Forty Years Ago This Week: Stockbroker Steve Leatherman, who was briefly a 6th congressional district candidate in 1982, announced that he would seek the Democratic Party nomination for U.S. Senate.

Leatherman joined Lt. Gov. Nancy Dick who had already announced her candidacy.

“I don’t have as high a name identification as the lieutenant governor,” Leatherman said, “but I believe I’m an articulate debater and my prior experience in the military provides me with a seasoned background in defense matters. The biggest issue of the campaign will be war.”

Leatherman said he was keen to run because incumbent Republican Sen. Bill Armstrong was “far too conservative for Coloradans” and was “out of whack” with the electorate.

Dick Freese, who ran Gov. Dick Lamm’s 1974 gubernatorial campaign, also intimated that Las Animas attorney Carlos Lucero would soon announced and that he was “confident” Lucero could win.

“I’m tempted to run his campaign,” said Freese. “But having already run one statewide campaign, that’s probably enough. I guess my role will probably be more limited.”

Freese spoke with Lamm about Lucero’s candidacy. As Lamm had already publicly endorsed Nancy, “he was quite careful not to give his views to me,” Freese said.

Lucero confirmed with The Colorado Statesman that he was serious about entering the race and had begun determining how to run a well-financed and organized campaign.

“Under no circumstances would this be an anti-Nancy Dick campaign,” Lucero said.

Timber Dick, Nancy Dick’s son and campaign manager, said their campaign fundraising was proceeding “fine, although not spectacular.” Timber Dick was encouraged by the fact that a statewide survey of 600 voters showed Dick leading Armstrong in seven of twelve key areas.

As for a potential three-way primary race, Timber Dick said he wasn’t concerned.

“I haven’t heard too much from Leatherman’s camp,” Timber Dick said. “Carlos Lucero is making the moves. He’s a very presentable person, but has no record in the state. We’re not too worried about him.”

Timber Dick also cited Armstrong’s conservatism and argued that “Colorado is a moderate state, and it just won’t support such conservative representation.”

Colorado Democratic Party chairman Floyd Ciruli told The Statesman there had been some discontent among party members regarding Dick’s rather quiet campaign.

“Timber Dick said this is where they want to be at this point,” Ciruli said. “But I am ready to really see it start now.”

Ciruli reiterated that the state party would remain neutral in the event of a primary.

Thirty Years Ago: Christopher Melendez, former West Point Cadet and computer engineer, announced the formation of the Colorado chapter of the national Log Cabin club.

The club was comprised of conservative gay and lesbian Republicans who opposed Amendment 2 and who would prefer cities like Aspen, Boulder, and Denver to enact laws to address issues rather than protect special interest groups. The Log Cabin club hoped to bring a balance to the religious right.

“Someone foaming at the mouth over social issues turns off moderate Republicans, and even some conservatives,” Melendez said.

Melendez argued that the previous election cycle’s focus on a “family values” agenda hurt the Republican Party as it explicitly excluded individuals. To address this, Melendez had met with Barb McTurk, vice-chair of the Colorado Republican Party, and Mike Hesse, executive director of the Colorado Republican Party, and said both were adamant “about not letting what happened in 1992, occur in 1994.

“The Republican Party stands for individualism,” said Melendez. “We have no hidden agenda, but we know some people in the party will view us with suspicion. Obviously, we’re going to be met with some resistance.”

Rachael Wright is the author of the Captain Savva Mystery series, with degrees in Political Science and History from Colorado Mesa University, and is a contributing writer to Colorado Politics and The Gazette.