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Ritter aide backed Beauprez in 2004

Stuart Steers, Rocky Mountain News

Published June 29, 2006 at midnight

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If politics makes for strange bedfellows, it makes for even odder divorces.

Consider the Colorado governor's race, which will pit Republican Congressman Bob Beauprez against Democrat Bill Ritter.

Ritter's campaign manager is Greg Kolomitz, a veteran Colorado political operative who has long been active in Democratic politics.

But two years ago Kolomitz left party loyalty behind to endorse a Republican for the U.S. Congress, and his name was Bob Beauprez.

Kolomitz and his wife, Carla Lucero, both joined a group named Democrats for Beauprez. The congressman was facing Democrat Dave Thomas as Beauprez sought a second term in Congress.

"He's a good guy and so we decided to support him," said Kolomitz.

At the time, Kolomitz was president of CRL Associates, a Denver lobbying firm known for its clout at city hall.

He says Maria Garcia Berry, the CEO of the firm and a prominent Republican, asked him to join the group supporting Beauprez.

"Politics is all about relationships and Maria was a big Beauprez supporter," said Kolomitz. "She asked me if I would support him and I said yes."

Kolomitz said he made a contribution to Beauprez's campaign and made a few phone calls on his behalf, but that was the extent of his involvement.

John Marshall, Beauprez's campaign manager, was thrilled to hear that his counterpart has a history with Beauprez.

"I'm glad he could find it in himself to hold his nose and get through a Bill Ritter campaign despite his true convictions," said Marshall. "Hopefully after November he can go back to being a Bob Beauprez supporter."

Beauprez's record in Congress is likely to be an issue in the campaign, with Democrats already combing over his votes on everything from illegal immigration to the environment. Kolomitz says he didn't realize how conservative Beauprez's record was when he endorsed him.

"If I had known what his record was then, I probably wouldn't have done it," he said.

As for Marshall, he says he has no secret history with Ritter.

"I can say with a great deal of certainty I do not, have not and will not support Bill Ritter," said Marshall.