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COLORADO'S FRONTPAGE

Face the State

Content Index: Ken Gordon

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Bernie Buescher wants your input

May 24, 2009

Secretary of State Bernie Buescher is soliciting citizen input for a "Best Practices and Vision" elections advisory commission. Lucky for you, experience at the ballot box is all you need to meet the minimum qualifications for appointment.

He’s baaaaaack!

May 15, 2009

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He’s baaaaaack! Former Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon, that is.

After getting overlooked for the Secretary of State appointment last fall, Gordon recoiled briefly from politics. He was really gunning for the position and not getting selected clearly stung. But now this Denver Democrat is announced he’s starting a blog. The title: “This Matters.”

Ken Gordon just doesn't get it

February 18, 2009

"After the rally, I waited in line to pass through security so I could go inside. This is the conversation I overheard:

Former State Senator Ken Gordon: “Why are all these people here?”

Unidentified woman in line, laughingly responds: “They didn’t find the stimulus bill very stimulating. They were protesting.”

Gordon, very seriously states: “But there are so many of them!”"

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CORA: ProgressNow comments on SoS pick

January 12, 2009

Gov. Bill Ritter's appointment of former state Rep. Bernie Buescher as Secretary of State was the product of a long process of public applications, interviews and public input. Ritter solicited comments from Coloradans via e-mail, the choicest of which are archived in the FTS Reading Room. But liberal activist group ProgressNow did one better, polling its members in an informal survey and bundling the results in a submission to Ritter.

Documents: Public input mattered little in SoS appointment

January 11, 2009

Documents obtained by Face The State reveal that public comments regarding Gov. Bill Ritter's secretary of state appointment overwhelmingly favored term-limited Sen. Ken Gordon, D-Denver. Despite this, Gordon was passed over for the post in favor of ousted state Rep. Bernie Buescher.

12/22: Bernie Buescher's job switch

It’s official: Bernie Buescher is Colorado’s next Secretary of State. What does that mean for our state’s elections?

Play audio - 1:30 minutes
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Mike Miles for Senate! Wait, who is that?

December 21, 2008

Mike Miles

What do Mike Miles and Ken Gordon have in common?

They are both hoping to be appointed to the job they were denied at the ballot box.

Gordon's congrats to Buescher pre-empts announcement

December 19, 2008

"State Sen. Ken Gordon (D-Denver), a finalist for Colorado Secretary of State, sent out an e-mail congratulating Bernie Buescher on being appointed Secretary of State nine minutes before Gov. Bill Ritter made his formal announcement.

In the e-mail, acquired by the Colorado Independent's Ernest Luning, Gordon said he thought Buescher would "do a good job" as Secretary of State."

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FTS Weekend Edition preview on 1310 KFKA

Face The State visits with 1310 KFKA's George Gray and Trevor Carey to preview the next installment of the Face The State Weekend Edition.

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FTS on the Air: Some scenarios for the Democrat power shuffle, on 600 KCOL

FTS managing editor Brad Jones visits with 600 KCOL morning team Keith and Gail to preview the next FTS Weekend Edition and walk through some possible scenarios for appointments to Colorado Secretary of State and U.S. Senate.

Play audio - 7:29 minutes
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FTS crystal ball: Democrats shuffle the deck

December 17, 2008

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With the announcement this week that U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar will serve as President-elect Obama's Interior secretary, the Colorado political arena is abuzz with speculation about who will take over Salazar's Senate seat. Here's our prediction.

Ken Gordon actually campaigning for SoS

December 14, 2008

"Which wouldn't be news if this were 2006, when he was running for the office. Now, he's campaigning for an appointment, showing all the class and dignity that we've come to expect from him. That is to say, God help us if he becomes Secretary of State.

First, he sent out an email asking his supported to vote in an online poll, and now he's asking them to do the same for a poll involving the finalists, and to send an email to the Secretary of State's office expressing support.

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Buescher, Romanoff, Gordon finalists for SoS appointment

December 9, 2008

Secretary of State finalists are in. A seven-member advisory panel selected term-limited Sen. Ken Gordon and term-limited House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, both Denver Democrats, and outgoing Rep. Bernie Buescher, a Democrat from Grand Junction.

Ritter makes a predictable and political decision on SoS post

December 9, 2008

"Bill Ritter has announced the Secretary of State finalists. They are Ken Gordon, Andrew Romanoff, and Bernie Buescher.

As I wrote several weeks ago, Ritter had a real opportunity here to appoint someone with real experience who would put the job before politics. By opening up the process to applicants, he offered a little hope that he was actually looking for someone based on qualifications and not cronyism. Several excellent (and yes, Democratic) candidates applied including Denver County Clerk Rosemary Rodriguez and former Denver County Clerk Sherry Jackson.

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"The Buzz" on Newstalk 1310 KFKA, 11/24 - Election administrators matter

FTS managing editor Brad Jones visits with Newstalk 1310 KFKA host Amy Oliver to dish the latest capitol gossip. This week: "Blue Ribbon" Bill Ritter takes government by committee to a whole new level. The integrity of the election process matters, and Ritter's appointment process for a new Secretary of State is raising eyebrows.

Play audio - 14:10 minutes
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Political Cartoon for 11/24: Ritter's many suitors

Face The State Humor

November 24, 2008

Political cartoon for 11/24 - front page

Gov. Bill Ritter, a Democrat, has solicited applications for the position of Secretary of State on occasion of the vacancy created by current officeholder and U.S. Rep.-elect Mike Coffman. It all seems like a reality TV show, at least in the mind of FTS cartoonist Milton.

Segment 3 - Twenty hopefuls for Secretary of State vacancy

Gov. Bill Ritter solicited applications for the position of Secretary of State being vacated by U.S. Rep.-elect Mike Coffman. The respondents range from political hacks, term-limited legislators, partisan operatives and everything in between. Face The State's Rachel Boxer has the latest.

Play audio - 7:55 minutes
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Gordon v. Gessler

November 20, 2008

Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon is now competing for the job of Secretary of State against a man insiders say he once thought too controversial to sit on the Colorado Election Reform Commission.

In the news: Ritter considers anyone, 'even Ken Gordon,' for SoS position

November 18, 2008

Ken Gordon on Fox 31

In case you missed it: Denver's Fox 31 News tonight picked up on Face The State's in-depth coverage of the slate of 20 applicants vying for appointment to the position of Secretary of State. Gov. Bill Ritter is in a position to appoint a new Secretary of State on the occasion of current officeholder Mike Coffman's election to the U.S. Congress.

Who is your top pick to replace Coffman?

November 18, 2008

This just in: Old favorites, up-and-comers and total randoms vie for Secretary of State post

Political reporting can be a little dry sometimes, but this is the kind of story we live for. Twenty Coloradans from all walks of life have submitted applications to become Colorado's next Secretary of State.

"The Buzz" on Newstalk 1310 KFKA, 11/17 - Ritter and the next SoS, the changing media

November 17, 2008

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Face The State managing editor Brad Jones visits with Newstalk 1310 KFKA's Amy Oliver. Why is Gov. Bill Ritter acting like Mr. non-partisan when it comes to appointing the next Secretary of State? Plus, a mountain newspaper becomes the latest victim of the economic downturn.

Mr. Coffman heads to Washington; now what?

November 7, 2008

As Secretary of State Mike Coffman prepares to head to Washington to represent Colorado's 6th Congressional District, Gov. Bill Ritter is left to decide who will represent Coffman.

In true "Blue Ribbon Bill" fashion, he has decided he will rely on a commission assigned with review potential applicants for the job.

Ken Gordon explains ballot fallout

October 2, 2008

"State Senator Ken Gordon provides important news about this year's ballot. I disagree with some of his analysis, but I'll save those comments for another time.

I got my (now outdated) Blue Book in the mail a day or two ago; it's also online.There are now 14, not 18, ballot measures. Following is Gordon's message."

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Capitol Hill rumor mill

September 18, 2008

As Election Day approaches the Capitol rumor mill is churning at twice its normal rate, and we are working overtime just to keep up.

The biggest topics of speculation: Who will be Colorado’s next Secretary of State? Who will take over for term-limited leadership in the General Assembly? And most exciting, of course, the secret political dealings behind this year’s ballot initiatives.

FTS Humor: Barack, Biden, barbeque, and beauty queens

Face The State Humor

September 5, 2008

By Andrew Ripemoff

With their candidate ascending into the heavens, the DNC concluded religious services last week. The Greek Temple has been dismantled. The temporary holding cells have been moved. Mark Warner’s speech is almost over.

Capitol Rumor Mill: Romanoff as Secretary of State "a done deal"?

A Face the State Staff Report

August 29, 2008

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If Colorado Secretary of State Mike Coffman prevails in his November bid to replace retiring Congressman Tom Tancredo, as he's expected to do, Gov. Bill Ritter will have the opportunity to appoint Coffman's replacement. Speculation has long prevailed that Ritter would pick Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon, but an insider speaking off the record to Face The State now says that Ritter's selection of House Speaker Andrew Romanoff is a "done deal."

Mike Coffman's win makes room for Secretary Gordon?

Secretary of State Mike Coffman's recent win of the Republican Nomination in the 6th Congressional District opens the door for Gov. Bill Ritter to nominate a Democrat to take the state elections post should Coffman win the general election. Some GOP activists aren't happy with that scenario and are pushing for Coffman to resign, forcing an election this November.

Play audio - 9:08 minutes
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Coffman primary victory jump-starts GOP talk of saving SoS seat

A Face the State Staff Report

August 15, 2008

If he resigns his post within the next 12 days, Secretary of State Mike Coffman has a chance to save his statewide office from being taken over by a Democrat appointee. But there is disagreement among Republicans about whether or not he should step down.

The week in Colorado news: Coffman wins and loses at the same time, Broomfield "nuisance" laws

Face The State's Kate Melvin joins FTS managing editor Brad Jones for a look at the week that was in Colorado news, including a recap of winners and losers in this week's party primaries.

Play audio - 12:37 minutes
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