Darryl Glenn plans to run for county commissioner

Less than a month after winning a four-year term on the Colorado Springs City Council, Darryl Glenn filed Monday to run for county commissioner.

Glenn, an attorney and business owner, said he decided to run because he's concerned about the issues affecting all of El Paso County, not just the city.

"We do need to think more regional when it comes to issues of our water supply and public safety. Those are two primary areas," said Glenn, 43.

"I'm taking the challenge to make sure that we come forward with some other directions besides just raising taxes and creating new fees," he said.

Glenn is seeking the Republican nomination for the county's District 1 seat in 2010. The district encompasses the northern part of the county and includes Monument, Palmer Lake, Black Forest and parts of Colorado Springs.

It's no secret that Glenn was eyeing the seat.

Even though he didn't have a challenger in last month's council race, he continued to raise money, which he said he can spend to run for county commissioner.

Glenn said he's not turning his back on his constituents in the city by running for the seat now held by Commissioner Wayne Williams, who can't run again because of term limits. Glenn noted that a large part of his council district is within the county's District 1.

"There's a lot of overlap," he said.

"I‘m in the perfect position to not only work (on regional issues) as a councilman but hopefully see them through," he added.

Williams said he thinks Glenn would "do a good job as a commissioner."

"Would I be comfortable with him succeeding me? Yes," he said. "Have I made a formal endorsement yet? No, I haven't. I think it's a little too early for that."

Williams said Glenn's record of public service and his involvement in the Republican Party give him a "leg up" in the district, which is predominantly Republican, Williams said.

"The Republican nominee is likely to be the next commissioner," he said. "Given Darryl's position as vice chairman of the Republican Party (in the county), I think that indicates that within the party, he has a lot of support."

Glenn also said the $87,000-a-year salary that county commissioners receive didn't factor into his decision to run. Council members earn $6,250 annually.

"You don't get into politics for pay purposes. You get in for public service," he said.

"I've spent since 2003 serving this community, and I think you can ask my wife and law partner, we've been operating at a loss because I'm out of the office," Glenn said. "It's a higher calling. I'm invested in this community. I've grown up here."

Glenn, who graduated from Doherty High School in Colorado Springs in 1984, was appointed to the City Council in 2003.
The father of two has been married for more than 20 years.
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