Coffman could leave early, triggering '08 special election for Secretary of State

Sources close to the campaign of Secretary of State Mike Coffman have confirmed that if Coffman wins that Republican primary in the sixth district congressional race, Coffman intends to immediately resign as Secretary of State in August to facilitate Republican recapture of the office.

Coffman has been under pressure to give up quest for the 6th CD seat, because it would mean losing the Secretary of State’s office to the Dems. And this latest argument softens the blow a bit. GOP Party Boss Dick Wadhams is said to be livid that Coffman is running for the 6th CD because of what the loss could mean to the GOP. Sources have confirmed to us that Wadhams is actively working behind the scenes to prevent Coffman from fundraising effectively here in Colorado and around the country.

Coffman’s resignation would give Governor Bill Ritter the ability to appoint a Secretary of State -- likely a Democrat, perhaps ’06 candidate Ken Gordon.  But according to state  law, it would also trigger a November 2008 special election to fill Coffman’s unexpired term.  So while the incumbent Secretary of State would be a Democrat, he or she would have to run for office next fall.

According to our reading of the specific Colorado statues 1-4-1002 (2.3) each party would convene a special assembly of state delegates to nominate a candidate.

Specifically it states:

“A vacancy in a party nomination, other than a vacancy for a party nomination for

lieutenant governor for a general election occurring after January 1, 2001, that occurs after the day of the primary election and more than eighteen days before the general election may be filled by the respective party assembly vacancy committee of the district, county, or state, as appropriate, depending upon the office for which the vacancy in nomination has occurred…”

A few days ago, The Inside Edge mentioned that Jared Polis had a shot at the job. From a practical standpoint, however, it would be hard for him to lose the 2nd CD election and turn around and ask the Party to support him for SoS in a general election under these circumstances. The delegates assembled would be the same ones that supported Gordon the first time around. And Gordon ran an OK, but low key campaign.

However all of this just may give Ritter more leverage to get Polis to play nice with the other kids.

On the Reps side the tea leaves are a little harder to read as usual.

GOP House Minority Leader Mike May has been said to be interested in running for the job  -- he’s interested in every job -- along with Republican Clerk and Recorder from Arapahoe County, Nancy Doty. More of a long shot for the job would be Douglas County Commissioner Melanie Worley, who has been casting around for something to do after failing to secure the position as state transportation Executive Director under Ritter. Also mentioned is JeffCo state senator Mike Kopp.