Facing a primary challenge for the Republican nomination in the sixth congressional district, CU Regent Paul Schauer surprised party activists Thursday night by announcing he would not seek re-election.
Schauer's decision, announced by e-mail to his fellow Regents, follows a very public week-long exchange in print and radio led by talk-show host Mike Rosen, who has endorsed challenger Jim Geddes, a Sedalia physician.
"This is very welcome news for all of us who want to see Bruce Benson supported by a true Republican majority on the Board of Regents," said John Andrews, a former president of the Colorado Senate who has supported Geddes's campaign. "Schauer's long service to the state somehow went off track in the last couple of years."
Both candidates for the Republican nod have been working to convince delegates of their conservative credentials in the solidly Republican district. An August 30 debate focused primarily on the lack of academic programs promoting core economic and political principles, and the perceived dominance of liberal academics on campus.
Rosen's opening salvo against Schauer, a highly critical column in last Friday's, called into question Schauer's votes on the creation of a department of western civilization and his alignment with Democrat Regents to elect moderate Republican chairwoman Pat Hayes over the more conservative Steve Bosley.
Schauer, a former long-time member of the state House of Representatives, defended himself against those charges in a Wednesday response column in the Rocky, prompting Rosen to dedicate much of his Wednesday and Thursday shows to the race. Schauer was slated to appear on the program this coming Monday.
Geddes's campaign was prepared for a heated fight for delegates at this weekend's 6th CD assembly in Castle Rock. Schauer had indicated early on he may petition on to the August primary ballot, but later opted to participate in the assembly process.
"We're excited to move forward to increase fiscal and academic accountability at the university," said Kelly Maher, Geddes's campaign manager.