Republican state Sen. David Balmer will soon resign from office to spend more time with ailing family members and to start a new career opportunity, the Centennial lawmaker told The Colorado Statesman on Friday.

Balmer, who is well regarded for his animal welfare legislation at the Capitol, will work as the political director of state campaigns for the Humane Society Legislative Fund. The fund is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit wing of the Humane Society.

Balmer, who represents Senate District 27, said the new job, which will allow him to work remotely, will give him more time to visit out-of-state family members who have significant health issues.

“We do not have a lot of flexibility to be away when you’re in the Legislature,” Balmer said. “During the session, I can’t leave a single day. If I’m gone a day to go help my mother-in-law or my parents, then (legislative) business would have to be laid over. It affects a lot of people if I’m gone.”

Balmer has not yet set a date for his official resignation but said he will not serve in the upcoming legislative session. This means an Arapahoe County GOP vacancy committee will select Balmer’s replacement.

Freshman Republican Rep. Jack Tate, also of Centennial, is the leading candidate to replace Balmer.

“I would be honored to be considered for a vacancy appointment to the Senate,” Tate told The Statesman.

The session was to be Balmer’s last anyway, because he had decided earlier in the year not to run for re-election, he said. Tate said he was prepared to run for Balmer’s seat once the senator made his intentions known publicly.

Tate said he didn’t know whether anyone else will vie for the seat.

“I don’t anticipate anyone else running, but I don’t have any expectation one way or another,” Tate said. “I do know I have very strong support in the county, good relationships in the county.”

And Tate said he doesn’t know who would seek his House District 37 seat if he wins Balmer’s.

Tate, a freshman who succeeded term-limited Republican Rep. Spencer Swalm last year, defeated Michael Fields in the GOP primary. Fields now serves as state director for Americans for Prosperity.

Carrie Penaloza was an initial candidate in last year’s House race. She is now running for Centennial City Council.

Tate said he was surprised by the news of Balmer’s impending resignation but not surprised to hear of the kind of job he’s accepted.

“He’s always had a deep love and appreciation for animals,” Tate said. “So it seems like a great position for him. He is a dedicated public servant and has served the constituents of Arapahoe County for many years. I have great admiration for how hard he’s worked.”

Balmer served for eight years in the House before being elected to the Senate in 2012. He was known as a stellar fundraiser for Republicans in the House. But he said he hasn’t had the same level of fundraising responsibility since joining the Senate.

“Because I did it so long in the House, people tend to remember that that’s what I am, that I’m one of the Republican fundraisers,” he said. “I really haven’t done it in the Senate.”

Balmer now gets to do what he loves on a full-time basis — helping animals.

Balmer is a co-chairman of the Colorado Legislative Animal Welfare — CLAW, for short — caucus. In 2013, Balmer sponsored the “Dog Protection Act,” which he introduced in response to a series of incidents involving dogs being shot by law enforcement officers called out to residences. The law, which put in place more training for officers who encounter dogs, received overwhelming bipartisan support.

Balmer also sponsored successful legislation last year that allows emergency medical responders to provide medical care to house cats and dogs. It wasn’t something they could do prior to the bill becoming law, which put first-responders at risk of being sued for trying to save an animal’s life.

Earlier this year, Balmer helped sponsor legislation to increase penalties for organizers of animal fighting events.

Balmer acknowledges that Republicans typically aren’t ones to sign up for animal rights causes, but he hopes to change that.

“I think that perhaps, in the future, there will be an equal number of Republicans and Democrats that will view themselves as being pro-animal,” he said. “That’s my hope for the future. That’s my opportunity for me to grow the Republican Party among animal advocates.”

Balmer gets emotional when he talks about the work he has done to protect animals.

“When I think about bills I’ve had the opportunity to work on at the Capitol, I get a big lump in my throat,” he said.

“It almost makes me cry,” Balmer continued, audibly choking up. “Because working on animal issues, it’s deep in my heart.”

— Twitter: @VicVela1