Tom Lucero
Age: 40
Hometown: Berthoud, Colorado
Party Affliation: Republican
University of Colorado Regent Tom Lucero is so cool, he's hot. And his good looks and genuine nature have served the Johnstown Republican well on the campaign trail. Fresh from his victory as campaign manager of November's successful Amendment 54, Lucero is setting his sights on Washington D.C., having already declared his candidacy for 2010's 4th Congressional District race against newcomer Betsy Markey, who is considered one of the nation's most vulnerable Democrats. First, he'll have to win the tough GOP primary. But Lucero's political appeal is accentuated by his most fervent supporters, including his teenage daughter, who took to the stump to give pro-54 speeches last year, and his two young sons, frequent distributors of campaign balloons and candy.
What's hot?
Transparency in government and savings.
What's not?
Blue Ribbon commissions and corporate bailouts.
Describe your personal style.
Deliberative, casual, laid back, introspective and outgoing.
Where do you shop?
I don’t. The women in my life are very helpful in this department.
What are the top 3 artists/songs on your iPod?
1. Led Zeppelin 2. Soundtrack to Walk The Line 3. Soundtrack to Into The Wild.
What are you up to?
Coming out of the Amendment 54 campaign, I believe we have developed a winning formula to compete against the infrastructure developed by the left. We put together the only statewide winning campaign, as far as conservatives go, against an opposition that spent $30 million to defeat Amendments 47, 49 and 54. The reality is, we had no business winning, but we were able to take advantage of the Internet, blogging technology and grassroots organizations that we put in place. Bringing it all together was the difference. Now, I’m meeting with people in the Republican party, and showing them what we’ve learned. Additionally, I have my 501c3 - the Measurement and Accountability Project - to focus on issues related to higher ed. I utilize the 501c3 to raise awareness around issues related to higher ed and academic imbalance on campuses in Colorado and around the country.
Predictions for 2009?
Taxes are going to be front and center. Based on my experience out of 54 and having been around the state, people are clamoring for transparency, accountability and ethics in government. The more we can do to help facilitate that, the sooner we will establish confidence with the voters of the state of Colorado. On the front end of the recession we need to prioritize spending.