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Tancredo presidential run will heat up Colorado politics By Jim Kouri While the news media are in celebratory mode over New York's Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton announcing her intention to seek the Democrat Party nomination for President of the United States in 2008, conservatives will perhaps also celebrate some good news in the coming days: Colorado's own superstar, Rep. Tom Tancredo, seeking the GOP nomination for POTUS. While Tancredo is expected to announce his plans -- which includes retirement after five terms in Congress -- to pursue what's considered a quixotic presidential bid in the coming days, political observers are already speculating as to who will take Tancredo's congressional seat. Tancredo, highly regarded among conservatives for his uncompromising stances on immigration reform, will be tough to replace but some conservatives are already lining up to take a shot at the prize of representing this overwhelmingly Republican district. Much like the congressional district to the south (C0-5), the 6th District race will almost certainly be decided in the August primary election with only a slim chance of a Democrat ever representing this district. Wiens has the political experience, connections and personal wealth to develop a formidable campaign. Additionally, Wiens has developed a Tancredo-like reputation in the state legislature as a conservative reformer on issues such as immigration and border security, tax policy, as well as on social issues such as protecting life and the 2nd Amendment. Recently, Wiens played a prominent role in passing Colorado's hard fought state marriage amendment in the November 2006 election. Wiens is a wise conservative choice to fill the big shoes of Tancredo. He would also be a great replacement for Tancredo though he might have already made his biggest mistake in hiring the controversial Hotaling brothers, Jonathan and Mark, to run his congressional race when and if Congressman Tancredo retires. Jonathan Hotaling managed Congressman Doug Lamborn's (CO-5) successful campaign, leading him through last year's bitter six-way primary with questionable tactics while his brother used the Colorado Christian Coalition to send attack mailers against Lamborn's competitors. Both were subjects of a much publicized FEC investigation into illegal coordination between the two brothers to benefit the Lamborn campaign. The Hotaling brothers' management of Harvey's campaign will surely cost Harvey support among those who were paying attention to last year's Republican primary showdown in Colorado Springs. Coincidentally, both Wiens and Harvey supported Lamborn in that election. Others rumored as possible candidates in this race include Secretary of State and former State Treasurer Mike Coffman, who is unlikely to run as he keeps his eyes on the Governor's mansion as a candidate in either four or eight years; and State Representative David Balmer, who is also rumored to be interested in running for Tancredo's vacated seat. Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police and he's a staff writer for the New Media Alliance. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. Kouri writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others. He's a news writer for TheConservativeVoice.Com and PHXnews.com. He's also a columnist for AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us.
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