Fitz-Gerald Opposition To Benson As CU President Stems From '03 Redistricting Fight

CD-2 Democratic candidate Joan Fitz-Gerald opposes Bruce Benson becoming the next president of the University of Colorado because of his "involvement in questionable political activities," her campaign manager said Wednesday.

"Joan Fitz-Gerald does not support Bruce Benson for CU president because of his role in the Trailhead Group and because of his involvement in questionable political activities," said manager Matt Moseley, referring to the conservative 527 committee Benson helped to found.

Fitz-Gerald especially disapproved of Benson's role in the 2003 legislative redistricting battle, Moseley said.

During that fight, Fitz-Gerald, as Senate Minority Leader, made a protracted but futile effort to block Senate passage of the GOP redistricting plan. The plan passed the Senate by one vote along strict party lines, though it was later thrown out by the courts.

 "If (Joan) has some lingering feelings about Bruce Benson because of that (redistricting fight), that's perfectly understandable," said former Senate Minority Leader Mike Feeley, a Democrat who now practices law in Denver.

As Senate Republicans were running the bill, Feeley said, "Benson was standing between the Senate floor and the Senate President's office with a group of two to three people calling the shots."

Joan, as floor leader, "put up a very valiant fight," Feeley said. "She pulled every legal parliamentary move she could come up with."

Colorado GOP Chair Dick Wadhams said he "was surprised (Fitz-Gerald) didn't call for a public execution" of Benson, given that CD-2 candidates "have to suck up to the most liberal voters in the country,"

As for the complaints about the redistricting fight, Wadhams said, "What is so amusing when you hear this from the Democrats, what they're really saying is, "We wanted our way and damn it, nobody should oppose us.'"

Fitz-Gerald's CD-2 opponents, Democrats Jared Polis and Will Shafroth, took no position on Benson's nomination and said they would work with Benson if he becomes CU president.

Polis spokesperson Dayna Hanson said the debate over Benson's nomination is "not something he's going to get involved with."

Pressed about Polis' personal feelings towards Benson, Hanson replied, "He has an opinion about Bruce Benson personally, but It's not something he's going to make public."

Shafroth, in a statement, said, "Whether to hire Bruce Benson or not is a decision to be made by the Regents after they have listened to all of the input the community has to offer; that is what they are elected to do.

"Regardless of who the Regents elect to hire as the next President of the University of Colorado, I look forward to working with that person once I am elected to Congress," Shafroth said.