State Rep. Gordon Klingenschmitt, R-Colorado Springs, announced on Wednesday that he’s running for the Senate District 12 seat that will be left open when term-limited Senate President Bill Cadman, R-Colorado Springs, steps down after next year’s election.

He’ll likely face a primary. Former state Rep. Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs, filed to run for the Senate seat at the end of March. The Colorado Statesman was first to report that Klingenschmitt was angling for a bid, pointing out that he was handing out fliers critical of Gardner to a business group from Colorado Springs at the Capitol. Klingenschmitt made his candidacy announcement at a town hall meeting at a Colorado Springs restaurant. He said he fasted 72 hours and sought advice from God before the announcement, the Colorado Springs Gazette reported.

The former Navy chaplain, who goes by the name “Dr. Chaps” in his ministry, has been a lightening rod of controversy, culminating in a rare rebuke from House Republican leaders when he was stripped of a committee seat last month over remarks he made on his Pray in Jesus’ Name web-based show. Commenting a month ago on the brutal attack on a pregnant Longmont woman, whose baby was cut from her womb and didn’t survive, Klingenschmitt called it “the curse of God upon America for our sin of not protecting innocent children in the womb. And part of that curse for our rebellion against God as a nation is that our women are ripped open.”

House Minority Leader Brian DelGrosso, R-Loveland, removed Klingenschmitt from the House Health, Insurance and Environment Committee, calling it “disciplinary action” for Klingenschmitt’s “insensitive” comments. This week, DelGrosso restored Klingenschmitt to the committee, noting that the legislator had apologized and that the punishment was never meant to be permanent.

Bill Pitts passes

Former Grand Junction Mayor William Avery “Bill” Pitts died on April 16 in Grand Junction. He was 81.

Pitts, a pilot, inventor, business owner, real estate agent and community activist, was born on April 7, 1934, in Ava, Mo. He served in the Navy Reserve and the Army. Pitts attended the University of Missouri-Kansas City, majoring in Business Administration/Accounting. He bought General Business Machines in Grand Junction and founded eight more companies. He invented grille covers for evaporative coolers, which were distributed nationwide, and founded an organization to foster inventors and entrepreneurs in Colorado schools. He served on the Grand Junction City Council from 2009-2013 and as mayor for his last two years in office. He was active in the Elks Club, the Chamber of Commerce, the Mental Health Association and Crime Stoppers.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Betty Roy; daughters Deborah Beth Hoffman, Kamilee Lynn Rucker and Cherlyn Anne Crawford; eight grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. on April 24 at First United Methodist Church in Grand Junction. The family is suggesting donations to First United Methodist Church or to HopeWest hospice.

Begich joins Brownstein firm

Former Alaska Sen. Mark Begich, who lost his bid for reelection last fall, has joined the Denver-based law and lobbying firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck. The Democrat will lead a “strategic advisory unit” as part of the political powerhouse firm’s Government Relations Department along with Barry Jackson, a former aide to House Speaker John Boehner, the firm announced this week.

“Sen. Begich is a smart addition to our growing strategic services team which he will lead with Barry Jackson,” said Marc Lampkin, co-chair of the Government Relations Department and managing partner of the Washington, D.C., office. “Both Sen. Begich and Barry Jackson will assist our clients in gaining a better understanding of how to solve problems across party lines in this political environment. They both have an uncanny ability to cut through gridlock in Washington and are uniquely positioned to get our clients’ projects across the finish line.”

Begich, who served one term in the Senate and was mayor of Anchorage before that, will divide his time between Alaska and Washington. His initial focus will be on energy issues.

The Brownstein team also includes former U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson and former U.S. Sen. Hank Brown. “We’re a bipartisan firm with a reputation for outstanding political talent and believe Sen. Begich will fit in well,” Lampkin said.

Taylor named to run DPA

Gov. John Hickenlooper this week named June Taylor to be executive director of the Colorado Department of Personnel and Administration. Taylor, the senior manager of Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co.’s Culture, Diversity and Equal Opportunity Programs, will start work on May 11.

“June has a wealth of personnel experience in both public and private sector. She has successfully managed critical human resource initiatives that include bringing in top talent, driving performance initiatives, and creating best practices for equal opportunity,” said Hickenlooper in a statement announcing the appointment. “With her experience and leadership, we will raise the bar even higher for the state.”

Taylor was previously an attorney with the federal government and was chief of staff at the Federal Communications Commission. She is a cum laude graduate of the University of New Mexico, and earned her law degree from the University of Denver College of Law. She is a member of the Colorado Asian Pacific American Bar Association and Lockheed Martin’s Council of Asian American Leaders.

Navarro named to NCSL group

State Rep. Clarice Navarro, R-Pueblo, has been appointed to the National Conference of State Legislatures’ Labor and Economic Development Committee, the organization announced this week.

The organization’s policy committees, made up of state lawmakers from across the country, are tasked with helping steer NCSL’s lobbying work in Washington, D.C. Navarro is supposed to report to the committee twice a year at NCSL meetings with a perspective from the Colorado General Assembly. Committee members occasionally testify in Congress about NCSL resolutions and can meet with federal agencies to advocate for the organization’s positions.