Rep. Anne McGihon Resigning Seat

Who's Running?

Colorado Pols has asked me to post here who is running for this seat. I have tried to keep to up, but there may be some that I do not know of.

Here's what I know:

Wade Norris and George Brown have contacted me to tell me they are running. Wade we all know as the voice of the current "draft Romanoff for Senate" effort. George heads up a leadership development curriculum at a local high school.

Daniel Kagen from the Arapahoe County portion had said he was planning to run in 2010 when the seat was term-limited. I don't know if he is going for the vacancy appointment or not.

I have been told by a reporter that Colleen O'Brien is looking at it, but I don't know her except to say hello.

The writer T.R.Reid has been suggested on Colorado Pols, but I have heard nothing from anyone else, so not sure if he is really looking at it or not.

Andrew Oh-Willeke's name came up. In addition to being the former treasurer of the Denver Dems, he also works with Anne McGihon in their law firm. I would be suprised if he sought a legislative seat since the session meets during tax season, one of his busiest professionally. That would be a huge income adjustment for him.

If any anyone else has more to add, please feel free.

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by: Dan Willis @ Tue Mar 17, 2009 at 19:01:27 PM CDT

Yes and no

Reid told 5280 he's interested in the appointment, and was on the House floor today saying the same. Kagan also told 5280 he'll apply for the vacancy. Oh-Willeke said on his blog that he's not running.

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by: RedGreen @ Tue Mar 17, 2009 at 19:30:40 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Another name to add to the list

One of the officers of HD3 told me last night that Sam Cassidy, a former legislator from way back, has also expressed interest in the seat.

I generally don't trust my memory for more than two election cycles, but if I remember correctly cassidy left the legislature back in the mid-90's. if some one has time to look that up, go for it.

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by: Dan Willis @ Wed Mar 18, 2009 at 08:59:31 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Aaron Silverstein

I hear that Aaron Silverstein of SquareState is interested as well as Cindy Brown, daughter of Rosemary Marshall.  

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by: Steve Balboni @ Wed Mar 18, 2009 at 09:28:34 AM CDT

There is a Cindy Brown of Denver

whose parents are Rosemary Marshall and the late Congressman Brown (who died in 2006).  

But, the Cindy Brown, also of Denver, who is prominent in Democratic Party politics in Colorado House District 3 (who a captain of HD 3B until this February 2009) is not the same person.  HD 3's Cindy Brown is the daughter of Congressman Leonard Boswell and his wife Dody, and took the Brown surname when she married.

To my knowledge, neither has sought to be elected to the HD 3 vacancy.

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by: ohwilleke @ Thu Mar 19, 2009 at 15:48:06 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

The late Congressman Brown?

He was lieutenant governor briefly, not a congressman.

But thanks for the clarifications.

The other Cindy Brown had at one time expressed an interest in running in 2010 but hasn't, so far, done so for the vacancy.  

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by: RedGreen @ Thu Mar 19, 2009 at 17:41:36 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Business community's HD3 candidate

Apparently Sam Cassidy is considering throwing his hat into the ring for this seat. I cannot stress enough what a mistake it would be to hand a Democratic seat to Cassidy.

Cassidy is currently at DU, heading up the Dept of Business Ethics and Legal Studies. He served in the legislature for a couple of years in the early 90s representing the 6th district in southwest Colorado before becoming LG for 2 years.

What should concern Denver Democrats though is Cassidy's business and oil and gas background. For 16 years Cassidy headed up an oil and gas exploration company, Sam Cassidy Inc. Given the battles we have witnessed down at the capitol the last 2 years over the governor's attempts to rein in an out of control industry it would be a tremendous step backwards to see a long-standing oil and gas man handed a Denver seat.

After leaving the Lt. Governor's office Cassidy was President and CEO of the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry - the state chamber of commerce. Anyone who follows state politics is aware of the noxious role played by CACI in attacking Democrats state wide and the issues and concerns of Democratic constituents. This is an organization that is dedicated to representing the narrow interests of Colorado's big business community.

Cassidy may have been a fine representative of southwest Colorado 2 decades ago but he's not representative of a Denver house district in 2009. I encourage residents of HD3 to contact their precinct captains and vigorously oppose Sam Cassidy's candidacy in HD3. You deserve an state House Representative who will fight for you and not be looking out for his oil and gas buddies and big business special interests.

There's an HD3 Democrats meeting scheduled for this Saturday, go stand up for your district http://www.annemcgihon.com/get...

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by: Steve Balboni @ Wed Mar 18, 2009 at 12:03:10 PM CDT

Mean, and wrong

This is clearly becoming an orchestrated smear job of a man who has dedicated much of his professional life to public service, all just in the name of helping out some blogger who wants to go to the State Legislature.

Have you no shame?

Sam was an independent wildcatter, not a big oil and gas guy. When he was in the legislature he fought to INCREASE the restrictions on drilling in Colorado.

CACI had been all GOP before it hired Sam, and he turned it around, giving money and awards to Democrats for the first time ever.

Cassidy was a fine representative before, and now he's by far the best qualified and the person who can do the most good in the shortest amount of time.

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by: scodtt @ Mon Mar 23, 2009 at 10:55:11 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Vacancy Committee is to meet March 26th

The HD3 vacancy committee will meet on March 26th at 7pm at the University Park United Methodist Church (Warren ave. & University Blvd).

Vcancy meetings are open to the public, but be advised seating will limited due to the large size of the vacancy committee itself. I was told tonight the committee is 96 people.

There are also a lot of candidates, possibly as many as 12 seeking the seat. Just the mechanics of getting through such an election could make for a long evening, but the officers of the district seem pretty well prepared for it.

It will be an interesting meeting at any rate.

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by: Dan Willis @ Wed Mar 18, 2009 at 22:57:01 PM CDT