The New Look of the Legislature

• Publication year: 1998
• Pages: 31

27 Colo.Law. 31 Colorado Lawyer 1998.

1998, December, Pg. 31. The New Look of the Legislature

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31

Vol. 27, No. 12, Pg. 31

The Colorado Lawyer
December 1998
Vol. 27, No. 12 [Page 31]

Departments
Report from the Department of Legislative Relations
The "New Look" of the Legislature
by Michael Valdez

The results of the November 3 election are in and the political complexion in Colorado will undergo a makeover for 1999

In the race for Governor, Bill Owens edged out Gail Schoettler in a race that was not decided until the recount was completed. Owens will become the first Republican to occupy the Governor's office in twenty-eight years. For the upcoming 62nd session of the General Assembly Republicans will maintain their majority in both the Senate and House of Representatives. Republicans will continue their control in the Senate with the exact margin they had for the 1998 session&20 to 15; while in the House, the Democracts picked up a seat and reduced the narrow Republican majority to 40 to 25

In other statewide races, voters not only fooled the experts by going to the voting booth in large numbers, they also made several local and statewide candidates and their supporters wait until late into the night for clear results. In a Democratic breakthrough, Ken Salazar edged out Republican John Suthers for Attorney General to become the only newly elected Democrat to nail down a statewide office. In the race for Secretary of State, Victoria "Vikki" Buckley beat Ric Bainter to begin her second term in that position; she will be term-limited following this term. Finally, Senator Mike Coffman held off challenger Jim Polsfut for state treasurer in another photo finish race.

The Legislative Relations Department article in the January issue of The Colorado Lawyer will feature lawyers in the legislature. It also will list the Senate and House leadership positions as well as committee assignments and important telephone numbers for the Governor's office, the General Assembly, Secretary of State, and Attorney General.

What follows is a list of the newly elected members of the General Assembly that will convene on January 6, 1999.

Sixty-Second General Assembly

Senate

District 1 & (Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington, Weld, Yuma)
Marilyn Musgrave (R)

District 2 & (Baca, Bent, Cheyenne, Crowley, El Paso Kiowa, Kit Carson, Lincoln,...