January 02, 2012 07:15 PM UTC

A Candidate Once More: Brian Carroll Files for HD-28

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• by: Colorado Pols

Veteran Brian Carroll might just be the most interesting case study of Colorado’s House and Senate reapportionment processes.

The Lakewood Democrat staged a primary campaign against Representative Andy Kerr in a bid for HD-28, although Carroll made a rather spurious claim that he originally intended to run against Ken Summers and wasn’t aware he was drawn into the same seat as Kerr.

Carroll dropped out of that race in early November, following pressure from high-profile Democratic players and LGBT activists. With no primary for Kerr, the stage was set for a general election skirmish with Ken Summers in HD-28.

The Colorado Reapportionment Commission, however, had another thought in the matter altogether: Kerr, Summers, and Rep. Max Tyler were all drawn into House District 23, paving the way for an eventual campaign between Summers and Kerr for Senate District 22. SD-22 was ultimately left vacant by the Colorado Reapportionment Commission because appointed incumbent Senator Tim Neville was completely drawn out of the seat.

Meanwhile, Brian Carroll’s residence remained in HD-28, where the vet no longer had Kerr (or any other incumbent) to contend with. It stands to reason, then, that Carroll would jump back into a race for the State House: his campaign committee was reactivated on December 29th.

Carroll might be the most high profile Democrat living within HD-28, although attorney Chris Radeff and educator Camille Ryckman – who ran against Summers in 2010 and 2008, respectively – both reside within the district. Given that the South Lakewood seat leans slightly to the left – Democrats maintain a 3% registration advantage there and former State Treasurer Cary Kennedy won the district by 8% in 2010 – Carroll should prepare for a primary in the Democratic nominating process. That’s not to say that Carroll doesn’t make a compelling case for his candidacy: the Colorado native served two tours of duty in Afghanistan with the United States Army, after all. He only moved into Lakewood recently, however, so it’s hard not to question if his roots are deep enough to represent the area at the Capitol.

Carroll (or the eventual Democratic nominee) will ostensibly have to face Republican Amy Attwood in November. Attwood previously served as an aide to Rep. Summers and made an unsuccessful bid for the Lakewood city council in 2009. The fact that Attwood lost her first campaign for a smaller seat might be indicative of a lack of political prowess, but we wouldn’t count her out this early on. Attwood has to win this campaign to maintain any semblance of a political career; she just couldn’t sustain a second loss. With that in mind, we suspect Attwood will stage the fight of her life in HD-28 and majority-minded Republicans will be all-too-happy to funnel money into the race if it looks like the former legislative staffer can win.

A race between Attwood and Carroll should make for great political theatre. Attwood is the picture perfect image of a country club conservative: she has two young kids and manages a small business. What better foil for one of the nation’s first post Don’t Ask Don’t Tell servicemen running for public office?