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GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — State Rep. Kathleen Curry's recent decision to switch her political affiliation from Democratic to independent was well received, for the most part, at a town hall meeting hosted by Curry in Glenwood Tuesday night.
“I'd like to congratulate you on becoming an independent, I think it's a wonderful thing,” said Michael Gibson of No Name. He even suggested she run as an independent for president of the United States in the future.
“I think the first woman president should be an independent,” he said.
Gibson also said he would support Curry's planned re-election bid in November as an independent for the District 61 seat, a task she knows will be an uphill battle.
“There are a lot of people here that support you, and people who would volunteer to help,” Gibson said, prompting a round of applause for the third-term legislator from Gunnison from the roughly 25 people attending the town hall meeting at the Glenwood Community Center.
Curry, who announced her decision Dec. 28, is eligible to run for a final two-year term under the state's term limits rules.
However, because she missed the deadline last summer to change her political affiliation in time to be on the November 2010 ballot as an independent, she will have to stage a write-in campaign.
Curry is sponsoring a bill in the upcoming legislative session to make it easier for unaffiliated candidates to get on the ballot in Colorado.
“I know it's going to be viewed as a self-serving bill, but I also know there is some support for it,” Curry said. “But there shouldn't be that high a bar for unaffiliated candidates.”
In any case, there's a good chance she'll have both Democrat and Republican opponents.
Curry admitted she has ruffled some feathers among Democratic Party leaders around the state.
On Tuesday, House Speaker Terrance Carroll, D-Denver, announced that Curry will keep her seat on the Agriculture and Appropriations committees, although she will give up her chairmanship of the Ag Committee and be replaced as speaker pro-tem by Rep. Buffie McFadyen, a Democrat from Pueblo West.
Curry defended her decision, saying she doesn't fit into either party and would rather focus on her constituents than partisan politics.
“It was a tough decision, and there was no partisan event or issue that prompted it,” she said. “I just felt like a square peg in a round hole.
“The whole two-party system and the partisan politics is a huge distraction for me in serving this diverse district,” she added. “I feel I have the ability to be effective in the legislature without a party affiliation.”
Besides, she said, “The hours spent on partisan issues should be time spent reading the bills and making the right decisions. The problems we face are more involved and more severe, and I need to be on my game.”
One meeting attendee said she was sorry to hear of Curry's decision.
“It's difficult to be a Democrat in Garfield County, and we finally felt like we were making some headway with your election,” said Margi Hilleary of Glenwood Springs. “We need torch bearers, but there are not enough of them.”
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
jstroud@postindependent.com
“I'd like to congratulate you on becoming an independent, I think it's a wonderful thing,” said Michael Gibson of No Name. He even suggested she run as an independent for president of the United States in the future.
“I think the first woman president should be an independent,” he said.
Gibson also said he would support Curry's planned re-election bid in November as an independent for the District 61 seat, a task she knows will be an uphill battle.
“There are a lot of people here that support you, and people who would volunteer to help,” Gibson said, prompting a round of applause for the third-term legislator from Gunnison from the roughly 25 people attending the town hall meeting at the Glenwood Community Center.
Curry, who announced her decision Dec. 28, is eligible to run for a final two-year term under the state's term limits rules.
However, because she missed the deadline last summer to change her political affiliation in time to be on the November 2010 ballot as an independent, she will have to stage a write-in campaign.
Curry is sponsoring a bill in the upcoming legislative session to make it easier for unaffiliated candidates to get on the ballot in Colorado.
“I know it's going to be viewed as a self-serving bill, but I also know there is some support for it,” Curry said. “But there shouldn't be that high a bar for unaffiliated candidates.”
In any case, there's a good chance she'll have both Democrat and Republican opponents.
Curry admitted she has ruffled some feathers among Democratic Party leaders around the state.
On Tuesday, House Speaker Terrance Carroll, D-Denver, announced that Curry will keep her seat on the Agriculture and Appropriations committees, although she will give up her chairmanship of the Ag Committee and be replaced as speaker pro-tem by Rep. Buffie McFadyen, a Democrat from Pueblo West.
Curry defended her decision, saying she doesn't fit into either party and would rather focus on her constituents than partisan politics.
“It was a tough decision, and there was no partisan event or issue that prompted it,” she said. “I just felt like a square peg in a round hole.
“The whole two-party system and the partisan politics is a huge distraction for me in serving this diverse district,” she added. “I feel I have the ability to be effective in the legislature without a party affiliation.”
Besides, she said, “The hours spent on partisan issues should be time spent reading the bills and making the right decisions. The problems we face are more involved and more severe, and I need to be on my game.”
One meeting attendee said she was sorry to hear of Curry's decision.
“It's difficult to be a Democrat in Garfield County, and we finally felt like we were making some headway with your election,” said Margi Hilleary of Glenwood Springs. “We need torch bearers, but there are not enough of them.”
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
jstroud@postindependent.com
