State ed board member Polis announces he's gay

Sara Burnett, Rocky Mountain News

Published July 6, 2006 at midnight

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Jared Polis, the state board of education member whose wealth helped Democrats take control of both houses of the state legislature for the first time in decades, told the Daily Camera this weekend that he is gay.

The 31-year-old Boulder entrepreneur said he has been in a relationship with another man for 2 1/2 years, that the news won't come as a shock to his family and friends and that it won't affect his future plans.

"I've always felt my personal life is personal," he said in a story published Saturday.

"I think sexual orientation, like religion or race, has nothing to do with one's values, and to most people it's not important one way or the other."

Polis was elected to the at-large seat on the state board of education in 2000 after putting $1.2 million into his own campaign.

His term ends this year. Because of redistricting, his seat cannot be refilled.

That's fueled speculation about whether Polis will seek a higher office and, if so, which one. Polis has floated the idea of running for the Congress seat held by Democrat Mark Udall.

Katy Atkinson, a veteran Republican campaign consultant, said Polis is established enough that coming out likely won't hurt his chances politically, particularly in Udall's district, most of which is in Boulder County.

"In this day and age, it's getting to be less and less of an issue," Atkinson said. "It depends on how he handles it. I don't think it will be that big of a deal. It will be a factor, but as long as he's honest and doesn't try to hide I think he can ride it out."

Polis, who could not be reached for comment Wednesday, told the Camera he will support this fall's ballot initiative to allow domestic partnerships in Colorado.

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