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December 19, 2008 06:27 PM UTC

Secretary of State Bernie Buescher

  • 91 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

Breaking from the Rocky Mountain News, not really a surprise:

Gov. Bill Ritter this morning named Grand Junction lawmaker Bernie Buescher as Colorado’s new Secretary of State.

He will replace Mike Coffman, who was elected to Congress last month.

Buescher was a member of the state legislature’s powerful Joint Budget Committee, but lost in his bid for re-election to his state house seat last month.

Original pre-announcement post below the fold.

According to The Denver Post:

Gov. Bill Ritter will announce his choice for Colorado’s new secretary of state Friday morning.

Ritter, a Democrat, is choosing a replacement for Republican Mike Coffman, who was elected to Congress last month.

A vacancy committee appointed by Ritter has suggested three Democrats for the job: Rep. Bernie Buescher of Grand Junction, Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon of Denver and House Speaker Andrew Romanoff of Denver.

Romanoff has also been mentioned as a possible replacement for U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar, who’s been nominated as President-elect Barack Obama’s interior secretary.

Ritter’s spokesman, Evan Dreyer, said the vacancy committee wasn’t required by law, and that Ritter isn’t required to pick one of the panel’s choices.

Comments

91 thoughts on “Secretary of State Bernie Buescher

    1. I have been adamant that Buescher would be the choice.

      I now actually think it will be Romanoff.

      Ritter is not going to pick Romanoff for the Senate and Bernie has many other options, so I think it is Romanoff.

      I know I said Bernie was a done deal for SoS, but as I always say (as Yogi said) it ain’t over til its over.

      Or as I also say a done deal ain’t a done deal til its done.  

      1. I’m still hoping for Romanoff for the Senate seat but I’m starting to think that’s a long shot, particularly with Perlmutter in the mix now.

        My limb is cracking…

                1. …did everyone see where Ted Haggard is going to do a promotional tour for Alexandra Pelosi’s (yes, daughter of San Francisco liberal Nancy Pelosi) HBO movie about Teddy’s fall from grace?

                  1. GREAT tie in, OQD. Brilliant.

                    And yeah, I did see that. His old church finally signed a release form that allows him to be fully involved in the project.  

    2. This just in:

      Governor Ritter has just announced his choice to replace Mike Coffman Colorado’s Secretary of State:  Grand Junction Rep. Bernie Buescher

      In e-mail from Democratic State Party First Vice Chair, Dan Slater

      1. So, with this announced, I’m guessing Romanoff is on the very short list for the Senate seat. He’s the safest candidate since there’s no fall out of replacing him for anything, unlike Perlmutter or John Salazar.

        Back out on my limb…

            1. Just checked caller ID (why didn’t I think of that before) and it’s from a Dem acquaintance who may have just been calling people she knows on her own.  Or she could have been using her own phone to canvass.  Left a message asking.

  1. This “panel” will then meet and perhaps may or may not designate the new SOS, but they will certainly meet and have a press conference.

    Then again, he may want all of us to email him our choices for SOS and help him decide.  What a great leader he is!

        1. I can’t speak for RedGreen, but you definitely hurt my feelings by rolling out a stale joke that everyone else has already used. Please stop being so mean.  

    1. from the email

      Dear Friends and Neighbors:

      There is a saying.  I think it is Chinese.  Maybe Zen.  Not sure.  It goes something like,  House burns down, now I can see the sky.  Or maybe another one works as well.  When one door closes, another opens.

      Anyway, the Governor picked Bernie Buescher to be the next Secretary of State.  Bernie is a good guy.  I think he will do a good job.  I told him that I would do whatever I can to help him.  It is an important job and the Secretary of State’s office can use some continuity, so he will need our help in 2010.  

      Thanks to all of you who supported me for the office.  I appreciate it very much.

      Ken

      1. I didn’t get anything from him this time. Brobably because I voted 4 times against him on that silly Progressive Now poll, and 4 more times when it was down to the short list. (I have 4 email addresses and voted once from each)

        1. You might consider the possibility that this does not cast your candidacy for Colorado’s chief elections official in the most auspicious light.

          I’m just saying.

          1. That’s just lame. A guy running for Secretary of State votes four times? I mean, yeah, it’s just a stupid poll that probably had very little bearing on the outcome but still…that’s just lame.  

          2. had this been a poll with any statistical or scientific value, I proabbly would not have participated, or if I did I would have treated it more seriously.

            But we are talking a an organization that clearly put a “poll” together FOR Ken Gordon to be sent out to Ken Gordon’s e-mail list attached to an email form Ken Gordon asking for support in a matter that ultimately is a not a public vote, but an gubnatorial appointment.

            It was an invitation to be fucked with and I merely accepted the invitation.

            The only impact, it seems, was that I finally got removed from his email list which I have been requesting for months.

  2. Romanoff is likely pick for Senate?  Or could he strike out on both short lists? Got canvass call last night urging us to contact Guv and ask him to appoint Andrew.

      1. Initially replied at wrong place.  I didn’t answer the phone myself but saw a familiar name on caller ID.  Checked to see whether this person was the one who called and whether she was canvassing for a specific group. Found she was just calling people on her own after a friend called her and asked her to spread the word about contacting Guv for Andrew.  So no official canvassing effort that I know of.  

    1.    Although Hick should be in the running, I don’t think that there is any love lost between Ritter and Hick because Hick toyed with running for Guv in ’06.

        On the other hand, IIRC Romo was the first legislative leader to endorse Ritter, even as JFG and Madden were desperately trying to find a pro-choice candidate to run.

  3. To my mind, it strengthens the logic of a Romanoff pick. Let’s face it, Romanoff would have been perfect for SOS. With his statewide experience, he’s in the strongest position for the US Senate nod. If I’m Ritter, why would I want to set off a bunch of dominoes?  

      1. Since he’s term limited and can no longer serve as Speaker, it would be a shame is he can’t use his talents and knowledge to continue to serve Colorado.

        1. The only place to go for a term-limited state House member is into the United States Senate?

          Romanoff has multiple options, and the governor’s office has concerns in addition to being Andrew’s private employment agency.

          For instance, there are likely going to be a state Senate vacancy or two opening up in the next month. Andrew doesn’t livein the district now but can move a few blocks and easily win appointment, if he wants. Then, thank the Lord, we won’t “lose him.”

  4. Ken Gordon has a long history of sponsoring election related bills.  He made his plans as Secretary of State clear when he   debated and ran against Coffman.  He even held a hearing with his former opponent on how to fix Colorado’s elections after 2006 vote center nightmare.  

    What has Bernie Buescher ever done for Colorado’s elections? Has he sponsored or cosponsored any elections related legislation?  Has he publicly stated his plans as SoS?  Does he have any experience with business related matters?  I searched and I cannot find any of this information about Bernie Buescher.  Can someone link me to some information on this so I have somewhat of an idea about who  my next SoS really is?  

    1. If you are Ritter do you really want a grumpy, old, short man running with you in 2010. Gordon is a headline hog.

      Bernie will keep his place. He is loyal. It appeases the Western Slope and “business community”.

      Plus Bernie indicated he’d work with the local government/clerks vs forcing stuff down their throat.

        1. And your premise is not valid.  Just because Gordon made a lot of noise about elections doesn’t mean he was qualified.

          Ask any County Clerk.

          Plus, as others have posted, there’s a lot more to the SoS job than elections.

          1. Oh yeah, all those business licensing bills that brought lower costs to businesses and all that campaign finance background clearly push BB to the top. Gordon and Romanoff far outweigh BB … their involvement with the 527s and opposition to any business relief.

            Heck BB passed the Fly Away Tax Exemption last year … isn’t he famous for owning a national FBO???

            To conclude … just because [Obama] made a lot of noise about [change] doesn’t mean he was qualified.



            Obama selects few reformers for Cabinet


            Practical-minded centrists outnumber those known for pushing change

            http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28

            …but that is another Diary altogether isn’t it

    2. It’s running business administration and many other facets of state government.  I wanted Gordon as he’s been a stronger advocate for truly accountable elections.

      But Buescher has executive experience and is strongly respected for his work on accountability and the budgeting process.  I’m sure Bernie will do an excellent job in the department.  What we need is someone to carry the torch in the Senate and House now that Sen. Gordon is term-limited out.

      1. Seriously, who knows what a Democrat is going to unearth in the secretary of state’s office after it’s been in Republican hands since before Romanoff, for instance, was even born.

        1. And Romanoff has lots of legislative, not executive, experience so I think Beuscher is a better fit for SOS and Romanoff for Senate.  And if that turns out to be appointment combo, no special election required. The Colorado congressional delegation is ready to hit the ground running on day one.  

          Not a bad idea since we already will be starting out short an Illinois Senator and the Coleman/Franken race (looks like it will ultimately be Frankin) won’t be resolved by Jan. 6 either.

    3.    Gordon lost his last race, getting about 49+% running in a solidly competitive, purple state in a good Dem year.

        Which of those two is more electable in ’10?

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