Lambert declares for Schultheis's seat
State Rep. Kent Lambert, a protege and former aide to state Sen. Dave Schultheis, said Thursday that he would seek to replace his old boss.
Schultheis announced Tuesday that he would not seek a second term in Senate District 9, which includes northern Colorado Springs and Black Forest.
Standing next to Lambert Thursday at El Paso County GOP headquarters, Schultheis praised Lambert’s “strong belief in core conservative values.”
“He’s a man of deep faith in God, of strong, traditional moral values,” Schultheis said.
Lambert, a 57-year-old Air Force Academy graduate and retired colonel, also worked for Sen. Keith King.
“I think the elections of this week have renewed the optimism for conservative, core Republican values across not only the state of Colorado but the nation,” King said at the announcement. “And Kent will bring those core values to his service in the Legislature in the Senate.”
King, who was majority leader in the 65-member House before switching to the 35-member Senate, said the smaller body provides “an opportunity to serve on more committees and have more influence on particular legislation.”
Lambert said that as a senator “I will be better positioned to fight against the rampant growth and waste of government that is shrinking both our economy and our individual freedoms.”
Lambert was appointed this year to the legislative Joint Budget Committee, which manages how the state spends its money. He said his job there was to honor “a renewed commitment from our party to fight for lower state spending and limited government.”
Named to the six-member JBC as the representative of House Republicans, Lambert would have to resign his committee seat if he switches chambers.
Lambert has been closely associated with Schultheis throughout his political career. After retiring from the Air Force and losing a challenge to state Rep. Michael Merrifield, D-Colorado Springs, in 2004, Lambert went to work for Schultheis, who was then in the House, as a legislative aide.
The pair were cofounders of the Republican Study Committee of Colorado, a caucus of conservative true believers.
Lambert moved to Schultheis’s more conservative House District 14 and won that seat in 2006, when Schultheis moved on to the Senate.
Now he is poised to repeat that sequence in Senate District 9.
Lambert faces a primary challenge from Tom McDowell, who was running on the grounds that Schultheis seeks a “small tent” Republican Party that is sacrificing a legislative majority by shunning candidates perceived as soft on social “wedge” issues like abortion and gay marriage.
McDowell, who attended Lambert’s announcement, said the same criticism applied to Lambert.
“I didn’t hear the word ‘majority,’” said McDowell. “When I walk precincts, people want a majority.”
“I actually think Lambert will be easier to beat than Schultheis,” McDowell said.
“I’ve had a primary before,” Lambert said, adding that McDowell “just seems to be in it to attack Republicans.”
“Despite the rumors, we don’t all walk in lockstep,” Lambert said.
—
Contact the writer at 476-1654
