Ritter Crosses The Six-Month Mark

Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter started out governing largely from the middle, and six months in, is still jogging up the center aisle.

That means he has been accused by some on the right of loving taxes, catering to trial lawyers and squandering time appointing blue-ribbon study groups. Some on the left have been angered over his vetoes of bills – like one to make it easier to negotiate all-union shops and another that would have cut away the red tape that has prohibited legal residents from obtaining basic ID cards.

Yet in six months, Ritter has pushed through a package of impressive energy reforms, putting Colorado on the map for its innovation in the renewable energy economy.

In a free-ranging interview with Colorado Confidential, Ritter talks about substance, style – and why he doesn’t spend much time thinking about Dick Wadhams. This is the first of a three-part series.

“I had worked in this building (the capitol) as Denver DA,” Ritter begins, “and had shepherded a lot through.”

That shepherding involved a lot of testifying for, and against, pending legislation. But, he says, it’s one thing to be Denver District Attorney – with a relatively narrow focus –

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