March 10, 2009 01:02 AM UTC

5280 Loves It Some Freshman Legislators

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• by: Jeff Bridges

A few weeks late for Valentines day, but last Tuesday 5280 sent the literary equivalent of hand-delivered red carnations to four of its favorite freshman legislative crushes.

From the State Senate, the magazine noted Democrat Senator Rollie Heath’s involvement with the repeal of Arveschoug-Bird – otherwise known as the ratchet effect. Senator Joyce Foster felt the love for her work reaching across the aisle to pass “a controversial pro-Israel resolution,” winning near-unanimous approval. Republican Senator Mark Scheffel somehow managed to get a proposal to kill the state’s business personal property tax passed out of committee, which certainly endears him to 5280 readers more than the hate-mongering from some of his colleagues.

Finally, my good friend Sal Pace is the lone House member to make the list. In his first session Pace has already joined the ranks of Democratic leadership as assistant majority caucus chair, and is “knowledgeable on the issues and legislative rules.” Aka he’s a huge policy nerd who also, according to 5280, knows how to work across party lines.

So that’s 5280’s take on the outstanding freshman legislators. Personally, I’d put Rep. Joe Miklosi up there along with several others. Got any of your own outstanding freshman to add to the list? Post ’em in the comments!