michael hesse
I am a lifelong Denver Broncos fan and a proud member of the Colorado Republican Party. As you can imagine, I’ve had to learn to live with both a degree of depression and disappointment in recent years. My involvement in politics has given me the opportunity of a lifetime. I had the honor of working for President George H.W. Bush, serving as executive director of the Colorado Republican Party in the early 1990s, and serving as chief of staff to three members of Congress. Our world has changed a lot, my current political skills are clearly not what they used to be, and I recognize that my time in politics has passed.
However, from my experience, recent events in Colorado’s 3rd, 4th, and 5th Congressional Districts are encouraging us to rebuild new, forward-looking, conservative, common-sense solutions for which we are known. It can be said that it provides an opportunity to start making proposals again. This is an opportunity for newcomers and new leaders for the next chapter of our state.
We know this is not an easy task, nor will it be achieved overnight. I am deeply concerned that, before the caucuses and primaries are counted, neither party is likely to be able to nominate a presidential candidate who offers a positive vision and confidence in the future. The reality is that, despite the Colorado Supreme Court’s recent and foolish ruling, our state plays a minimal role in national elections, and our Electoral College votes go to Democratic candidates. It will be.
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With that in mind, our congressional candidates need to focus on federal issues that impact the economy of their districts. In District 3, access to public land and water is paramount. In District 4, agricultural policy becomes food, along with some of Douglas County’s urban issues. The 5th District clearly needs to focus on military and space, as Colorado Springs and the surrounding area rely heavily on these sectors.
The primaries will be crowded and difficult. A winning candidate does not need to receive his 50% of the vote. The good news is that candidates can get on the ballot with minimal petition signatures and bypass the caucus system. These crowded primaries may help some state legislators who are well-known in their districts. The last time the 5th District was in session, the winner was not much different from the state senate district, but it secured the numbers needed to get through the day.
Although I, like many Colorado Republicans, have lost faith in the formal party organization, I am a firm believer in the enlightened beliefs of fundamental Colorado Republican voters.
I believe in the Colorado Republican primary voters, and I believe they will ultimately elect a great candidate. In the last primary election, our state’s political candidates were outstanding. Unfortunately, there were very few opportunities across the state. In the 3rd Congressional District, Aspen liberals have not fared well in Grand Junction and Pueblo and could try to buy seats. With our new members of Congress, we will have the opportunity to deliver a legislative agenda that appeals to everyday Coloradans. Our opportunity for a new era does not begin and end with this election, but will take time over several elections.
My experience with former 3rd Congressman Scott McInnis gives me the most hope. He was a great congressman who succeeded in passing his two pieces of legislation regarding Colorado National Parks and numerous common-sense land issues through the U.S. House of Representatives. Additionally, he was appointed to the powerful Ways and Means Committee, a feat few other Colorado legislative leaders have achieved.
While that is impressive, his real contribution to our country and our party may be that he encouraged and inspired young people to pursue politics and public service. This includes working closely with the former Secretary of the Interior, a national television media celebrity, President George W. Bush’s press secretary, the former president of the Colorado Senate, several former state legislators, presidential aides, and the state’s major foundations. It brings together people we work with, current and former local city councilors from across the state. This includes organizations working both locally and in Washington, D.C., on important natural resource, health, and education issues in Colorado.
In today’s culture, we expect instant gratification, but the political hole we find ourselves in has developed over time. Doing our best to ignore the crazy political noise may not be easy, but it may be our best hope. Our state and country are too important to abandon.
Michael Hesse served as an appointee of President George H.W. Bush. He served as chief of staff to three members of Congress and was executive director of the Colorado Republican Party in the 1990s. He currently serves as director of the Denver Police Museum.
