a deep respect for campaign laws,” Hasan said. “Since there is no provision for exploratory committees is Colorado, filing shows everyone I am serious about thoroughly evaluating a possible run. I plan to use the next few months to have conversations with residents and local party leadership before making my final decision.”

You’ve got to love that first quote. I have a deep respect for campaign laws. Well, that’s certainly good to know.

But the strangest part of the release is that it includes a quote from a random person in Glenwood Springs who specifically mentions the fact that she doesn’t endorse Hasan, making this the first press release we’ve ever received highlighting a non-endorsement:

Jeannie Ford Artez of Glenwood Springs said she is also impressed by Hasan’s energy and eagerness.

“Though I haven’t decided who to endorse yet, personally I think he is a terrific young man who is very bright,” Artez said. “I have very much enjoyed meeting with him and I look forward to seeing what he is going to do.”

Huh? Could Hasan not find someone who could, you know, actually endorse him? Did he just meet this person on the street and ask what they thought of him?

The full press release follows.

Eagle County resident and political news commentator Muhammad Ali Hasan has filed as a candidate for Colorado State Senate District 8 with the Secretary of State. While a final decision on a run for the seat is not expected until January, Hasan has decided to move forward in the process to adhere to state campaign laws and to allow for more liberty in exploring his options.

“I have a deep respect for campaign laws,” Hasan said. “Since there is no provision for exploratory committees is Colorado, filing shows everyone I am serious about thoroughly evaluating a possible run. I plan to use the next few months to have conversations with residents and local party leadership before making my final decision.”

Hasan has an extensive background in political commentating for national news networks and as a political activist. Locally, Hasan was a founding member of the Eagle County Young Republicans, served as their first president, and currently serves on the Eagle County Republicans Finance Committee. Hasan holds a Masters degree and is a former public school teacher to extremely low-income, urban students.

Senate District 8, currently represented by term limited Republican Jack Taylor, includes all of Eagle, Jackson, Moffat, Rio Blanco and Routt counties, as well as parts of Garfield county. Hasan said he believes he could bring new energy, ideas and a commitment to be an advocate for the issues that matter most in Senate District 8.

Hasan’s high energy and interest in local issues is appealing, said business owner Rick Spencer of Routt County. The two met on several occasions as Hasan traveled the district, and Spencer said Hasan “leaves an impression.”

“He is highly energetic and he seems very curious,” Spencer said. “He gets very involved in things and is really working hard to get in step with what is going on here and what matters to our counties.”

Jeannie Ford Artez of Glenwood Springs said she is also impressed by Hasan’s energy and eagerness.

“Though I haven’t decided who to endorse yet, personally I think he is a terrific young man who is very bright,” Artez said. “I have very much enjoyed meeting with him and I look forward to seeing what he is going to do.”