With Benson Confirmed, Statehouse Democrats Call Cease Fire

Legislative Democratic leaders extended an olive branch Thursday to Bruce Benson on Thursday, 10 days after they wrote the CU Board of Regents criticizing him, the Denver Post reported.

State Senate President Peter Groff (D-Denver) and state House Majority Leader Alice Madden (D-Boulder), along with 10 other Democratic legislators, told the regents in a Feb. 11 letter that they were "deeply concerned" about Benson's candidacy.

But after Benson's confirmation on Wednesday, Groff and Madden had kind words for Benson, the Post reported.

"I look forward to working with him, and I wish him all the best," Madden told the Post. "The institution has been around long before all of us were here and will continue long after we're gone."

Groff said Thursday that the letter contained "legitimate questions." But he added, "We're looking forward to working with him to move the university forward."

In a statement released late Wednesday night, Gov. Bill Ritter said he "looked forward to working with Bruce in his new role."

"We must all now focus on uniting around this appointment so we can move forward together in the best interests of the University and its students, faculty and alumni," Ritter said in the statement. "There is much work ahead on the important issues of improving educational quality and keeping higher education accessible and affordable.”