Former Colorado Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon Dies

UPDATE 12/26: The Denver Post's Joey Bunch reports on memorial arrangements:

His funeral will be Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at the Davidson/Hermelin Chapel at Clover Hill Park Cemetery in Birmingham, Mich.,a Detroit suburb, where other members of Gordon's family are buried.

The memorial service in Denver will be Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 11a.m. at Temple Emmanuel, 51 Grape St.

His family asked that, instead of flowers, donations be made to the organization Ken Gordon founded, CleanSlateNow.org.

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Former Colorado Sen. Ken Gordon (D).

UPDATE #2: Statement from Colorado Democratic Party chairman Rick Palacio:

"Colorado lost a great public servant today with the passing of former State Senator Ken Gordon. A champion for good government, Ken worked hard to ensure our democratic process was one of transparency and accountability.

"Whether it was during his tenure in the Colorado Public Defender's Office or in the Colorado State Legislature, Ken has left a legacy of fighting for those that cannot fight for themselves. Our thoughts are with Ken's loved ones and family, including his children, his grandchildren, and Betty, his partner of many years." 

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?UPDATE: Lynn Bartels and Joey Bunch of the Denver Post:

Former Gov. Bill Owens, a Republican, said Sunday night that Gordon rose above partisan politics.

"Ken was a good friend and an outstanding lawmaker," Owens said. "Ken was willing to set aside partisanship to do what was best for Colorado."

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Word just now arriving via Twitter; we'll update shortly with coverage. More sad news this holiday weekend:

Former #Colorado Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon felt ill Sunday, drove himself to hospital and died at 5:30 p.m. Story soon. #copolitics

— Joey Bunch (@joeybunch) December 23, 2013

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Recall Successors Take Office; Dem Senate Majority Now 18-17

Photo by Rocky Mountain Gun Owners

As the Colorado Springs Gazette's Megan Schrader reports:

Newly elected state Sens. Bernie Herpin and George Rivera were sworn in Thursday after winning the seats of two ousted Democrats, bringing the GOP within a one-vote margin of power…

Herpin, a former Colorado Springs City Councilman, and Rivera, a retired deputy police chief, gave their oaths of office and swore to uphold the Constitution in a ceremony led by Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Bender.

"We are witnessing today the peaceful transfer of responsibility from one elected official to another, a freedom that many people in other nations have never known," Herpin said. "I realize I have much to learn, but I pledge to work hard, serve with honor and never forget the lessons of this summer that this is truly a republic of the people, by the people, for the people and we serve at the pleasure of those who represent us."

Adds AP's Ivan Moreno:

Herpin replaces Sen. John Morse and Rivera replaces Sen. Angela Giron. The defeated Democrats remained firm over their support for the new gun laws. The limits on ammunition magazines and expanding background checks to private and online firearm sales were reactions to mass shootings at a suburban Denver movie theater and a Connecticut elementary school last year.

Here's the statement from outgoing Senate President John Morse:

I leave the legislature with no regrets.

A neighborhood in my district bears the troubling distinction of having the most gun deaths in the entire state.  As a Senator, I served families who expect, at a minimum, we will prevent criminals from getting guns.

Bernie Herpin was used as a pawn in an election where almost 80 percent of voters did not even participate and only 11 percent of the district elected him. Make no mistake about it — he was elected in a myopic recall where he ran on only one issue. Senate District 11 has dynamic needs and is not defined by one issue.

And Sen. Angela Giron:

Pueblo is my home and, for now, I will return to my roots as a citizen advocate fighting for Southern Colorado families, schools and businesses.  Now, more than ever, Americans are demanding bold leadership of our elected officials and I'm very proud of the breadth of work I accomplished in just three years of service in the Senate.

I'm leaving, not on my own terms, but with my integrity intact and with the sure and certain knowledge that Colorado and Pueblo are safer with these modest gun safety laws.

Both Sens. Bernie Herpin and George Rivera face a difficult battle to keep their seats in 2014. In Senate District 11 in Colorado Springs, 2010's very close win for Morse isn't a predictor of future results, as reapportionment made the district blue enough that it should be entirely retakable for Democrats. As for Rivera's Senate District 3, well, he's the first Republican to represent Pueblo in many decades–and he's virtually certain to serve one year and lose unceremoniously in 2014. We've explained since the historic recall elections last month the many reasons why what happened in these two Senate districts cannot be replicated in any general election. Short of a new era of continuous recalls in favorable districts, which we think the voting public would very quickly tire of, this was most likely the high-water mark of the GOP's "comeback," produced by a combination of unique circumstances.

With that said, as of this morning, Herpin and Rivera are your newest Colorado Senators. Welcome aboard.

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