Face the State

Face The State Staff Report

GREENWOOD VILLAGE - For Republicans in the sixth congressional district, this August's party primary is seen as a battle over the ideological soul of this solidly conservative region.

Geddes (top) and SchauerFTS Staff Photo

Just as candidates seek to differentiate themselves in the race to replace retiring U.S. Rep Tom Tancredo, University of Colorado Regent Paul Schauer spent the morning defending his record in a debate before the Arapahoe County Republican Men's Club. Challenger Jim Geddes, a Sedalia physician, is seeking to unseat the former state representative from Centennial, advocating a more "hands-on" approach to the management of the state's flagship university system. Schauer has represented the 6th CD on the Board of Regents since 2002.

Both candidates for the Republican nomination say they are equipped to combat a perceived imbalance of ideological viewpoints on the faculties of CU's three campuses. But as the candidates responded to questions during the unmoderated debate, the focus shifted to the university's priorities in reaching that goal.

"We need to improve the ethical and moral integrity of the university," said Schauer, referring to an effort to expand CU's fledging Center For Western Civilization into its own academic department, a possible move being heavily promoted by fellow Regent Tom Lucero, R-Johnstown. "But where are you going to get the funding for it?"

Schauer points to the Center of the American West as an example of on-campus venues already providing a historical context for the American political tradition. He says the university lacks funding to adequately move Lucero's effort forward.

Geddes recommends diverting funds from CU's $22 million diversity administration to fund academics. "We could just peel off $1 million of that 22 to pay for western civilization," he said.

"Do we need Diane Carman there pulling down a six-figure salary?" asked Geddes, referring to the former liberal Denver Post columnist now employed as public affairs director at CU-Denver.

Schauer declined to take a position on the Colorado Civil Rights Initiative, a citizen-led initiative campaign that will ask voters this fall to prohibit the use of race or gender in college admissions, public hiring, and government contracting. In addition, he declined to comment on Gov. Bill Ritter's proposed initiative to raise the state's severance tax to pay for student scholarships, saying he needed more time to study the ballot language of both before making a decision.

Geddes, conversely, volunteered his support for the COCRI while also coming out against Ritter's proposal.

Nicholas Hein, a graduate of CU-Boulder and the university's dental school, said after the debate he is still undecided as to which candidate to support. He would like to see a candidate in the mold of At-Large Regent Steve Bosley, R-Boulder, who he says is "articulate and unapologetic" in expressing conservative ideals. "The Board is a great place to be a liberal Republican right now," Hein said.

Republicans hold a 6-3 majority on the Board of Regents, with Schauer and chairwoman Pat Hayes, R-Aurora, seen as swing votes on issues of academic oversight. Geddes plans to access the Republican primary ballot through the party assembly, while Schauer this morning said he is still undecided about whether he will do the same. He also has the option of circumventing the assembly process in favor of petitioning onto the ballot.