Page Sets Sights

Page Sets Sights

Homer Page

Page Sets Sights on County

Treasurer

Democrats Eye Only Elected Seat in County

Government Held by a Republican

by Jason Gewirtz and Kristin Dizon

From the Editor: Homer Page is a longtime leader

in the National Federation of the Blind and an experienced politician. He is about to take

part in yet another election in Boulder, Colorado. The following article giving the

details appeared in the June 11, 1998, Boulder Daily Camera.

Homer Page is challenging Republican incumbent

Sandy Hume for Boulder County Treasurer in the November election.

Page, a Democrat, accepted the nomination

Wednesday from a Boulder County Democratic Party committee targeting vacant government

positions. While he has not officially announced his candidacy, Page said he expects to

shortly.

"There are some serious reasons why we need

to take back this seat," Page said to a crowded, clapping audience at the monthly

meeting.

He said Hume has been an inconsistent treasurer

who has poor relationships with the financial community, other elected officials, and

county government staff.

Page, a former two-time Boulder City councilman

and Boulder County commissioner, recently dropped out of the crowded primary race for the

Second Congressional District seat vacated by U.S. Representative David Skaggs.

Page acknowledged that he previously had his

sights set higher than the treasurer post and asked himself whether he really wanted the

job when the party nominating committee came calling.

"In all honesty, six months ago I would have

said no," Page said.

Now, he said, he is proud to be seeking the

office.

"What I really want is to be active in this

community, to be active in the political process, and to make a contribution," he

said.

Democrats are keeping a close eye on the

treasurer's position because it is the only elected office in county government held by a

Republican.

"This is going to be a tough year,"

Page added. "We're going to be challenged up and down the ticket."

Democratic party member Sam Forsyth said,

"We have an opportunity to elect only the second Democrat to the county treasurer's

office in over sixty years."

Hume is a former county commissioner who also

served eight years in the state Senate and House of Representatives. He has been treasurer

since 1994, leaving his commissioner position to seek the post.

Hume, who announced his plans to run again in

April, said he assumed the Democrats would submit a challenger for his position and had

heard rumors of Page entering the race.

"I know Homer well, and I'm sure we'll have

an interesting and honorable race," he said.