"Godfather of Colorado Politics" Paul Sandoval Passes Peacefully

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by: ProgressiveCowgirl

Former Colorado Senator Paul Sandoval, beloved by just about everyone in Colorado politics for the last few decades, died this afternoon. According to Lynn Bartels, Paul passed peacefully. Several weeks ago, Sandoval entered hospice care for pancreatic cancer.

Former Senator Sandoval was a political kingmaker, an effective legislator, a loving husband, and an unsuccessful seminary student (ejected for questioning God’s willingness to allow evil in the world), but he preferred to describe himself as “just a tamale maker.” In 5280’s excellent oral history of Paul Sandoval, the former Senator shared a boyhood memory of selling a paper to then-President Eisenhower for $5, then selling the autographed $5 bill for $10. That business sense served him well later in life, as an entrepreneur; a statesman; a mentor to others in politics; and, yes, as a tamale maker, starting his first restaurant while still serving in the state Senate.

Paul Sandoval received the Colorado Democratic Party’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2012 Jefferson-Jackson Dinner. His loving wife, Paula Sandoval, accepted on Paul’s behalf. The room was at a standstill as Paula smiled and laughed about her many happy years with a husband as famous for his sense of humor and devoted friendship as for his political achievements and entrepreneurship.

Memories and tributes are pouring in through social media:

From Representative Casso, on Facebook:

“God’s speed Senator Paul Sandoval. You have and will continue to inspire generations of Latino legislators who have followed your landmark career…”

Terrance Carroll, on Facebook:

“RIP Paul Sandoval. A true giant has passed on. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.”

“RIP Paul Sandoval. I’ll always remember Brkfst Queen mtgs with cigarettes, coffee & bacon for Paul.”

“Thank you for everything, Paul Sandoval. May you rest in peace.”

7 thoughts on ““Godfather of Colorado Politics” Paul Sandoval Passes Peacefully”

sxp151 says:

April 25, 2012 at 2:04 am

Guzman: I had been concerned about him. I happened to go over to the house that day, and I knew he was trying to get checked out, and I said, “You’re losing more weight. They have to speed your exams up.” It just so happened that Ken Salazar walked in right after I got there, and I said, “Paul is in a lot of pain. Something’s not right. I think he has to go to the specialist at University.”

Ken Salazar: Colorado is my home, and whenever I’m back, I usually try to stop and see him for a few minutes. I stopped by that day because I knew he was very sick. He told me he was not feeling well. I could see how much pain he was in. They had put him on a waiting list for another week or so, but I told him he couldn’t wait-he had to see a doctor right away. So Lucia and I made a few calls. Then I put him in the truck and took him over to University Hospital and checked him in.

Wonder how many people suffered because someone pulled strings to put him at the top of the list.

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1. DaftPunk says:
  
  April 25, 2012 at 2:48 am
  
  The write-up is pretty sketchy on details to come to the conclusion you did. Disease progression in cancer patients can be unpredictable. If you’re going to be a dick when someone has died you might want to be on firmer footing.
  
  RIP Senator Sandoval.
  
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  1. sxp151 says:
    
    April 25, 2012 at 5:50 am
    
    And maybe I shouldn’t. It doesn’t sound like Sandoval asked for special treatment, and I hope he rests in peace. Nothing against him.
    
    I do get tired of hearing stories of people who are just too rich and powerful to let someone wait in line with the rest of the schmucks for health care, though. One reason I think the health care system has been fucked up for so long is that all the people who matter could always get taken care of quickly and efficiently, so they never complained.
    
    Sorry for offending you.
    
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    1. DavidThi808 says:
      
      April 25, 2012 at 5:04 pm
      
      There are times when you need to push to get something done ASAP. And the system is structured to handle that because people’s medical condition tend to change unexpectedly.
      
      What happened occurs every day for people both important and unimportant. The only difference here is who made the calls to point out why they needed to get him in quickly.
      
      It’s sad that you always assume the worst of everyone.
      
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      1. dwyer says:
        
        April 25, 2012 at 6:14 pm
        
        god knows, I am unimportant and also a lousy patient, but I never was asked to wait when a problem arose.
        
        Triage usually happens with non life threatening circumstances or when the patient is not in need of immediate attention for pain or to prevent a minor problem from becoming more severe.
        
        There are also very strict protocols on such things as transplants and so money and/or prestige doesn’t count.
        
        I think if you are with an HMO and have to wait for a knee replacement and you had some “pull” you might get in quicker. However, if you had some “pull” you probably would not be in an HMO.
        
        I think that when veterans have problems with the VA, they contact their Congressional office. But that is called constituent services, not “pull.”
        
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      2. sxp151 says:
        
        April 25, 2012 at 8:18 pm
        
        Sorry for making you sad. Will your HMO let you see a therapist any time in the next month?
        
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2. Libertad says:
  
  April 25, 2012 at 5:16 am
  
  As the lead on a death panel, you’d have kept Paul holding ticket number 99 as your DMV like Obamacare system called out for the prospective patient holding ticket number 37.
  
  A proud family has lost their husband and father, a community has lost a leader. A good man today went to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit and God the Father.
  
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