Gov. Ritter To Form SoS Applicant Review Panel

Ken Gordon

I think Ken deserves this.  He has been at the front of the crowd attempting to make sure our elections are fair, transparent and legal.

If Ken gets the Sec. of Interior spot in Obama's administration, I would lobby for Romanoff to be appointed in his place.

Blue Colorado!

---

by: TheBluRidr @ Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 16:39:58 PM UTC

Gordon should not get it

and won't get it.

Rosemary is the best qualified and she wants the job.

Romanoff shouldn't be buttonholed into the SOS - he's bigger than that.

I'm assuming you're speaking of Ken Salazar for Interior and not Ken Gordon.  Gordon as Interior Sec isn't very likely.

---

by: Car 31 @ Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 16:45:26 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I don't know much about Rosemary

but to say Ken should not and will not get it is out of nowhere.

He is emminently qualified for the position, especially in light of his efforts to make our voting process the very best.

The others are capable choices, but to my knowledge have no points on their C.V.'s that connect them in any way with the duties of SoS.  I may be wrong, go ahead and prove that.  

"Politics determines who has the power, not who has the truth." Paul Krugman, 9/2010

---

by: parsingreality @ Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 17:28:17 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thoughts on Gordon

Gordon knows quite a bit about elections, and I respect him (he is one of the reasons I'm in politics) but he is also squarely in the voting advocate's corner.  I respect the advocates and the concerns they have about the voting process in CO, but their answers are not the only ones.  Gordon repeatedly fought for ideas last year that would have hurt the process.

Beyond elections, Gordon angered the Gov last year with a few bills he brought forth so that is why I don't think he is a candidate for this position.
Rosemary Rodriguez currently sits on the federal elections commission (so she knows HAVA and the limitations), has strong connections to minority communities in Denver and would be able to (at the risk of echoing the previous election's rhetoric) hit the ground running on day one. Her one weakness would be a Denver centered focus, but we'll probably get that no matter what.

We'll see. Romanoff is a great choice, but as I mentioned, I would like to see him continue working on issues that he is passionate about, not election issues.

We have an election commission coming up this month to discuss elections in CO.  Gordon is Chairing the group, so I'm sure they will be some interesting ideas bandied about.

---

by: Car 31 @ Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 18:28:59 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I think Car 31 is right about this

And I am not one of the Gordon-haters.

It would just be a shame for Romanoff to go into private life instead of staying in government.

There's been a lot of talk about him replacing either DeGette or one of the Salazar brothers should Obama tap them to be part of his White House. I don't see that happening, though I guess it could.

I know DavidThi was saying Obama would pick him to be part of the new Administration, but I don't see that happening either.

Romanoff is too good to sit on the bech waiting around for a new office to open up.

---

by: redstateblues @ Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 18:36:38 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Totally.

Agree with every little word of your post.

"With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censored, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably."

12/15/11 - RIP squeaky duck. You were plush, loved and finally ripped apart after over a year.

---

by: droll @ Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 18:58:53 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Me too

Except for "bech."
I don't agree with that at all.

"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge." --ChuckieD, 1871

---

by: ardy39 @ Fri Nov 07, 2008 at 01:31:59 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

D'oh!

I could have sworn I said "bench". Today was not a good day for my proofreading skills (or lack thereof.)

---

by: redstateblues @ Fri Nov 07, 2008 at 01:54:36 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Car, thanks for that increase of my knowledge about Rosemary

"Politics determines who has the power, not who has the truth." Paul Krugman, 9/2010

---

by: parsingreality @ Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 20:49:57 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Ken Gordon is eminently qualified

for SoS.  He's been working on electoral fairness for some time, cares greatly about the things the SoS deals with, and has been very proactive at trying to deal with our problems, instead of sitting on them and letting things bubble up on election day.  He obviouly cares deeply about things like fairness in campaign finance, having made it a defining characteristic of his political career.  He's also shown a level of non-partisan sesnibility that's unmatched among most other serious statewide contenders.  We'd be lucky to have him.

I realize a lot of Democrats dislike Ken Gordon.  Seems to be mainly a personality thing, because no one has ever been able to explain it.

"Apple denies that, based on their common meaning, the words 'app store' together denote a store for apps"
-- Legal filing by Apple Computer

---

by: cdsmith @ Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 18:20:10 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

see my post above

Briefly - I reiterate my respect for the man, but IMO a Gordon SOS would be the opposite extreme of a Coffman SOS.

Increased beuracracy, more unfunded mandates for county clerks, and increased oversight for ovesight's sake (not because it is needed).

---

by: Car 31 @ Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 18:33:33 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Don't see it that way

First, on "unfunded mandates" - election procedures aren't something we should delegate to the clerks.  A minimum but comprehensive set of good election standards should be mandated, IMHO, federally or at least statewide.  Funding assistance should be available, but only distributed as needed.  Like teachers, elections are something we seem to take for granted and otherwise ignore.

Second, on oversight...  While our auditing procedures are minimally acceptable, they are not sufficient according to most election experts.  And increased scrutiny of our voting machines is absolutely required based on the reviews conducted.  There is no reason our voting systems should be less secure or reliable than an ATM.

Given the above, I'm not really sure what bureaucracy you're thinking about.

"We're below sharks and contract killers." -- Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), speaking on Congress's 9% approval rating

---

by: Phoenix Rising @ Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 20:22:15 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Ken's paper ballot bill

would have hammered county budgets without any real support from the state.

---

by: Danny the Red (hair) @ Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 22:17:43 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

thank god everyone else has already noted...

...how WRONG and/or UNLIKELY Gordon is for this post.  Go way, Kenny!

I'm not as sweet as I used to be.

---

by: Jambalaya @ Fri Nov 07, 2008 at 01:07:13 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

"Go way?"

Oh, "Go away."

"Politics determines who has the power, not who has the truth." Paul Krugman, 9/2010

---

by: parsingreality @ Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 02:16:56 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

very good, you're learning..

...tomorrow, the class will discuss abbreviations and non-tight-ass phrasing.  Do bring your blackboard.

I'm not as sweet as I used to be.

---

by: Jambalaya @ Tue Nov 11, 2008 at 02:55:22 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

The possibilities for shuffling the Dem deck

are even more fun if you consider the possibility of Sen. Salazar taking a cabinet post.  Then, besides SOS, who would be appointed Senator?  DeGette? Then who would go for the special election for that safe CD1 seat?  

If not DeGette, what other Dems could be plugged in to Senate?  Of course to date there is no strong reason to assume Salazar would give up his Senate seat but who knows? What if he's offered Interior?  The possibilities opened up by the Obama triumph and Dem success in Colorado just get more and more fun to contemplate.

---

by: BlueCat @ Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 16:44:27 PM UTC

Assuming Salazar is tapped by Obama

to fill some cabinet-level position, or some other Executive post (I don't see it happening, but what do I know) there is no way DeGette is picked to be Salazar's replacement.

There is just no way, absolutely no way, that she could win a statewide election. With Salazar's term ending in 2011, Govenror Ritter would have to pick someone who could win statewide.

Cary Kennedy is a possibility, so is Romanoff.

---

by: redstateblues @ Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 16:49:35 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Salazar will not go to the cabinet. n/t

---

by: Roger D @ Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 16:56:33 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Meant to say KEN Salazar

However there is another Salazar......

---

by: Roger D @ Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 16:58:09 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

There are many others, in fact.

I'm not as sweet as I used to be.

---

by: Jambalaya @ Fri Nov 07, 2008 at 01:07:49 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I agree

I don't think he would say no if Obama asked though.

---

by: redstateblues @ Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 17:00:38 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

If Obama asks...

...Ken Salazar will take it.

Where all the cool kids will be on Saturday - Code War!

---

by: DavidThi808 @ Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 18:55:00 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Romanoff.

Good thinking, redstateblues. He would have a pretty good shot of keeping the Senate seat.

I think Joan would be excellent in this position. She has in this area and excellent name recognition after her race in CD2. I still like Gordon for it, too.  

"I wouldn't characterize caloric intake as "professional development." c rork

---

by: Middle of the Road @ Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 16:58:06 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Whoops.

This sentence is missing a major word. Should read, " She has experience in this area..."

"I wouldn't characterize caloric intake as "professional development." c rork

---

by: Middle of the Road @ Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 16:58:49 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Definitely should be J.F.G.

   She's very well qualified by her work as Jeffco Clerk and Senate President.  She's got a good deal of common sense; less ideological and more pragmatic.  And she adds geographical balance which neither Gordon, Romanoff nor Rodriguez brings.
  This all assumes that Joan is interested.

---

by: One Queer Dude @ Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 19:02:59 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yeah, she's my preference right now.

All the names being floated would be good but she would be great, know what I mean?

"I wouldn't characterize caloric intake as "professional development." c rork

---

by: Middle of the Road @ Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 20:35:41 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Geographic balance?

...I thought JeffCO was immediately west of Denver?  A part of the METRO area, even?

I'm not as sweet as I used to be.

---

by: Jambalaya @ Fri Nov 07, 2008 at 01:09:57 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

She lives in the mountains

Technically part of the metro, but not "in town".

"We're below sharks and contract killers." -- Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), speaking on Congress's 9% approval rating

---

by: Phoenix Rising @ Fri Nov 07, 2008 at 01:55:29 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

To those of us in the metro area

That's what we call getting someone from the rural areas :)

Where all the cool kids will be on Saturday - Code War!

---

by: DavidThi808 @ Fri Nov 07, 2008 at 04:32:24 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

You're right there

Cary Kennedy would have success in a statewide office besides two years as a Senate incumbent to run with next time.  Isn't this fun? I tend to think Ken wants to stay in the Senate for now but who knows?  

---

by: BlueCat @ Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 17:12:08 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

JFG is the best choice...

1)  She's a former County Clerk in Jeffco.
2)  She's from Jeffco...and you can't win statewide without making a strong showing in Jeffco, so she'd be well positioned to hold the office come election time.

"But when I see a 9-11 victim family on television, or whatever, I'm just like, 'Oh, shut up!' I'm so sick of them because they're always complaining."  Glenn Beck  

---

by: Arvadonian @ Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 16:57:20 PM UTC

I would like to see JFG

But don't think it is realistic.  There is tremendous bad blood between JFG and Ritter.

Andrew Romanoff is the likliest choice.

---

by: Roger D @ Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 16:59:42 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Bad blood between JFG and a bunch of people

---

by: BlueCat @ Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 17:13:13 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

So what

JFG gets it done. So yes, she runs over people occasionally to do that - we want that in a SoS.

Where all the cool kids will be on Saturday - Code War!

---

by: DavidThi808 @ Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 18:53:14 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Ultimately it's up to the Governor

so that doesn't play into JFG's hand.

However, if the panel recommends that JFG should be SoS, it will be very hard for Ritter to say "But I don't like her!" She should start preparing her application to the panel.

---

by: redstateblues @ Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 18:56:59 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

If Ritter takes who he likes into account...

...he's an idiot. And Ritter does not strike me as an idiot. I think he'll pick the person who's the best fit for that position regardless of whether or not he'll ever invite them over for tea.

Where all the cool kids will be on Saturday - Code War!

---

by: DavidThi808 @ Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 21:05:46 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Remember RSB

the panel won't recommend A candidate, it will recommend 3. Ritter wouldn't have to say he didn't like anybody, he could just say that They are all great but Harley Whoozit is the best of the best."
 I put a live link to the applications on our Post-Ed notes blog, so why not file your own?  I'd go for it myself but I can't afford the pay cut;-)

---

by: bob ewegen @ Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 19:35:06 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

keep your friends close but your adversaries closer

---

by: One Queer Dude @ Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 19:04:01 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Bernie Buescher?

He's talented, but looking for a job.

"Why not do the right thing for the American people, even though it's not exactly what we want." - Speaker Boehner

---

by: Half Glass Full @ Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 18:29:53 PM UTC

Interesting

But I see Bernie working in Ritter's office after the Guv cleans up the advising mess.

---

by: redstateblues @ Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 18:37:53 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Alice Madden

Something peculiar about her role the other night at the State Dems event that has me thinking.  Statewide is weak, but she may have an interest.

---

by: $1Mlawyerlobbyist @ Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 23:00:32 PM UTC

She's a splendidly talented lady

but my guess is Madden heads to Team Obama.

---

by: bob ewegen @ Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 19:35:54 PM UTC

[ Parent ]