CACI endorses pro-business legislative incumbents

The board of the Colorado Association of Commerce & Industry approved a slate of 26 incumbent legislators who are seeking re-election or, in the case of two representatives, election to the Senate, for an endorsement by CACI and, in most cases, a contribution of $400, the maximum contribution that a political committee — in this case, CACI’s Colorado Business Political Action Committee — can give to a legislative candidate over the 2011-2012 election cycle.

Rep. Sue Schafer, D-Wheat Ridge

The preferred pro-business candidates selected last week include three Democrats, which is kind of unusual for the Republican-leaning organization.

Sen. Pat Steadman, D-Denver

Toward the end of the legislative session, the CACI lobbying team began assessing the voting record of incumbent legislators.

Rep. Angela Williams, D-Denver

The slate recommended by the CACI lobbying team on May 21 went before the CACI Executive Committee, which agreed to recommend the slate to the full Board for approval.

Last year’s contentious legislative reapportionment process resulted in redrawn maps of House and Senate districts. Here is the CACI-endorsed slate of incumbent legislative candidates:

House of Representatives

Angela Williams (D-Denver), House District 7; Mark Waller (R-Colorado Springs), House District 15; Janak Joshi (R-Colorado Springs), House District 16; Mark Barker (R-Colorado Springs), House District 17; Bob Gardner (R-Colorado Springs), House District 20; Sue Schafer (D-Wheat Ridge), House District 24; Cheri Gerou (R-Evergreen), House District 25; Libby Szabo (R-Arvada), House District 27; Robert Ramirez (R-Westminster), House District 29; Spencer Swalm (R-Centennial), House District 3; Kathleen Conti (R-Littleton) House District 38; Cindy Acree (R-Aurora), House District 40; Frank McNulty (R- Highlands Ranch), House District 43; Chris Holbert (R-Parker), House District 44; Carole Murray (R-Castle Rock), House District 45; Brian DelGrosso (R-Loveland), House District 51; Ray Scott (R-Grand Junction), House District 55; Kevin Priola (R-Henderson), House District 56; Don Coram (R-Montrose), House District 58; J. Paul Brown (R-Ignacio), House District 59; and Jerry Sonnenberg (R-Sterling), House District 65.

Senate

Mark Scheffel (R-Parker), Senate District 4; Bill Cadman (R-Colorado Springs), Senate District 12; Ken Summers (R-Lakewood), Senate District 22; David Balmer (R-Centennial), Senate District 27; and Pat Steadman (D-Denver), Senate District 31.