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Anti-tax crusader Capitol-bound?

April M. Washington, Rocky Mountain News

Published October 23, 2007 at midnight

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State lawmakers are bracing for a tidal wave named Douglas Bruce.

The anti-tax crusader and author of the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights may end up in the legislature. Bruce made it official Monday when he announced he would seek state Rep. Bill Cadman's soon-to-be vacant seat, ending weeks of speculation.

Bruce said he wants to stand against the "Democrats' socialist agenda" and attempts to raise taxes. "I want to be in state government, but not a part of it," he said. "If your goal is to drain the swamp, you have to wrestle with the alligators."

Cadman is the favorite to replace Sen. Ron May, R-Colorado Springs, who announced last week he is resigning a year early.

Bruce filed paperwork with the secretary of state late Monday to run for Cadman's District 15 House seat in 2008.

Former Colorado Springs School District 11 board candidate Reggie Perry and small businessman Steve Hasbrouck also have expressed interest in Cadman's seat.

A vacancy committee has been formed to appoint someone to Cadman's and May's seats as soon as Nov. 3.

Bruce, widely known as the chief proponent of TABOR, plans to resign his seat as an El Paso County commissioner.

At the Capitol on Monday, Democrats and moderate Republicans expressed concerns that Bruce would bring his confrontational style to the legislature.

"He's not user-friendly," said Rep. Jim Kerr, R-Littleton. "He just wants a forum. And what better forum than the House floor, where he can go on his rants?"

Sen. John Morse, D-Colorado Springs, said he believes Bruce's "extremist" views would help Democrats win swing voters in future elections.

"The partisan in me wants to quote George Bush and say 'Bring it on,' " Morse said. "But the statesman in me feels for the everyday, hardworking Republican who wants to move their party forward. Their good intentions will be undermined by the extremist wing of their party, which is lead by Bruce."