At the end of January, the Grand Junction Sentinel’s Charles Ashby reported on angry allegations of favoritism from GOP Rep. Matt Soper of Delta against the new House Micro-Minority Leader Rose Pugliese after Soper was bounced from the House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Committee, ostensibly to make room for ex-Minority Leader Mike Lynch who was still apparently entitled to some deference after resigning from his leadership position in disgrace. As Soper told the story then, Pugliese removed Soper from the Ag Committee at the request of the committee’s vice-chairman Rep. Marc Catlin, who along with Soper was eyeing the SD-5 Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Perry Will.
The uber-ambitious Rep. Soper had also just lost the race to succeed Lynch as Minority Leader to Pugliese, making the loss of his coveted committee assignment a double snubbing:
The Delta Republican said he doesn’t believe Pugliese took that action as revenge for challenging her for that leadership position, losing to her on an 11-8 vote. He said it was because of Rep. Marc Catlin, R-Montrose.
“Minutes after I just lost the bid for minority leader, Catlin goes running to Rose to say you’ve got to remove Matt from agriculture,” Soper said. “Rose honored that. Caving to one member because he doesn’t know if we’re going to end up as opponents for a Senate primary or not. I think it’s pretty crummy politics to think that you could score an advantage by knocking off a possible competitor.”
Three weeks later, Ashby now reports that Rep. Soper has accepted his beat-down fate and will not be challenging Catlin for SD-5 after all:
Rep. Matt Soper, R-Delta, said Wednesday he doesn’t intend to challenge Catlin for the GOP nomination, saying he made a promise to stay in the House as long as term limits allow. [Pols emphasis] He’s now in his third term, and is running unopposed for a fourth this fall.
“This is a rare opportunity for both Mesa County and Delta County to have a veteran legislator who’s entering a fourth term,” Soper said. “Seniority and longevity does make a difference. It’s amazing the work I’m able to do now for the district compared to six years ago. For the good of the district, I believe it’s worth using that senior status.”
This excuse is nonsense of course, since if Soper had intended to serve out all four terms, why would he have ever considered a run for the Senate in 2024? Either way, despite Rep. Soper’s alleged “senior status,” his actual influence in the House GOP micro-minority is demonstrably minimal based on his defeat for Minority Leader and loss of his seat on the Ag Committee. Throughout his three terms in the House, Soper’s reach has consistently exceeded his grasp; and with Soper’s would-be rival Rose Pugliese in charge and far from term-limited, we now expect Soper to finish out his House career…undistinguished.
As any true conservative will tell you, there are winners and losers.
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Can't wait for dems to win this seat either way. Whoever emerges from the primary between Montrose Mayor Barbara Bynum and Glenwood lawyer Cole Buerger will have a good shot in November.
Twenty years ago this Spring a group of us founded “25x’25”, a national initiative with the goal of rural communities generating 25% of this nation’s energy from renewables. On the heels of passing Colorado’s historic Amendment 37 we enjoyed the support of the ag committee in this endeavor, largely thanks to the support of Colorado Farm Bureau and the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union (both being the first in nation to adopt such support within their national umbrellas).
Delta-Montrose REA was the first rural electric in the nation to officially support the initiative. Governor Ritter was the first governor to do so; the Denver Post was the first major US newspaper to do so, Colorado Stare University was the first land grant .
This national movement benefited greatly from Colorado leadership. Although we were repeatedly told it was a fanciful, even farcical, futile effort. Years later, 2015, Boebert’s now-District Director would pen an article complaining about “subsidies” for the industry.
We know where Klanny Oakley stands on renewable energy (it apparently isn’t “energy” unless it’s derived from fossil fuel). You’d have to wonder where Matt, or any other Republican , stands on the issue. On the eastern plains, the wannabe home of the carpetbagger from Rifle, billions in investment have been made in the wind industry. In most, if not all of these rural communities , wind power is the single largest taxpayer. In Weld and Pueblo Counties, New Energy Economy jobs register collectively in the thousands.
This has been a long game, one worth being part of, despite the naysayers. Looking forward to the next 25% being developed in half the time.
In a new milestone, renewables generated 25% of US power in the first half of 2023
Outstanding work, Michael! I know you will succeed in reaching your next goal for Colorado and America!
Thanks Harry. Colorado has been the tip of the spear for both the New Energy Economy and the legalization of the cannabis plant . What’s next? Colorado’s version of The Bank of North Dakota? The country’s first film industry focused on social equity and sustainability?
Should we tell the good people of North Dakota that a state-owned bank is arguably socialism?
Right? It's like public power in our neighboring Nebraska. You'd pry that system from their cold, dead hands.
Or patients at a V.A. facility complaining about the evils of socialism
I've been advocating that Colorado needs a public bank similar to North Dakota's. The state could seed the bank with a portion of their $9 billion investment portfolio (which has a goal of a 2% ROI). The money could be used for low cost infrastructure loans to replace the abuse-ridden Metro Tax Districts that are self-serving developer-run entities that wind up doubling effective property taxes for residences by imposing a private property tax surcharge that goes into both the developer's pockets as well as Wall Street investors.
It would be managed by a public board answerable to the citizens of Colorado, not Wall Street.
^^^THIS^^^
Would Polis and Bennet actually advocate for something that is not friendly to Wall Street?
It would be state chartered, so Bennet's support wouldn't be required. A progressive state senator or representative or two might get the ball rolling. But yeah, Polis' support is questionable.
There's always a job at Mesa State waiting for him.