Four regent posts up for election on Tuesday

EDITOR'S NOTE: An earlier version of this story ran in the Aug. 23 issue of CU Connections; it's presented here in advance of Tuesday's general elections. Next week's Connections will feature election results.

Four of the nine seats on the University of Colorado Board of Regents will be decided in Tuesday’s general election, with a guarantee of at least one new member joining.

The six-year terms of three of the regents elected that day will begin in January.

The winner of the fourth race, representing the state’s 7th Congressional District, will serve the final two years of the term begun by former Regent Monisha Merchant, who resigned last year to join Sen. Michael Bennet’s staff. The seat is currently held by Irene Griego, Ph.D., D-Lakewood, who was appointed by Gov. John Hickenlooper. Griego is running against Mary Dambman, a Westminster Republican, and Eric Robinson, a Lakewood Libertarian.

Griego’s 38-year education career – as a teacher, principal, administrator and university instructor – took root at CU. She earned her bachelor’s degree at CU-Boulder and doctorate at CU Denver, with a master’s degree from the University of Northern Colorado in between. Her campaign website is linked here.

Dambman is a former Colorado state representative who served three terms. She also is a former teacher. She has served as a Republican national committeewoman and Adams County Republican chair. Her campaign website is linked here.

In Colorado’s 3rd District, incumbent Tilman “Tillie” Bishop, R-Grand Junction, announced in January that he would not seek a second term. Candidates running for his seat are Glen Gallegos, a Grand Junction Republican; Jessica Garrow, a Carbondale Democrat; and Gennaro Connors, a Fruita Libertarian.

Gallegos worked for 26 years as a teacher, coach, principal and executive director of instruction for Eagle and Mesa County school districts. He is a former member and chair of the Mesa State Board of Trustees and currently serves on the Governor’s Education Statewide Leadership Council. His website is linked here.

Garrow, long-range planner for the city of Aspen, is a University of Colorado Boulder graduate. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a political science degree before earning a master’s in city and regional planning from The Ohio State University. Her website is linked here.

The remaining two seats are held by regents first elected in 2006 and who are seeking second terms.

For the at-large seat, which is elected statewide, incumbent Stephen Ludwig, D-Denver, is running against Brian Davidson, M.D., an Arvada Republican who also ran against Ludwig in 2006; Daniel Ong, a Boulder Libertarian; and Tyler Belmont, a 17-year-old American Constitution candidate from Colorado Springs.

Ludwig is a University of Colorado Colorado Springs graduate and longtime public relations, marketing and journalism professional. He led the effort for a new guaranteed admissions program across CU, and served as vice chair of the Board of Regents in 2010-11. His website is linked here.

Davidson earned medical and master’s degrees at CU, and is a physician and anesthesiologist at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. He serves on many hospital and medical boards, including the University of Colorado Hospital Medical Board. His website is linked here.

In the 5th District, Kyle Hybl, R-Colorado Springs, is unopposed by a Democratic candidate. Steven Hartmann, a Colorado Springs Libertarian, and Gina Biolchini, American Constitution candidate from Colorado Springs, also are vying for the seat.

Hybl earned a bachelor’s and a law degree at the University of Colorado Boulder. He is a Colorado Springs attorney, civic leader and Air Force veteran who served as chair of the Board of Regents 2010-12.

 Editor's note: Biographical information for this story was compiled from candidates' campaign websites, which are linked throughout. Details were not available for candidates without campaign websites.