Sex and politics don't mix

Ask former Colorado Rep. Mike Garcia. He’ll tell you what happens when you mix sex and politics. The results can be funny, sad, disgusting, but never happy.

So as Elliott “Mess” Spitzer waits out his final hours as Governor of New York, the Inside Edge offers this retrospective of the best sex scandals in Colorado politics (modern edition):

Roy Romer- For years Governor Romer had been plagued by rumors that he was having an affair, which he vehemently denied. So an undisclosed person or persons decided in 1995 to call his bluff by hiring a private detective to follow Romer around. The result was photographic evidence of an affair between Romer and his long-time aide B.J. Thornberry which remained undisclosed for years. In 1998 after a story about the affair appeared in Insight Magazine, Romer admitted to the affair. His family, including his wife, said at the time it was not big deal and not a secret inside the family. Maybe not, but it killed any chance Romer had to run for US Senate.

Bruce Benson- Benson had an affair which eventually resulted in the breakup of his marriage. Although he married the woman he had and affair with, during his two-year trip to divorce court Benson allegedly physically threatened his then current wife. During his 1994 race for Governor the divorce papers were unsealed, and the messy details were revealed, effectively killing any chance Benson had of wining the gubernatorial contest.

Mike Garcia- As Assistant Majority Leader Mike Garcia had a strong relationship with lobbyists. But it wasn’t strong enough to sustain him when he allegedly tipsily dropped his pants in front of one female lobbyist. Garcia then allegedly asked her something quite rude. She followed up by complaining to party leadership. Garcia’s resignation followed as quickly as you can drop your pants.

Bill Owens- Owens has never admitted to having an affair. But after winning reelection in 2002, Governor Owens and his wife Frances, separated. Thereafter rumors and hard right conservative political activists followed the Governor around like stalkers on a leave of absence. Christian activists were quoted in daily newspapers condemning Owens for lifestyle choices and all but accusing him of being the next Nero. Since then it’s been all downhill for Owens and conservatives. After a brief reconciliation, Owens and his wife filed for divorce in February 2008.

Gary Hart- The Hart affair is interesting because it’s almost quaint besides some of the political sex scandals the country has gone through since. Hart, rumored to engage in monkey business with women not his wife, dared the press corps in May 1987 to find evidence that he was having an affair as he ran for president. On the very same day the Miami Herald published a story on Hart’s supposed infidelity after witnessing a woman, not his wife, leaving his Washington DC residence in the evening. It was later revealed that the woman, Donna Rice, had spent the night on the yacht Monkey Business with Hart. Today, evidence such as this would be shrugged off with little thought. But back then, it torched Hart’s political career.