Not a good weekend for Ritter

Gov. Bill Ritter gave the keynote speech at Mesa State College's commencement ceremony Saturday. But as a local TV news station reported: “Not everyone in Grand Junction gave [him] a warm welcome.”

Ritter, in centerFTS File Photo

Protestors gathered across the street and blamed Ritter for raising taxes and job losses in Grand Junction. This session, Ritter signed into law controversial drilling regulations energy industry officials say will discourage future investment in the state. Ritter has also seen his popularity in western Colorado plummet in the wake of his mill levy tax increase.

Should Ritter decide to run for re-election in 2010, he will undoubtedly have to answer to Western Slope voters on both issues.

The Mesa State protest also came on the heels of Ritter’s veto of a bill that would have allowed owners of concealed carry permits, who have already cleared extensive background checks, to purchase firearms without being subject to further government scrutiny. He received heavy criticism from conservative circles, the most pointed of which came from Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry, R-Grand Junction. The Associated Press reported Penry promising this veto would also become an issue for Ritter in 2010. Penry has been widely mentioned as a possible Republican gubernatorial challenger.