Author: Rachael Wright

Forty Years Ago This Week: In an abrupt about-face, Gov. Dick Lamm, who had previously pledged his “wholehearted, enthusiastic support” for Lt. Gov. Nancy Dick’s candidacy for U.S. Senate, publicly announced that he would instead be maintaining a neutral position in the three-way Democratic primary. But Barbara Charnes, interim campaign manager for Dick’s campaign, contended…

Forty Years Ago This Week: The newly formed Pro-Denver initiative was being touted as “the most ambitious effort made by Republicans to win the hearts and minds of Denverites in many years,” according to one of its founders, Sue McGinley. Since its founding early in the year, Pro-Denver had grown to 150 paid members and…

Forty Years Ago This Week: The chairman of the Colorado Republican Party, Bo Callaway, was facing a setback in his plans for a Republican challenger against Democrat U.S. Rep. Pat Schroeder in the first congressional district. Sherry Manning, the GOP’s top candidate, had just announced her withdrawal from the race. The former administrator of Colorado…

Forty Years Ago This Week: In a surprising announcement, Gov. Dick Lamm’s talented 29-year-old legislative director, Mark Grueskin, announced that he would be stepping down from his position, effective Jan. 1, to manage Carlos Lucero’s campaign to unseat Republican Sen. Bill Armstrong. In 1976, Grueskin had managed Frank Evan’s primary campaign for the 3rd Congressional…

Forty Years Ago This Week: The Colorado insurance industry, along with Western Insurance Information Services, awarded Senate President Ted Strickland, D-Westminster, Rep.William Artist, R-Greeley, and Dr. Philip Lewis the Human Concern Award. The award was traditionally given annually to a group or individual each year in recognition of service beyond the call of duty. The…

Forty Years Ago This Week: State Sen. Barbara Holme, D-Denver, a leader in the Democratic Party who had served nearly a decade in the Colorado General Assembly, announced by letter to her District 34 constituents that she would not seek reelection following a rough legislative session for the minority party lawmaker. In her letter, Holme…

Forty Years Ago This Week: Denver Mayor Federico Peña’s office announced that he would be the first mayor “in 20 years” to go to jail – at least, the first mayor in that time frame to venture into a jail, placing a visit to the Downtown Detention Center. Lou Schneider, Peña’s appointment scheduler, said that…

Thirty Years Ago This Week: The executive committee of the Colorado General Assembly’s Legislative Council found itself kicking a public relations hornets nest after Senate President Tom Norton, R-Greeley, and House Speaker Chuck Berry, R-Colorado Springs, decided to place the House and Senate Chambers off-limits to anyone but legislators. For the first time in 40…

Forty Years Ago This Week: Republican Denver attorney Phil Klingsmith told The Colorado Statesman that he was discussing announcement dates with party officers to throw his hat in the ring against Democratic U.S. Rep. Ray Kogovsek of the 3rd Congressional District. Klingsmith was seen by Statesman reporters in private discussions with both political director Kay…