[/media-credit]The Republican-controlled Board of Regents at the University of Colorado has elected a Democrat as its chairman.
Democrat Michael Carrigan of Denver got the nod at the board’s meeting in Thursday after a secret-ballot vote. He and Republican Steve Bosley of Boulder, one of two at-large members, were nominated for chairman. Carrigan won 5-3 with one member abstaining.
Carrigan today downplayed the selection, saying that the board is “awfully nonpartisan.” But he estimated it has been more than a decade since the GOP-controlled board had a Democratic chair.
Former Regent Norwood Robb, who served 18 years, remembers when there were eight Republicans and only one Democrat on the board.
“We had the Democrat be the vice chairman all the time and we rotated among the Republicans for chair,” he said.
The board will have a new look after November, with four of the nine seats on the ballot. One of the most interesting primary races pits Republicans Matt Arnold against Brian Davidson for an at-large season. The winner of Tuesday’s race takes on incumbent Stephen Ludwig, a Democrat.
