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December 28, 2010 09:54 PM UTC

Family Ties or Sarah Palin's BFF?

  • 81 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

As the Craig Daily Press reports:

The effort to find a replacement for State Sen. Al White, who is slated to become the next director of the Colorado Tourism Office, has turned up two familiar names seeking to replace him in the state legislature.

Bob McConnell, a former Republican Congressional candidate, and Jean White, Al’s wife of more than three decades, both have submitted letters of interest to the Eighth State Senate District Central Committee vacancy committee.

Al, a Republican from Hayden, accepted the appointment made by Governor-elect John Hickenlooper a few weeks ago and will start his duties Jan. 11.

They’re not the only two expected to apply, but they’re certainly the two highest-profile names we’ve heard so far. A few considerations: as a state senator, Al White has earned a reputation for reaching across the aisle to get things done, sometimes unpopularly among his fellow Republicans; we’ve identified this as a rare and dwindling quality in the Senate Minority, and without knowing Mrs. White very well we would assume she’d bring the same approach.

At the same time, White has also been a strong defender of Northwest Colorado interests, which includes strong opposition to the plan by Xcel Energy to convert a number of coal plants along the Front Range to natural gas on behalf of mines in his district. However you feel about the issue, there’s no question that Sen. White represented his local constituents’ views.

And then there’s Bob McConnell, defeated CD-3 primary candidate whose biggest claim to fame is the endorsement of Sarah “Mama Grizzly” Palin, and whose agenda if elected was to repeal the Endangered Species Act and force “Barak Obama” to resign. If the SD-8 vacancy committee picks McConnell, everything we said about Republicans running off their reasonable elected officials in favor of whackadoo conservative ideologues, to the detriment of all stakeholders who value solutions over posturing, basically stands proven.

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81 thoughts on “Family Ties or Sarah Palin’s BFF?”

    1. We’re REAL INTERESTED in these “conversations before Christmas” before anyone knew what was going on, before a press release went out (12/28), before any GOP chair in any of the counties gave any information to anyone.  Can anyone say Colorado GOP politics?

        1. Wow, just because I’m not on your train, am I not allowed to speak?  Ralphie, if we can’t talk to each other what’s the point?  Is this site restricted to die-hard Dems?

                1. People who are just regular voters, not party insiders, just want to know why committee members committed to a senate candidate before we – us, voters, people, non-party types – even knew what the process was.  WE, THE PEOPLE.

                    3. But I’m guessing a pawn with attitude is alot more fun at a party than the King.

        1. How does that happen, exactly?  What back door deal was made on this elected official’s position?  I love hearing these stories of good ole boys.

          A vacancy committee meets January 3 at 2:00 pm at the Moffat County Courthouse to “decide” who’s next.  Is it simply who’s next in line according to the GOP?  What ever happened to voter input?  You guys make fun of McConnell (after picking him to win the 3rd CD) but the truth is he WON THREE of the five counties in SD 8 that he campaigned in.  That’s a mandate, and for Jean White to “have a lock” on this is politics at its worst.

            1. I’m pretty sure he understands that basic math.  Does the GOP understand THIS BASIC MATH:  McConnell took the majority of votes in three of the five counties in the SD 8.  So, if these folks wanted him as their federal rep does it stand to reason they might want him as their state rep?  

              1. So why isn’t he our Senator? Look, McConnel lost the primary by over 10 points so I think that’s a pretty strong message that a majority of the Republicans there don’t want him.

                But hey, if you want to shove someone most in your party don’t want down their throat – be my guest. Anything that honks off your base is good with me.

                1. David, 3 of 5 counties (Eagles is not in the 3rd CD) voted for McConnell to be their federal rep.  That’s all I’m saying.  He has the voters mandate in Rio Blanco, Garfield, and Routt.  Jackson and Moffat voted for Tipton.  It’s just facts, not shoving.  Why do you want to honk off the base and who’s that anyway?  I voted for Salazar and I’m a registered unaffiliated.  don’t think I have a base.

                  1. Do you think I’m actually  Bob Mcconnell?  That’s hilarious!  Do you think a 64 year old Army Ranger waits breathlessly by his computer to see what coloradopols says?  You guys take yourselves way too seriously.

                    I’m one of those pesky independent voters who actually thinks and listens before I vote blindly for some ideology.  Who’s my base?

              2. It would help you to know that there are SIX counties in SD8, not five: Eagle, Garfield, Jackson, Moffat, Rio Blanco and Routt.

                I’m guessing IndyV left out Jackson, since it’s the smallest part of the district.

                1. Geez, it’s hard to get you guys to listen.  I know the 6 counties.  Eagle was not in the 3rd CD.  Moffat and jackson went to Tipton; Garfield, Routt and Rio voted for mcConnell. So, 3 of the 5 counties THAT VOTED IN THE 3RD CD – not Eagle – wanted McConnell.  Just sayin

          2. McConnell is out on the fringe of his party.

            He couldn’t win his primary.

            A vacancy committee is not likely to award a legislative seat to someone whose only claim to fame is being too weird to win an election.

            My opinion, of course.

          3. but you should know that…but then again maybe not. To clarify, the majority of selection committee members were supporting Jean at the time of the conversation.

            1. A “lock” in politico-speak means the old boys pick the person they want and let him or her have the seat.  They don’t publicize the process, they don’t seek out qualified people, they just do what politicians do.  That’s why Mrs. White had a “lock” before anyone even knew who the committe was.

              1. already in place in the event something happened to the setting senator?  

                That’s why Mrs. White had a “lock” before anyone even knew who the committe was.

                1. The vacancy committee was selected in March 2009 – and Jean White is a member of it. That’s part of the updated story we have this morning, and that there’s another candidate from Garfield County now in the race.  

                    1. That’s the problem, friend.  The political process is shrouded in secrecy.  Don’t know how you Dems do it, all that transparency, but i can tell you people in the SD 8 – regular people, not people who read political blogs and are obsessed with this stuff – regular people did not have a clue.  JUST NOW information is being disseminated to people about the process.  a press release went out about it TWO DAYS AGO….December 28, 6 days before the vote.  So here’s the point:  you guys like Jean, I understand that.  But politicans can’t be in charge of this.  And the process has to be fair.  There’s nothing fair about her having a lock when actual voters don’t know what’s going on.  We’d just wake up Jan. 4 and have a new senator and all the hacks would be happy.  Right now, they’re kind of pissed we got involved.

                    2. They may or they may not. How many people can even tell you who their state senator is?

                      Your alternative is to lobby your state legislators to work for special elections, instead of vacancy committees, when legislative vacancies occur.

                      The time may be ripe for such a proposal, given how many legislators are in office by way of being appointed by vacancy committees.

                    4. If what went on in the HD56 vacancy election is any indication.

                      http://bit.ly/hLZhdq

                      Phil Vaughan, the SD8 vacancy chair, is well aware of how much hue and cry was made about the problems with the HD56 vacancy, and said the SD8 vacancy would be handled in a more transparent way.

                      Given that we had a story out about this on Dec. 23, five days before the press release went out, with the details of when and where the meeting would take place, gives some credence to an effort to be more transparent.

                      http://bit.ly/giP8Hj (updated since the 23rd, but most of the info is from the original story).

                      And by the way, yesterday, the draft rules for the vacancy meeting were mailed out to the committee members and to the candidates who’ve made their candidacy official, according to Vaughan.

                    5. I’m invested in both the HD56 and SD8 process (in growing up in Eagle County)

                      That said – the HD56 process was FAR MORE transparent, as every candidate had plenty of time to submit their statements of interest

                      The SD8 Vacancy, to me, seems like a train trying to come through the station at 3 AM for a quick pickup….

                    6. indicated the majority of the committee supported Jean White.  SD 8 press release not out until 12/28.  Not transparent.  GOP politics.  

  3. First off – Ellie is completely right – SD8 is a Country Club – for better or worse, the majority of County Chairmen in SD8 have been there for years (or involved in a BIG way) – if the ‘fix is in’ it wouldn’t surprise me – for some districts, this is a good thing – others, it’s a bad thing – I’ll let you guys judge, as appropriately…

    Second – I know Al and Jean White and they’re good people – that said, the article above fails to include that Al White worked closely with Josh Penry in 2007, in trying to get a severance tax bill passed that would’ve, basically, sent a majority of severance tax revenues to Denver and Boulder for Higher Education (from what I recall?) – that’s more money LEAVING the Western Slope – saying that he represents the constituents? I’m glad that Al White did later on speak out against the low rates of severance tax (which was the right thing to do) but I don’t think you could argue him to be consistent on the issue, at all times – if anything, it’s become very clear that SD8 is about to go blue, and White’s advocacy for increasing severance taxes against big oil has been very recent – I don’t recall hearing such advocacy back when this district (including his first seat – HD57) was BRIGHT RED – but I’m happy to be proven wrong… nonetheless, with all due respect to Senator White, I feel that the severance tax issue to him is more about politics… less about conviction…

    Third – this is a terribly biased written article against McConnell – Bob is a great candidate and demonstrated his strength as a candidate by running an intelligent campaign for CD3, in which, he educated voters on the issues, rather than pontificate needlessly against Speaker Nancy Pelosi – even though I’m proudly on the other team now, I still admire Bob as a candidate – as mentioned above, Bob did run a good race and he should be a natural fit for this seat…

    …then again… welcome to the SD8 Country Club… (don’t worry – minorities may golf)….

    1. He didn’t screw up his FEC filing.  Wouldn’t it be great if you actually understood the facts before commenting and trashing?  MLK was the paragon of civil disobedience.  I would think you would embrace that, especially from a conservative.  He filed correctly, the FEC wanted “more”…didn’t like the fact that some contributors called themselves “self employed.”  Why can’t you dialogue reasonably?  Jean White is a moderate Republican like her husband so I understand why you back her blindly.  But try to be fair.

      1. Demonstrating “best efforts” to collect that info to the FEC is a trivial matter. Just because Team McConnell attended the Dan Maes School of Campaign Finance does not make him somehow analogous to Martin Luther King Jr.

        2. Why do you refer to Dan?  I didn’t read anything about McConnell being fined etc.  He’s no MLK or Jesus or Ghandi but do you agree that some of that kind of fire in the belly – no matter WHICH SIDE YOU’RE ON – could be a good thing?  

  5. Again – I have the utmost respect for Jean White and Al White – they are good people

    That said – I’m very invested in SD8, because I grew up in the district (I’m proud of that) and I would hate for a bad sting to come out of this appointment, even if I’m a proud Democrat now (and for that matter – KEN BRENNER FOR SD8 IN 2012)

    That said 2 – some major facts to consider –

    Al White is ardently against the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights

    Al White is against school choice

    Al White proudly carries the Teachers Union endorsement

    Al White voted for the Mil Levy Freeze (which KILLS the Western Slope)

    Lastly, Al White is horribly inconsistent on the severance tax issue

    Now that said – does Al White represent the district? Perhaps he does… but does he represent Conservatism or Constitutionalism?

    No way.

    In turn – if Jean White is picked on the basis of Al White being a good Senator, that is going to fall on DEAF EARS with the Republicans of SD8, as Al White has been anything but ‘conservative’ on fiscal issues, thus, not being a ‘good’ Senator

    Thus – if you are a County Chair, you cannot pick Jean White on the basis that she’ll follow Al White’s footsteps… doing so, basically, invalidates the Conservative credentials that any of these County Chairs should hope to carry

    Now that said… perhaps Jean White could be picked on the contention that, in traveling the district with Al, she understands the district and is accessible – all good points

    However, if there’s anyone out there whose traveled the district more than Al White and Jean White, IT IS Bob McConnell, who did an excellent job of energetically campaigning all over SD8, during his run for CD3

    In my best and most intelligent analysis… there is no way you can select Jean White without a bad sting of nepotism carrying the selection – which will, ultimately, guarantee a BLOODY primary

    On the other hand – maybe the SD8 County Chairs can come up with a more intelligent reason, should they want to pick Jean White…

    …I personally doubt they can…

    (BRENNER IN 2012!)

    2. with all your various personalities fighting for attention.

      You disparage Al and Jean White; halfheartedly endorse a conservative Republican; and, endorse a Democrat that is most likely more liberal than Senator White to run for SD-8 in the next election.

      Apparently you don’t like moderates, you like conservative republicans, and endorse Democrats because you’re now a donkey.

        1. My post was NOT to point out what I do not like about Al White – rather, it was to point out what REPUBLICANS expect from a vacancy appointment

          Mark the words – if Jean White is picked, there’s gonna be a bloody primary (unless she goes ULTRA right-wing)

          1. It looked to me that most of your effort was to talk about the bad things Al White or his wife have done.

            Should’ve noticed the few sentences about the REPUBLICAN expectations.

            My bad.

                  1. I give you a hard time and you are always kind and respectful in return. That’s to your credit.

                    As much as I disagree with you on many things, you are who you are and I respect that as well. Maybe someday we’ll enjoy arguing face to face over a cold one…

                    Peace and love.

                    1. Love and peace to you as well!

                      Debating over a cold one sounds great – drop me a line at – hasan2008 at mac dot com

                      I’ll do my best to accomodate – I’m heavily in and out of the area lately!

    3. like John McCain use to be before he aged into a curmudgeon.  I’ve only met Jean a couple of times and don’t know her but I’m told is not as easy to work with as Al.  I also understand she’s her own person so I suspect it’s premature to gage what she might do on a given piece of legislation (if not a bit sexist).

    1. They are probably waiting to see who throws their name into the hat.  To publicly discuss anything now would be premature, wouldn’t it? The handful of people I’ve talked to in SD 8 would be happy with either, but lean to Bob.  Other prospective candidates have indicated an interest, but I don’t think they can garner much support.    

      1. Lauren, I see what you’re saying and this is why people in the SD 8 are furious.  “Private” discussions apparently occurred before Christmas, when according to this site, the majority of the committee supported Mrs. White.  I think now IS the time to bust those discussions open to the public.

        1. In Routt County?  I can see that if she also serves on the committee, they know her, but I still think it would be inappropriate to comment publicly before all the names are in from interested parties.  

          1. among committee members, insiders, and apparently with coloradopols well before anyone (we, us, voters, regular non-party types) knew how the committee works, how you get nominated etc.  

            So it looks like we are in total agreement.  It WAS inappropriate for private discussions to be happening and for committee members to GIVE SUPPORT TO A CANDIDATE “before all the names are in from interested parties.”

            1. that the vacancy looks like a done-deal insider deal, but that’s how vacancies usually work.

              But how on earth is it inappropriate for candidates to lock up support “before all the names are in from interested parties”? That’s how candidates decide whether to run or not, figure out if they’ve got enough support among those who will be voting to have a viable shot at it.

              You notice how virtually any candidate for anything releases a list of prominent supporters simultaneous with announcing? That’s Politics 101, it’s not the mark of some stifling conspiracy.  

              1. And that is the way it’s always been done but we need to change that paradigm.  Parties need to seek out candidates who are qualified beyond “it’s my turn, I’ve paid my dues.”  Decent citizens with something to contribute might be more prone to step up and serve if it wasn’t such an Insider’s Club.

                Politics 101 has not served us very well.

            2. I’ve served on vacancy committees before and I don’t remember any rules that prohibited discussions about possible candidates for those vacancies.  I’m sure if a vacancy had occured during my service, I’d have chatted like a little girl with other members. (I can say this because I once was a little girl.) I would not have given support to a candidate, and I do not know that this has occurred in this case either. Who told you the fix was in?  

    2. You are a Democrat now, no?

      Why do you care about a Republican SD8 vacancy committee?  You have nothing invested anymore, at least if you can be believed.

      So have you cut the cord to the Republican party or not?  If so, then why do you care what happens?

      Or is your party switch just for show?

      1. Party or not, whomever is appointed will serve SD8 for a FULL TWO YEARS – considering the severance tax issues at stake, that’s a pretty big deal, in my books

        In turn, I’m going to voice my opinion – this is Colorado’s most important Senate district (again – oil, natural gas, severance taxes) and with everything I know about the district, I would be giving a disservice if I didn’t make my honest opinions known

        And doing so… doing so makes me a good member of the community, and by being a good member, I’m being a good Democrat

        You are welcome to disagree, Ralphie – but last I checked, being a proud loyalist, to the good Democratic Party, did not constitute keeping one’s mouth shut during pivotal, political moments (even if local)

        1. Ali, too bad the GOP didn’t see your value.  Thanks for helping the dialogue to stay open.  The problem with party politics is this “line in the sand” both Dems and GOP draw:  are you with us or agin us?  You are not the Dems chattel. Stay the course, bro.

  7. Here’s what politically savvy folks in SD 8 see:  Al White got angry at being kicked off the Republican budget committee.  Made a deal w/ the Dems to get some kind of inoffensive position (Tourism) with Hickenlooper.  He’ll then “hold” his seat through his wife, change parties, and make sure the SD 8 goes to the Dems in 2012.

    Audrey Danner, a member of the committee, is a former Dem who turned GOP to take the position of a deceased person.

    Read THE BLUEPRINT and you will understand that Democrats are far more savvy politically than Reps who continually do stupid sutff based on arrogance and ego.  For instance, a “former state senator” – likely Jack Taylor of Routt County (on the vacancy committee) called Tom Mathers, Commissioner in Craig – to “urge him” to run for the SD 8 seat to be decided Monday.  Jack is FURIOUS that people have figured out the game and want a voice.  He has refused phone calls and e-mails.  His power is being undermined and he is really cranky right now.

    Wake up Republicans.  There is a plan in place and you should make sure this committee doesn’t play right into it.

      1. Jack is so distraught that he’s lost control, that he won’t get “his way” that he’s throwing epic monkey wrenches all over the place.  Problem is, folks now see through this power-brokering nonesense.  Jack has had a very bad week.  And it’s likely to get worse when PEOPLE actually participate in the Club.

  8. Having watched this whole thing unfold in the SD 8, the e-mails flying, the angry people, the committee members chasing their tails it all comes down to this:  THEY VOTE BY SECRET BALLOT so they will never be held accountable.

    Funny how tea partiers and Republicans rant about holding politicians accountable and then allow this to happen.  Pretend it’s an open process until it comes to the most important part.  So, Jean White’s friends who told you guys early on that they would vote for her can still vote for her and nobody’s the wiser.

    Next time one of these guys yells about how DC politicans are arrogant and do whatever they want I’ll point him to his own little senate district where the politicians are…arrogant and do whatever they want.

          1. Literally, her only qualification being “following” her husband around for 10 years.  I’m telling you, the SD 8 seat is going to the Dems in 2012.  GET OUT THAT BLUE PAINT MY FRIEND!

            1. If Al changes parties, not if a Dem takes the seat.  But I wouldn’t put any money on Jean losing it.  She and Al are tireless campaigners.  

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