State senator says he won’t try to win Tancredo’s seat

DENVER - State Sen. Tom Wiens announced Wednesday he will run for re-election rather than enter next year’s race for the open 6th Congressional District seat, but he hinted he may have designs on higher office in the near future.

The Castle Rock Republican, whose district includes Teller County and northwestern El Paso County, had been expected to join a scramble for the GOP nomination to succeed retiring Congressman Tom Tancredo. But Wiens, a rancher and financier, said he felt he could do more good for Colorado by staying in the state Senate.

The 55-year-old said he has been distressed by recent actions by Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter, such as his signing a property tax rate freeze that will cost Coloradans $114 million in 2008, and his executive order last week to create partnerships between employee unions and the state. Wiens said he felt his pro-business voice is needed in the state Legislature, where he is up for re-election next year.

Wiens, who was mentioned as a potential gubernatorial candidate in 2006 but did not make the run, said he might be interested in running against Ritter in 2010. He cautioned, however, that a lot can change in the coming years and that he is focused now on keeping his seat, which also represents Park and Lake counties and portions of Douglas County.

“I think he’s going to be very vulnerable in 2010, and I think I would be in as good a position as any Republican to run against him,” Wiens said of Ritter in a telephone interview.

The five-county Senate District 4 is overwhelmingly Republican, and as yet no one has announced plans to challenge Wiens. He is ending his first term in the Senate after serving two years in the House. His goals, if re-elected, include improving school safety, creating more accountability in the budget process, pushing for underground water storage and improving the climate for economic development, he said.

Wiens’ announcement came in a news release issued five minutes before Sen. Ted Harvey, a fellow Douglas County Republican, officially kicked off his congressional campaign. Harvey said he hopes Wiens’ decision will unite Douglas County behind his candidacy for Congress.

Secretary of State Mike Coffman has also registered to run for the open seat, and businessman Wil Armstrong, son of former U.S. Sen. Bill Armstrong, has indicated that he is interested in competing for the Republican nomination.