jimpeel
September 7, 2003, 11:18 PM
This from Rocky Mountain Gun Owners http://www.rmgo.org
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) - U.S. Rep. Scott McInnis will not seek a seventh term, The Daily Sentinel of Grand Junction reported Sunday.
The newspaper said McInnis sent an e-mail to friends and family the day before telling them he would not seek re-election. McInnis, who has represented the 3rd District for 11 years, said he made his decision freely and simply wants to move on to new things.
State Sen. Jack Taylor said the congressman's decision would really shake politics up.
''That's really going to stir some stuff up,'' Taylor said. ''I figured the logical dominoes would have been for (U.S. Sen. Ben Campbell) to run for governor and for McInnis to run for Senate. But it doesn't sound like that's going to happen,'' Taylor said.
''I have no political threat, no ethics problem, hopefully no health problem and a wonderful marriage,'' McInnis wrote. ''I have now been serving in elected office for 21 years, have been away from home for over 3,600 nights, traveled about 3 million miles in airplanes, drive 50,000 miles every year in the district and you know what, I have loved it.
A telephone call to McInnis' spokesman was not immediately returned.
McInnis declined comment to the Sentinel but said he planned to hold a press conference this week to discuss his political plans.
McInnis' district includes most of the Western Slope as well as the city of Pueblo, the San Luis Valley and much of the Lower Arkansas Valley.
If McInnis does not run for the highly desired seat, some of the Republicans who could try to replace him include Taylor, state Rep. Gayle Berry of Grand Junction, Rep. Matt Smith of Grand Junction, Sen. Ron Teck of Grand Junction and Colorado Department of Natural Resources Director Greg Walcher of Palisade.
It would also provide Democrats a chance to take control of the district for the first time since Ben Nighthorse Campbell won the seat in 1987. It was held for decades by Democrat Wayne Aspinall. Campbell represented the district until 1992 before being elected to the Senate and switching parties.
District Democrats have already been trying to find a strong candidate to challenge McInnis. Some of the potential hopefuls include Bernie Buescher of Grand Junction and Christine Pacheco-Koveleski of Pueblo.
Candidates are still awaiting a decision from the Colorado Supreme Court on whether the new boundaries for congressional districts will be allowed to stand.
McInnis worked as a police officer and family attorney in his native Glenwood Springs before entering politics. He served as majority leader in the state House of Representatives before being elected to Congress in 1992. Since 1998, he has served on the powerful Ways and Means Committee, which oversees tax, trade, Social Security and Medicare issues.
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) - U.S. Rep. Scott McInnis will not seek a seventh term, The Daily Sentinel of Grand Junction reported Sunday.
The newspaper said McInnis sent an e-mail to friends and family the day before telling them he would not seek re-election. McInnis, who has represented the 3rd District for 11 years, said he made his decision freely and simply wants to move on to new things.
State Sen. Jack Taylor said the congressman's decision would really shake politics up.
''That's really going to stir some stuff up,'' Taylor said. ''I figured the logical dominoes would have been for (U.S. Sen. Ben Campbell) to run for governor and for McInnis to run for Senate. But it doesn't sound like that's going to happen,'' Taylor said.
''I have no political threat, no ethics problem, hopefully no health problem and a wonderful marriage,'' McInnis wrote. ''I have now been serving in elected office for 21 years, have been away from home for over 3,600 nights, traveled about 3 million miles in airplanes, drive 50,000 miles every year in the district and you know what, I have loved it.
A telephone call to McInnis' spokesman was not immediately returned.
McInnis declined comment to the Sentinel but said he planned to hold a press conference this week to discuss his political plans.
McInnis' district includes most of the Western Slope as well as the city of Pueblo, the San Luis Valley and much of the Lower Arkansas Valley.
If McInnis does not run for the highly desired seat, some of the Republicans who could try to replace him include Taylor, state Rep. Gayle Berry of Grand Junction, Rep. Matt Smith of Grand Junction, Sen. Ron Teck of Grand Junction and Colorado Department of Natural Resources Director Greg Walcher of Palisade.
It would also provide Democrats a chance to take control of the district for the first time since Ben Nighthorse Campbell won the seat in 1987. It was held for decades by Democrat Wayne Aspinall. Campbell represented the district until 1992 before being elected to the Senate and switching parties.
District Democrats have already been trying to find a strong candidate to challenge McInnis. Some of the potential hopefuls include Bernie Buescher of Grand Junction and Christine Pacheco-Koveleski of Pueblo.
Candidates are still awaiting a decision from the Colorado Supreme Court on whether the new boundaries for congressional districts will be allowed to stand.
McInnis worked as a police officer and family attorney in his native Glenwood Springs before entering politics. He served as majority leader in the state House of Representatives before being elected to Congress in 1992. Since 1998, he has served on the powerful Ways and Means Committee, which oversees tax, trade, Social Security and Medicare issues.