Ali Hasan's ode to Michael Jackson

Ali Hasan is still considering whether to run for state treasurer.

But when it comes to the King of Pop, Hasan considers that job permanently filled.

"Michael Jackson. My dearest King, our American hero – never leave us," Hasan wrote in a heartfelt tribute to the pop singer and icon, who died June 25.

In the essay, published in Arabisto.com, a news and commentary site about the Middle East, Hasan said that he "will always believe that Michael Jackson was innocent of all molestation charges pursued against him.

Instead, Hasan said Jackson will always be remembered for his charity and hope for the future.

"It was always fitting that Michael’s best tribute would come from a fellow American hero, President Ronald Reagan. While President Reagan fought to end the Evil Empire, despite international paranoia that our good country would eventually succumb to the USSR’s nuclear invasion, it was Michael that never let us fear."

Mile High Politics is back!

Hey everyone, after a long, relaxing vacation, I'm back and ready to get back to Colorado politics!

So what'd I miss the past few days?

• A former Scott McInnis staffer decided it was time for the grasshopper to become the master.
• Some interesting fundraising numbers came in for the CD-4, gubernatorial, and U.S. Senate races.
• Former state senator Tom Wiens thinks it'd be better to jump in the chock-full-of-unknowns GOP U.S. Senate race than be an afterthought in the race for governor.
  
  It's good to be back!

Penry will announce gubernatorial decision Saturday

Colorado Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry will announce his gubernatorial plans this Saturday in Grand Junction, according to the Grand Junction Sentinel.

Though Penry (R-Grand Junction) has stayed mum up until now about speculation that he would seek to topple incumbent Gov. Bill Ritter (D), several Republicans have said over the past few weeks that Penry will enter the gubernatorial race and has been looking to hire staff.

If Penry enters the gubernatorial race, it will set up a potentially contentious GOP primary between him and his former boss, ex-U.S. Rep. Scott McInnis (R-Grand Junction). Evergreen businessman Dan Maes has also filed to run for governor as a Republican.

Penry will announce his plans at 9 a.m. Saturday in front of the old Mesa County Courthouse, according to the Sentinel.

The future of Mile High Politics

Hey everyone, thanks as always for reading Mile High Politics -- hello especially to readers of the Rocky Mountain Independent!

I just wanted to give everyone a heads-up that things will really start to take off at Mile High Politics beginning next week. That's when I return from vacation (from unseasonably cool Chicago) and the entire site will get a much-needed makeover.

I'll certainly be posting in the meantime, but make sure to check out and bookmark Mile High Politics starting next week! As always, feedback and comments via e-mail are always appreciated.

Hope everyone had a great Fourth of July weekend!

Guzman enters SD-34 race

Lucia Guzman, executive director of the City and County of Denver's Human Rights and Community Relations office, filed Thursday to run for state Senate District 34, setting up a potentially contentious Democratic primary in Denver next year.

Guzman is the second Democrat to formally enter the race to succeed outgoing state Sen. Paula Sandoval (D-Denver), who is term-limited: outgoing state Rep. Joel Judd (D-Denver) filed for SD-34 late last year. State Rep. Jerry Frangas (D-Denver) is also considering entering the race.

A former pastor at Berkeley United Methodist Church in northwest Denver, in 1994 Guzman became the first woman and Mexican American to head the Colorado Council of Churches. She also served as vice-president of the Denver Board of Education from 1999 until 2003.

Guzman will publicly launch her campaign July 9.