Polis vying to be Colorado's first openly gay congressman

He hails primary vote for breaking 'the glass ceiling'

By Todd Hartman, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 15, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Photo by Preston Gannaway © The Rocky

Jared Polis celebrates in Broomfield on Tuesday after winning the Democratic primary in the 2nd Congressional District.

Entrepreneur Jared Polis won what some considered an upset victory over political veteran Joan Fitz-Gerald and conservationist Will Shafroth in the 2nd Congressional District's Democrat primary Tuesday night.

True, he had one huge advantage: money. Polis poured more than $5 million of his personal fortune into a bitter, hard-fought and high-profile campaign that, with more than $9 million raised by the three candidates, marked the costliest primary in state history.

If he wins the general election in November - and the numbers favor him heavily in the center-left district - Polis will be Colorado's first openly gay member of Congress, and one of just a few openly gay members nationally.

He will also be among Congress' wealthiest members thanks to riches generated developing Internet companies. He will also be one of Congress' younger members, at just 33.

Some were surprised to see you take the stage Tuesday night with your partner, Marlon Reis, when your relationship and sexual orientation hadn't been part of the campaign. Why did you pick that time?

I think (the question shows) a little bit of a double standard. Anybody who wins this kind of office would, of course, introduce their partner in that situation. What kind of person would they be if they didn't? . . . Nobody should be surprised. I haven't made a secret of my orientation.

But you waited until after the campaign to introduce him so publicly. Is that any kind of acknowledgement that politically you couldn't have done this earlier in the campaign?

He was on the stage with me at the assemblies and throughout the process . . . He's been very supportive through the process; he attended a number of political events throughout the year. I don't see any change in that.

You made a reference to making history when you clasped his hand on the stage in your opening remarks.

I think it is important, and this election cycle has really (broken) barriers for women, for African Americans . . . Here in our congressional election (in Colorado), we broke the glass ceiling. . . . I think it's fair to give some attention to it.

What, if anything, does your win say about our state and the 2nd District?

The song that I came (on stage) to . . . The Times They Are A-Changin', that's really symbolic of it. Colorado has in the past been denigrated as a hate state and has a mixed track record on these issues. (Polis cited gay rights initiatives that the public has opposed and the presence of Focus on the Family, a conservative Christian organization that has publicly fought gay marriage and other gay rights matters). The fact that voters selected a candidate on the merits says a lot about how far the people of Colorado have come.

Will you take on the constituency in Congress that has traditionally been hostile to gay initiatives, including same-sex marriage?

I certainly oppose the constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. I support anti-discrimination laws. I support ending the don't-ask-don't-tell policy (in the military). As one of only three openly gay elected officials (in Congress) I look forward to being a voice to many gay and lesbians in Colorado and nationally.

You self-funded much of your campaign; your wealth allowed you to spurn money from corporate political action committees. Will this also insulate you from special interests in Congress?

I strongly believe that our campaign finance system is broken. One way to raise money is to have a bunch of rich friends, another way is to rely on special interests and PACs, and a third way is to self-finance, and none of these three options are very good, and that's why I strongly support public financing of campaigns.

Is it fair for somebody like you, of wealthy means, to use your personal money to overwhelm a candidate who came up the traditional way, as some critics would say happened?

This district has benefitted tremendously from having a terrific primary campaign from three great candidates that had different things to offer. Each of them were funded well and got their message out; that's healthy for a democracy. These primaries should never be coronations, and to have this kind of discussion of the issues and see the strength of these candidates has been very healthy for our congressional district.

You have a reputation as an energetic, hands-on CEO in your business career. Are you ready to be just one among 435?

I've served in elected office. I was the first Democratic chairman of the State Board of Education in 30 years. I look forward to working with other members of Congress to build relations. I've already started to bring (members) together around the responsible plan (for ending the war in Iraq). We now have over 50 signed on to that. That's what it really takes to be effective in Congress, forming coalitions and working with other members.

How many years are you committed to serving in Washington, D.C.? Are you committed to the long haul to get the seniority you need to benefit your district?

I plan to serve long enough to be effective, but not so long I become part of the problem rather than the solution. I understand it takes some time to be effective. . . . (Answering) would be presumptuous in any event. It's up to the voters and the district will change in 2012 (with redistricting). . . . I think for people who've been there 30 or 40 years, it's hard to stay in touch with real people's needs.

• August 15, 2008

  12:56 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  nouse4u2 writes:

  gay men need to get behind jared polis

• August 15, 2008

  11:28 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  JohnBisceglia writes:

  How strange it must be in congress, where you have a mix of OPEN gays & lesbians mixed with the closeted, usually "heterosexually-identified" and married politicians such as _______ , ______, and _______. (we know who you are).

  Hopefully the Republican Closet will continue to disintegrate and more will speak out about how it is CRIMMINAL for LGBT families, with and without children, to have to "wait patiently" for the SAME legal protections that are handed out LIKE CANDY to heterosexuals. For many in the LGBT community, we have lost all patience with both voters and politicians when it comes to JUSTICE and COMMON DECENCY concerning our families, so we are doing what we CAN do - withholding tax until we are treated EQUALLY. Those interested in joining this fight can GOOGLE "Gay Tax Protest".

• August 15, 2008

  2:59 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  HopiMedicineMan writes:

  Two things:

  1. Gay, equated with race, is extremely offensive to certain minority males. Their response is considered homophobic. Liberalism is a cult at war with itself.

  2. I have not seen in print the name of any Republican running for CD-2. I guess Polis is the presumptive congress-person.

• August 15, 2008

  11:11 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  jacka writes:

  "Polis vying to be Colorado's first openly gay congressman", so who was Colorado's first gay congressman (I am assuming s/he must have been closetted)?

• August 16, 2008

  12:47 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  nouse4u2 writes:

  tom tancredo is a screamer

• August 20, 2008

  10:33 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Elephant08 writes:

  HopiMedMan: The Republican running in the General Election is Scott Starin. We all need to remember that this was the primary only -- to decide who will go to Washington after the General Election. That's why Polis "hopes to be".....the blah blah blah

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