So says The Denver Post:
Although Republican Gov. Bill Owens steps down in January, his influence will be felt for years through the more than 5,000 appointments he has made during his eight-year tenure.
The governor’s appointments to boards and commissions can influence policy such as water quality and energy prices.
“It’s one of the most important things, and least understood things, that a governor does,” said Steve Welchert, who lobbied for former Democratic Gov. Dick Lamm. “You can put people in place who have a similar philosophy, similar mind-set to what you have when it comes to policymaking. It helps your agenda,” Welchert said.
There are about 300 boards and commissions with about 3,000 appointees – about 600 requiring Senate confirmation. Most of those appointees serve three- or four-year terms.
Owens has also appointed 161 of the state’s 275 state-court judges, which may be a more lasting legacy. While judges must stand for retention by voters, they are rarely dismissed and often serve until retirement or death.
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Assuming that the majority of his 161 judicial appointments have a similar judicial and political philosophy as him I wonder why Andrews was so driven to put in term limits for these judges.
I’m assuming the other 141 judges were the target.
Darn actvist judges.
is that he really listened to and sought out community opinions about nominees. I had been told he leaned to prosecutors but he always picked the best candidates, even when a prosecutor was in the mix. One Dem who sits on the nomination committee in my county said he has no complaints about Owens’ picks and agreed with all of his decisions in two counties. He also picked at least one Dem and one Unaffiliated that I recall.
but apparently Andrews doesn’t/didn’t.
His appointment of Ralph Nagel, nursing-home businessman, to the boards of community colleges and commission on higher education, was no worse than his appointment of Nancy McCallin as the president of community colleges. They unleashed a reign of confusion and suppression of free speech, and completely undermined even a semblance of academic freedom. It was a shameful disservice to Colorado students.