GOLDEN — U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter officially announced his run for governor to a crowd of several hundred people on Sunday, telling them he will work with residents across the state and fight radical changes that don’t reflect residents’ priorities and values.
Perlmutter, a six-term Democratic Congressman, served in the state legislature before coming to Congress. “Elections are always about the future,” he told the crowd gathered in the parking lot of a Natural Grocers market in Golden.
He reminded attendees that he worked to stop Nike from developing a huge complex on South Table Mountain and helped to replace three members of a Jefferson County school board who drew fire for taking right-leaning stances on charter schools and the district’s budget.
He also highlighted the part he took in leading one of the biggest school construction initiatives in state history during the 2004 Jefferson County bond election, and the work he did to secure funding for the National Renewable Energy Lab in Golden.
The state faces challenges that range from deteriorating roads and other infrastructure to crowded classrooms and the skyrocketing cost of housing, he said. Although Colorado weathered the recent recession better than many other states, many Coloradans don’t “feel the recovery in their own lives,” he said.
“And now we’ve begun to see part of Colorado’s way of life and economy threatened by the Trump administration when it comes to the environment, public lands, immigration, health care and our national labs, he said. “Some of the most important issues of our time are deadlocked in D.C. right now. That’s why continuing strong leadership at the state level is more important than ever.”
With Donald Trump now president, and a Republican majority in both houses of Congress, it will be up to Colorado and other states to block action that could cause harm to their economy, schools and environment, he said. “It is the states that will provide checks and balances.”
Sandy Baca-Sandoval, 69, who attended the announcement, said Perlmutter has a record that shows he can govern. “He listens to what people want, and then he delivers. He’s pro-education and also somebody who can reach across the aisles.”
Five others have so far announced they’re running: Democratic businessman and philanthropist Noel Ginsburg; former state Sen. Mike Johnston, D-Denver; Republican Larimer County Commissioner Lew Gaiter III; state Rep. Victor Mitchell, R-Castle Rock, and prosecutor George Brauchler, district attorney in the 18th Judicial District, last week tossed his name in the ring.
He’ll likely be challenged by two-term state Treasurer Walker Stapleton.and state Rep. Victor Mitchell, R-Castle Rock. And on Monday, Cary Kennedy, former state treasurer and CFO and deputy mayor of Denver, is expected to announce her candidacy for governor.
Johnston said: “This election isn’t just about who will be Colorado’s next governor, it’s about whether we bridge those things that divide us, and create a Colorado prepared to lead into the next century. That’s the urgent task before any candidate for governor. I know Congressman Perlmutter will have real ideas to share as each of us offers our vision for the Colorado we can become, and the type of bold leadership that will be required to take us there. I look forward to the debate.”
Some believe an attack on Perlmutter by the Republican Governors Association may mean he’s a front-runner:
“While serving as a Washington Politician, Perlmutter has been one of the most liberal members of Congress, voting with Nancy Pelosi 98 percent of the time, while also accepting tens of thousands in contributions from her. Ed Perlmutter has more in common with Washington, D.C., liberals than Colorado families. He is out of touch with mainstream Coloradans,” the GOP governors group said in a statement.
Also on Sunday, Rep. Brittany Pettersen, the state House majority deputy whip, announced she will run for Perlmutter’s congressional seat in Colorado’s 7th District.
