March 26, 2010 11:42 PM UTC

Garnett Moves Closer to AG Bid

•  
• by: Colorado Pols

From the Boulder Daily Camera, following up on news you heard here first:

Boulder County District Attorney Stan Garnett is considering a challenge to Colorado Attorney General John Suthers in this fall’s election.

Garnett, a Democrat, said Friday morning that he was prompted to weigh a run for Suthers’ seat in the wake of the Republican AG’s decision Monday to join a national lawsuit that attempts to block just-passed federal health care legislation.

“I think it’s a mistake and a misuse of the office of attorney general,” Garnett said. “It appears to me to be a blatantly partisan act and pointless.”

Even so, Garnett said at the moment he is “strongly leaning against” launching a statewide campaign because of the work he wants to still accomplish in the 20th Judicial District…

He said it represents the Republicans’ “obstructionist” approach to any type of legislation the Democratic-led Congress attempts to pass.

“When it comes to making policy statements, it’s important that prosecutors speak freely,” Garnett said. “But when you go to court, it’s also essential that be done for reasons that are not partisan. (Suthers) is the attorney general for Colorado — he’s not the attorney general for the Republican Party in Colorado.”

Garnett, who has been Boulder County’s top prosecutor for a little more than 14 months, said he will speak to party leaders and others over  the weekend before making a final decision on whether to run or not.

We have it on good authority that, “leanings” of the moment notwithstanding, Garnett is seriously considering getting into this race, and a growing number of astute people think his odds are improving should he decide to.

Like we said before, Garnett is by far the most credible challenger to have expressed an interest in challenging John Suthers so far, with a profile-raising history as an attorney at Brownstein, Hyatt & Farber, and solid connections in the legal and education communities. If you were hoping to see an actual race in what was considered up until this week a cakewalk for Suthers, it’s likely that Garnett represents your last, best hope.

And if the polls on health care reform keep moving the Democrats’ way…?