November 21, 2006 07:49 PM UTC

I Didn't Want That Stupid Job Anyway

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• by: Colorado Pols

Senator Abel Tapia had been campaigning for weeks to become the new head of the Colorado Department of Transportation in Governor-elect Bill Ritter’s administration, but as we wrote last week, he wasn’t getting very far…which is why it was amusing to see this story from The Pueblo Chieftain:

Thanks, but no thanks. That was Sen. Abel Tapia’s answer Monday to possibly becoming the next head of the Colorado Department of Transportation.

While the Pueblo Democrat said he was more than intrigued about the idea of heading the state’s transportation needs, he’s decided he can be more useful to the state in general and Southern Colorado specifically by staying right where he is.

And as chairman of the Legislature’s Joint Budget Committee, Tapia said he’s in a position not only to help the new Democratic governor make his way through the state’s budget process, but make sure Southern Colorado has a strong voice in deciding where and on what the state’s money is spent.

“It really was something I had to think about,” Tapia said. “I think it (CDOT post) would be very challenging, but as someone told me here today, `It’s a lot better to give out the money than to be the one who begs to get money.’ I think I can serve the state, serve the governor, serve the (Democratic) caucus and the people of Southern Colorado best if I stayed where I am.”

Last week, Tapia said that Gov.-elect Bill Ritter asked him to submit a resume to his transition team for the job of CDOT executive director, a Cabinet position.

Tapia decided not to continue pursuing the CDOT job because he probably wasn’t going to get it, but it was nice that he managed to convince the Chieftain that it was his decision.