"DENVER — House Minority Leader Mike May, R-Parker, took a moment in his opening day speech to push for oil shale as he encouraged his peers to not abandon a “stable energy economy” in favor of a “new energy economy.”

“Colorado has real potential to lead in the field of renewable energy,” May said. “However, we are also incredibly well positioned to lead in other energy fields: oil and natural gas, clean coal, hydropower, and even potentially nuclear power and oil shale.”"

"Parker Mayor David Casiano has entered the race to succeed House Minority Leader Mike May (R-Parker) in Colorado House District 44, according to Douglas County GOP Chair Kelsey Alexander.

Casiano is the fourth candidate to seek the seat: former Colorado Mortgage Leaders Association President Chris Holbert, U.S. Rep.-elect Mike Coffman manager Dustin Zvonek, and businesswoman Polly Lawrence are also seeking to be appointed by a vacancy committee.

"House Minority Leader Mike May (R-Parker) released this statement Tuesday afternoon:

“Today I have made the difficult decision to temporarily delay my retirement from the House because of my sense of duty to the members of the Republican caucus. With the possibility that outside influences may have attempted to interfere with the leadership election, and the reality of a delayed election, I do not feel that now would be an appropriate time to leave.

"Three candidates have emerged for the House District 44 seat that Minority Leader Mike May has announced he will vacate in January.

Douglas County GOP operative Chris Holbert said he's won May's endorsement, among other Republican leaders. A consultant for trade organizations, Holbert ran campaigns for state Sen. Ted Harvey and state Senator-elect Mark Scheffel and had planned to run in 2010 when May would have faced term limits.

"Chris Holbert is “the odds-on favorite” to be appointed to succeed House Minority Leader Mike May (R-Parker) in House District 44, according to state Sen. Ted Harvey (R-Highlands Ranch).

Certainly the former president of the Colorado Mortgage Lenders Association has some very prominent backers – the most prominent being May himself.

"Dustin Zvonek, U.S. Rep.-elect Mike Coffman’s (R-Aurora) campaign manager, will seek House Minority Leader Mike May’s House District 44 seat, Zvonek said Sunday.

And Zvonek already has some heavy hitters on his side: Coffman, outgoing U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Littleton), and Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry have already endorsed him, he said. Zvonek is a former Tancredo staffer.

Colorado Mortgage Leaders Association President Chris Holbert is also in the running for the seat, Zvonek said.