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Carroll, Groff to head Colorado legislature

For the first time, 2 black men hold leadership posts

By Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News (Contact), Ed Sealover, Rocky Mountain News

Published November 7, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Rep. Terrance Carroll, center, is congratulated by Rep. Joe Rice, left, and Rep.-elect Joe Miklosi, after Carroll was elected speaker of the House on Thursday.

Photo by Ken Papaleo / The Rocky

Rep. Terrance Carroll, center, is congratulated by Rep. Joe Rice, left, and Rep.-elect Joe Miklosi, after Carroll was elected speaker of the House on Thursday.

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The Colorado legislature has only two black members. But now they are the two most powerful members of the 100-person body.

In a historic vote Thursday, House Democrats chose Rep. Terrance Carroll, of Denver, to serve as speaker of the House of Representatives. Senate Democrats also re-elected Peter Groff, of Denver, as Senate president.

For the first time, two black men hold the leadership in the General Assembly of Colorado, a state where the Ku Klux Klan controlled the House, Senate and governor's seat in the 1920s.

"This is unprecedented," said former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb, the city's first black mayor. "We have two African-Americans leading the legislature in a state with such a small black population.

"Dr. (Martin Luther) King (Jr.) would be proud because people are voting for the individual and his color has nothing to do with it."

Democratic and Republican lawmakers and lawmakers-elect gathered at the Capitol to pick new leaders after Tuesday's election.

Although House Democrats retained their majority in the legislature, they were heartbroken over the defeat of Rep. Bernie Buescher, of Grand Junction, who was expected to take over for term-limited Andrew Romanoff as speaker.

Buescher's loss paved the way for a three-way race for speaker, with Carroll defeating Reps. Anne McGihon, of Denver, and Kathleen Curry, of Gunnison.

Known as one of the most outgoing members of the House, Carroll ran on the promise he would take the Democrats' message beyond the walls of the Capitol and into communities where he would hold meetings with voters. McGihon cited her 18 years of working to get Democrats elected and Curry pitched herself as a more conservative alternative who could help Democrats recover from their loss of seats in rural areas.

Carroll told the 38 Democratic caucus members his first priority will be balancing the budget in a time of economic downturn. Critical transportation needs must be addressed, possibly by reviving a failed 2008 measure that would have raised vehicle-registration fees, and health-care access must be improved, he said.

"I've never shied away from making tough decisions. I've never shied away from doing what's right," Carroll said. "The role of the speaker of the House of the state of Colorado is to be a beacon, is to be a shining light to the state."

The speaker chooses committee chairs, moderates floor debate and assigns bills to committees - a decision that can determine whether legislation dies before reaching the floor. Several legislative watchers said they don't expect a Carroll speakership will be very different from the four years that Romanoff ran the chamber.

Rocky Mountain Gun Owners operations director Luke O'Dell decried Carroll's record of opposing firearms rights, for example, but said he didn't believe the more moderate Buescher would have been much better.

One group that was excited at the election was the Colorado League of Charter Schools. Carroll has broken from his party to sponsor and support pro-charter bills, and league president Jim Griffin said he feels such schools will be safe from attack with Carroll and Groff in charge.

The one major difference between Carroll and Buescher is that Buescher would have been a stronger voice for Western Slope interests, Colorado State University political science professor John Straayer said.

Outgoing Rep. Rob Witwer, R-Genesee, said Carroll earned a reputation for listening to all sides, if not necessarily supporting GOP bills, while he chaired the House Judiciary Committee.

Carroll said that he will continue Romanoff's efforts to reach across the aisle to Republicans. He and other legislative leaders worked with both business and labor groups this summer to find common ground on issues, Carroll noted.

2009-2010 legislative leadership

Senate Democrats

* President: Peter Groff, Denver

* President pro tem: Betty Boyd, Lakewood

* Majority leader: Brandon Shaffer, Longmont

* Assistant majority leader: Lois Tochtrop, Thornton

* Caucus chair: Suzanne Williams, Aurora

Senate Republicans

* Minority leader: Josh Penry, Grand Junction

* Assistant minority leader: Greg Brophy, Wray

* Caucus chair: Mike Kopp, Littleton

* Whip: Nancy Spence, Centennial

House Democrats

* Speaker: Terrance Carroll, Denver

* Majority leader: Paul Weissmann, Louisville

* Assistant majority leader: Andy Kerr, Lakewood

* Caucus chair: Karen Middleton, Littleton

* Whip: Claire Levy, Boulder

House Republicans

* Minority leader: Mike May, Parker

* Assistant leader: David Balmer, Centennial

* Caucus chair: Amy Stephens, Monument

* Whip: Cory Gardner, Yuma

What they do

* Speaker, president - run their respective chambers

* Majority leaders - set policy, determines when bills will be heard, focuses on getting party members elected

* Minority leaders - do the same for their party

* Caucus chairs - organize meetings among party members

* Whips - round up votes on critical bills