A pair of Democratic politicos touting their decades of experience as small-businesspeople simultaneously announced their campaigns for state treasurer Monday.
If they both stay in the race to oust Walker Stapleton, Colorado’s Republican treasurer, the two Democrats will compete against each other in a primary.
Betsy Markey, a former one-term congresswoman from Colorado’s fourth district, said she wasn’t aware until minutes before her own announcement that Pat Quinn, mayor of Broomfield, was also announcing his run for treasurer Monday morning.
“You know,” Markey said, “If there’s a primary, there’s a primary. That’s the way our democratic process works. I’m just happy to have the support of so many county party chairs and grassroots supporters and the entire Colorado Democratic congressional delegation.”
Quinn’s supporters handed out his press release at Markey’s announcement on the steps of the state capitol, which was attended by high-wattage supporters like two former Democratic state treasurers, state lawmakers and Democratic Rep. Dianna DeGette.
Markey served in Congress from 2009-11 and was part of the Blue Dogs, Democrats who labeled themselves moderates. She was defeated in a tight 2010 race by Republican Cory Gardner.
Before her time in Congress, Markey was a regional director for then-Sen. Ken Salazar, who went on to become interior secretary. She co-founded a software firm in the late 1980s and ran a Fort Collins ice cream parlor for several years before getting into public service, experiences that she said qualify her to capitalize on the role the treasurer’s office can play in the state economy
“The treasurer’s office can play a critical role in laying the foundation for solid economic development,” she said. “It happened under (former Democratic treasurers) Cary Kennedy and Gail Schoettler and it will happen again.”
Markey’s supporters pointed to her business clout and time in Congress as examples of how she could be trusted with Colorado’s money.
“We need more people like her in statewide office,” said state Sen. Andy Kerr.
While Democrats control both chambers of the state legislature and the governor’s mansion, Republicans hold many other key elected offices, including treasurer, attorney general and secretary of state.
Stapleton barely defeated incumbent Kennedy in 2010 and while he’s been out of the limelight in recent years, he sparked controversy shortly after taking office when it was discovered that he continued to moonlight for a California real estate investment firm.
While not mentioning Stapleton by name, Markey alluded to the moonlighting in her brief remarks Monday.
“Colorado deserves a full-time treasurer, and if you hire me, that’s what you’ll get,” she said.
Stapleton has been vocal in criticizing Colorado’s public pension system, which has about $23 billion in unfunded liabilities. Markey said she would focus on ways to protect both retirees and taxpayers, but said she didn’t support privatizing the retirement fund.
Quinn did not hold a public campaign announcement, according to a supporter who was handing out the Broomfield mayor’s announcement on the fringe of Markey’s gathering.
According to the brief statement, Quinn ran a small business for over 20 years “and knows what it takes to create and maintain jobs.”
“Efficient transportation and accessible open space make Colorado unique and a place for all Coloradans to proudly call home,” he said in the statement. “We have finite but more than adequate resources, the know how and a shared vision of what needs to be done. It is time to roll up our sleeves and get to work solving today’s challenges.”
Quinn’s spokeswoman did not immediately return a phone message from The Daily Caller News Foundation seeking comment.
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