April 12, 2007 08:41 PM UTC

Daily Times-Call: Shafroth starts campaign to take over Udall's seat

• 0 Comments
• by: JosephKnecht

http://www.longmontf…

Here are the most interesting parts:

Land preservation activist Will Shafroth confirmed Wednesday night that he’s a candidate for the 2nd Congressional District seat up for election next year.

The environment wasn’t the only topic Shafroth covered in his brief speech. He also said he’d be running on “economic security issues,” such as education and the federal budget deficit.

Shafroth said there’s a need “to better align the priorities of the federal government with our local school districts,” and he expressed concerns about the problems that continuing budget deficits would pose for today’s kids and future generations.

Expected to join Shafroth in the 2nd Congressional District field of Democratic candidates are state Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald and Boulder entrepreneur Jared Polis.

Fitz-Gerald, a Jefferson County resident whose Senate district extends into western Boulder County, hasn’t formally announced her candidacy for Congress but said in a Wednesday night interview that “I’m seriously considering the run” and has been making preparations for a possible race.

“Let’s put it this way,” Fitz-Gerald said. “Will won’t be alone (for) long.”

Polis, who recently completed a six-year stint on the Colorado Board of Education, could not be reached for comment.

Said Fitz-Gerald of Shafroth: “I consider him as a serious contender.”

FULL STORY BELOW

Land preservation activist Will Shafroth confirmed Wednesday night that he’s a candidate for the 2nd Congressional District seat up for election next year.

Shafroth, the executive director of the Colorado Conservation Trust, told a gathering of about 25 Boulder County Democratic Party members that he’d be a champion for environmental issues and carry on U.S. Rep. Mark Udall’s focus in that area.

Democrat Udall is running for the Colorado U.S. Senate seat now held by Republican Wayne Allard, who isn’t seeking re-election next year.

From 1994 through 2000, Shafroth, a 49-year-old Boulder resident, was the first executive director of the Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund, the state agency that has distributed hundreds of millions of dollars in grants for open space, parks, trails and wildlife.

He later established the Colorado Conservation Trust, a nonprofit organization that also works to preserve Colorado landscapes from development.

Shafroth, one of several Democrats expected to vie for the chance to succeed Udall in Congress, said he wasn’t intending to formally roll out his campaign until sometime next week.

But when Shafroth showed up at the Boulder County Democratic Party’s monthly meeting on Wednesday night, county chairwoman Deb Gardner invited him to address the gathering at county party headquarters as a candidate – and he did so.

The environment wasn’t the only topic Shafroth covered in his brief speech. He also said he’d be running on “economic security issues,” such as education and the federal budget deficit.

Shafroth said there’s a need “to better align the priorities of the federal government with our local school districts,” and he expressed concerns about the problems that continuing budget deficits would pose for today’s kids and future generations.

Said Shafroth to the Boulder County Democrats: “I have a lot to learn in this process,” adding that this is “my first week as a candidate.”

Expected to join Shafroth in the 2nd Congressional District field of Democratic candidates are state Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald and Boulder entrepreneur Jared Polis.

Fitz-Gerald, a Jefferson County resident whose Senate district extends into western Boulder County, hasn’t formally announced her candidacy for Congress but said in a Wednesday night interview that “I’m seriously considering the run” and has been making preparations for a possible race.

“Let’s put it this way,” Fitz-Gerald said. “Will won’t be alone (for) long.”

Polis, who recently completed a six-year stint on the Colorado Board of Education, could not be reached for comment.

Said Fitz-Gerald of Shafroth: “I consider him as a serious contender.”

Fitz-Gerald said the 2nd Congressional District post “is going to be a very attractive seat,” for would-be candidates, “and it’ll be a competitive seat, and anybody would have to know that.”

The multiple-county 2nd Congressional District includes most of Boulder County except for Longmont, it extends into southwest Weld County.