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Democrat fires back at Suthers' 'potshots'

Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News

Published March 7, 2007 at midnight

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Attorney General John Suthers told a statewide gathering of fellow Republicans that Democratic lawmakers don't care as much about public safety as Republican lawmakers.

To back up his point, Suthers singled out the House Judiciary Committee, which he called "a perfect storm of liberal lawyers from Denver and Boulder."

The committee chairman, Rep. Terrance Carroll, D-Denver, was livid when he learned of Suthers' comments.

"The attorney general said what?" Carroll demanded to know Tuesday.

He called Suthers' comments "unprofessional" and a "cheap political potshot."

Suthers' remarks came during an address to the Republican State Central Committee on Saturday, in which he referred to recent votes by Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee.

"They voted to abolish the death penalty. They voted to let parolees vote, despite my belief it is unconstitutional in the state of Colorado. They have voted to allow people to seal their criminal records after 10 years . . . " Suthers said.

"Folks there are not as interested as Republicans are in your public safety. But let's not worry. The Democrats are going to protect you from unlicensed art therapists."

Suthers got plenty of applause, and laughs with the last line, but Carroll isn't smiling.

"If John Suthers has a problem with the policy decisions we've taken as a committee, he's more than welcome to sit down with me," Carroll said. "His office is just across the street from the Capitol. It's not that far of a walk."

He pointed out, too, that the issue of letting parolees vote wasn't handled by his committee. That action was taken in the Senate.

Asked if he is a liberal Denver lawyer, as Suthers maintained, Carroll said, "I prefer to think of myself as a progressive."

Of the six Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee, four are attorneys. Of the five Republicans, two are attorneys.

Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, sat on the committee for two years, but decided not to this year.

"Too many lawyers," said Gardner, who is an attorney.

Suthers, who said Tuesday he stands by his remarks, is not the only Republican law enforcement officer concerned about the Democratic majority in the legislature.

Last month, Mesa County District Attorney Pete Hautzinger told a meeting of GOP business leaders in Denver that Republicans need to regain control of the legislature because of what he called a "sense of hostility toward law enforcement."

Democrats are puzzled by the criticism.

They note that the new Democratic governor, Bill Ritter, is a former district attorney, and new Sen. John Morse, D-Colorado Springs, is a former Fountain police chief.

"I think what we're talking about is policy differences, not hostilities," Carroll said.

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