President (To Win Colorado) See Full Big Line

(D) Joe Biden*

(R) Donald Trump

80%

20%↓

CO-01 (Denver) See Full Big Line

(D) Diana DeGette*

90%

CO-02 (Boulder-ish) See Full Big Line

(D) Joe Neguse*

90%

CO-03 (West & Southern CO) See Full Big Line

(D) Adam Frisch

(R) Jeff Hurd

(R) Ron Hanks

40%

30%

20%

CO-04 (Northeast-ish Colorado) See Full Big Line

(R) Lauren Boebert

(R) J. Sonnenberg

(R) Ted Harvey

20%↑

15%↑

10%

CO-05 (Colorado Springs) See Full Big Line

(R) Dave Williams

(R) Jeff Crank

(R) Doug Bruce

20%

20%

20%

CO-06 (Aurora) See Full Big Line

(D) Jason Crow*

90%

CO-07 (Jefferson County) See Full Big Line

(D) Brittany Pettersen

85%↑

 

CO-08 (Northern Colo.) See Full Big Line

(D) Yadira Caraveo

(R) Gabe Evans

(R) Janak Joshi

60%↑

40%↑

20%↑

State Senate Majority See Full Big Line

DEMOCRATS

REPUBLICANS

80%

20%

State House Majority See Full Big Line

DEMOCRATS

REPUBLICANS

95%

5%

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
November 10, 2015 10:20 AM UTC

BREAKING: Lt. Governor Joe Garcia Stepping Down

  • 29 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

UPDATE: Per Brandon Rittiman at 9News, Hickenlooper’s office expects to name a new L.G. within a matter of weeks:


—–

Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia
Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia

Breaking news this morning from John Frank, Joey Bunch, and Jesse Paul of the Denver Post:

Colorado Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia announced Tuesday he is stepping down from his post to take a new job.

The Pueblo Democrat will become the president of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, a Boulder-based organization that serves as a resource for colleges and universities in 15 states. He will transition to the new job sometime before July 1, according to the governor’s office.

In Garcia’s current role as Hickenlooper’s deputy, he serves as the executive director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education.

By all accounts there is nothing at play here other than Joe Garcia’s decision to take his career in a different direction as Governor John Hickenlooper approaches the end of his eight-year term in office. As Hickenlooper himself explains:

Garcia told Hickenlooper about the job opportunity more than a month ago and used the governor as a reference. “He said he wanted a change,” Hickenlooper added. “He cares a lot about higher ed and the job he was offered probably pays double what he makes now and allows him to look at higher education in 15 states. It’s a big deal.”

Hickenlooper has plenty of time to decide on who he will nominate to fill the remaining 18 months of Garcia’s term as Lieutenant Governor (Garcia won’t leave Hickenlooper’s administration until next summer).

It will be interesting to see who Hickenlooper eventually taps as LG, because that person could get a nice head start on a potential run for Governor in 2018. Hickenlooper has always been publicly supportive of a potential gubernatorial bid from Garcia in 2018, though as the Post reports, Garcia’s new career path would seem to indicate that he is not looking at elected office in the near future.

Comments

29 thoughts on “BREAKING: Lt. Governor Joe Garcia Stepping Down

    1. I've been hearing for a while that Ken Salazar is likely the next democratic gubernatorial candidate.  I'm not sure he'd feel it to be an advantage to slide in now.  I wonder if a caretaker is more likely– maybe someone who wants to be the next light governor instead of the next governor.

    2. Lt Guvs rarely have gone on to be Guv and Salazar has always done great in statewide races.  He doesn't need the bucket of warm spit job to get name rec or anything. Garcia probably really does find this a rewarding new career direction and would like to make more money while he's still got plenty of miles left on him. I don't think there's anything much more than that going on here. Thanks, congrats and best of luck to Garcia.

    1. HMM.  Who was it that just last year was wailing on Republicans in Jefferson County for people who didn't serve out their terms and gave their offices to someone else so they could have a head start?

    2. Couldn't agree more.  who thought after 12 years of Democratic Governors there would be a court with a 5 member conservative majority?  You guys are stuck with this one.  I didn't vote for the guy because is does crap like this.

  1. Good possibilities to replace Garcia are former Speaker Terrence Carroll, former state treasurer Cary Kennedy, another former speaker (Andrew Romanoff), former Senate president John Morse, former U.S. Rep. Betsy Markey, and a number of currently serving legislators. Denver's mayor Michael Hancock might be a good choice, as could be former House majority leader Alice Madden and former secretary of state and state representative Bernie Buescher.  

    Yes, I know, each has some political pros and cons, but each also brings some real talent to the table.

    1. Why run people who have proven track records of losing elections? Does the Colorado Democratic Party look like the national GOP where the next candidate is the one who has waited for his or her turn?

      1. Well, I did say that all those people have political pros and cons and, to be fair, I wasn't actually saying which one of those I mentioned is the best choice.

  2. If Ken Salazar does plan to run, appointing a star like Cary Kennedy or one of the others that might have higher ambitions sets up a potentially messy dilemma. Does Hick determine if Salazar is interested and, and if so defer to Salazar? Does Hick use the appointment to anoint his preferred successor? Or avoid that with a caretaker appointment?  

      1. Indeed, look at the last 25 years. Mike Callahan went on to manage a Kenny Rogers' restaurant. Gail Schoettler came really close to winning in '98 but close only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades. Then there was Joe Rogers. Nuf sed?  And Jane Norton. And Barbara O'Brien.

        It's a jumping off point into oblivion. Garcia probably made the right call.

         

  3. This may be more important than the CW recognizes at the moment.  Hick seems very likely to push hard to get nominated for either Secretary of the Interior or Secretary of Commerce, if Hillary Clinton is elected. If he got Interior or Commerce, the Lt. Gov would of course serve as Governor for two years; and as the incumbent, would be the Dem front-runner going into 2018.  

    How about Alice Madden?  

  4. A star? Kennedy lost to Walker Stapleton.

    O'Brien championed children's issues. Garcia was the point person on higher ed. Let's keep with new tradition and have the Lt. Gov do something productive. Maybe someone who help K12 funding.

Leave a Comment

Recent Comments


Posts about

Donald Trump
SEE MORE

Posts about

Rep. Lauren Boebert
SEE MORE

Posts about

Rep. Yadira Caraveo
SEE MORE

Posts about

Colorado House
SEE MORE

Posts about

Colorado Senate
SEE MORE

124 readers online now

Newsletter

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to stay in the loop with regular updates!