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Ritter takes turn on hot seat

Democratic hopeful for governor meets with Dem legislators

Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News

Published May 22, 2006 at midnight

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Rep. Michael Merrifield's nagging concern about Bill Ritter's candidacy for governor was that Ritter's running mate supports school vouchers.

That didn't cut it with Merrifield, a retired music teacher from Manitou Springs.

Rep. Morgan Carroll, of Aurora, wanted to know where Ritter stood on reproductive rights.

"Forget the cliche language. Saying someone's 'pro-life' doesn't mean anything to me," Carroll said. "Everyone's pro-life. I don't know anyone who's pro-death."

The Democratic lawmakers say Ritter quelled their concerns during the Democratic assembly over the weekend in Greeley.

The gubernatorial candidate met with lawmakers Friday afternoon during their workshop on keeping the state House in Democratic hands.

They said he assured them of his support for public schools, and that he wouldn't sign any legislation criminalizing abortion.

"Before Friday, I probably backed him 90 percent," Merrifield said. "Now I'm 100 percent with Ritter. He's a good man, and I think he's a good choice for Colorado."

Carroll was even more effusive.

"I was 95 percent of the way for Ritter, but I've got to tell you, that man got me on board," she said. "Now I'm like gung ho, ready to go."

Democrats on Saturday nominated Ritter as their party's candidate for governor. He and running mate Barbara O'Brien will face Republican Bob Beauprez or Marc Holtzman in November.

Carroll said she asked Ritter point-blank about where he stood on reproductive rights. She was relieved by what she heard.

"If you're not going to cut funding to Planned Parenthood, if you're not going to criminalize abortion, if you support emergency contraception, then the rest is more of a philosophical preference," she said of Ritter's opposition to abortion.

"I needed to hear that. I think a lot of us did," she said.

Rep. Jim Riesberg, D-Greeley, who was at the workshop, said he didn't have any questions for Ritter but he was impressed by how the candidate handled the situation.

"He's going to do well on the campaign trail," Riesberg said.

Pat Waak, chairwoman of the Colorado Democratic Party, said one of Ritter's strengths is that he listens to people and gauges their concerns while holding on to his values.

"Bill Ritter is authentic, which is why he's going to be the next governor of Colorado," she said.

Waak was giddy about the outcome of the assembly and contrasted how it ran compared with the Republican assembly in Colorado Springs.

"We started on time. We ended on time. We had a great assembly," she said.