Democrats Ask CU Regents To Turn Over Info On Benson Selection Process

Senate Majority Leader Alice Madden (D-Boulder), Senate President Peter Groff (D-Denver) and 10 other Democratic legislators sent a letter to the CU Board of Regents today asking them to turn over information regarding "the particular circumstances surrounding" the selection of CU presidential finalist and longtime GOP activist Bruce Benson.

The lawmakers said they "deeply concerned" about Benson's nomination, and added that they are "still making inquiries" into Regent Paul Schauer's allegations that Benson threatened to fund a primary opponent against Schauer if he ran for re-election this year.

The letter requested that the Regents turn over "any information available to the Regents, including tapes and transcripts of meetings, that will help us understand what happened" regarding Schauer's allegations.

The lawmakers also said given Benson's association with the Trailhead Group, "which generated negative, insulting and inaccurate attacks on" many current lawmakers, they "are realistically assessing how his history would affect his relationship with the legislature."

However, the lawmakers quickly added in the letter that "our concern is not about Mr. Benson's party affiliation."

The letter further questioned Benson's ability to run CU given his lack of academic credentials.

"Mr. Benson has never been an educator, has not run any college or university, and does not hold an advanced degree," the letter stated. "This is not a slight against Mr. Benson's education or experience; it is simply a pragmatic recognition that running a major university requires a specialized set of skills."

State Senator and CU Regent Emerita Gail Schwartz (D-Snowmass Village) joined Madden and Groff in signing the letter.

The other signees to the letter were: state Sen. Brandon Shaffer, state Sen. Suzanne Williams, state Sen. Abel Tapia, state Rep. Paul Weissman, state Rep. Rosemary Marshall, state Rep. Morgan Carroll, state Rep. Jack Pommer. state Rep. Judy Solano, state Rep. Claire Levy, state Rep. Andy Kerr, and state Rep. Anne McGihon.