Candidate seeks a first in Colorado’s 2nd District

by Lisa Neff

It was minutes before 8 a.m. and Jared Polis already was on the road to a campaign stop — center stage time with Michelle Obama.

Polis was campaigning for the Obamas and the Democratic ticket that includes his name. The entrepreneur and philanthropist is the Democratic nominee in Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District, which is currently represented by Mark Udall.

Udall’s decision to run for the U.S. Senate led to a hotly contested House primary that Polis won in August. Now he’s favored to win the Nov. 4 general election over Republican aerospace engineer Scott Starin.

“We’re in the midst of a vibrant general election campaign,” Polis said in a telephone interview with 365Gay.com early Oct. 1, while en route to the Obama campaign rally.

In a year of political firsts in America, Polis is working to achieve a first in Colorado. The candidate, a supporter of a full range of GLBT equality policies, is campaigning to become the state’s first openly gay U.S. representative.

“I look forward to helping to break some glass ceilings at the national level,” said the Boulder businessman, whose campaign is a top priority for the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, along with that of openly gay congressional candidate Linda Ketner in South Carolina.

Polis has a name in Colorado, where he served six years on the state board of education, founded and served as superintendent of the New America School, co-founded the Academy of Urban Learning to help homeless youth earn a diploma, established the Jared Polis Foundation to expand access to education and took several high-tech dot.com companies to high places.

The following is a phone interview with Polis at the start of a busy day on the campaign trail.

365Gay: You first campaigned for Michael Dukakis at age 13? What brought you out to his phone bank?

Jared Polis: Well, just a desire to get involved. My parents were actually in the anti-war movement of the 1960s, and they instilled in me that desire to get involved.

365Gay: On your Web site you say you are a “dedicated citizen.” What do you mean by that?

JP: I think that we can’t take our rights in this great country for granted. It is the responsibility of every citizen to participate in the political process — at the very least that means voting.… Our democracy needs citizen engagement, and I’ve always walked that walk.

365Gay: I know you are from Boulder, and I know something of Boulder’s progressive, casual atmosphere and attitude. How does where you come from fuel who you are?

JP: I feel very much at home in the Southwest, and perhaps have internalized the independent spirit of the West.

365Gay: You could have set up a foundation for any number of purposes. Why was the Jared Polis Foundation established for education — to honor and encourage teachers?

JP: I believe education is one of the most important issues because it really speaks to the future of our country and the world, and we need to do a much better job preparing our youth.

365Gay: What can the federal government and specifically the Congress do to improve the atmosphere in school for GLBT youth?

JP: No Child Left Behind expires next year, and we’ll have the opportunity to create new policy. I’d like to see stronger anti-bullying policies, not only for gays and lesbians but for all students who are picked on for whatever reasons.

365Gay: What issue – and which of your plans for change — is resonating most with voters these days?

JP: I’ve run on a strong platform on Iraq — my constituents are seeking an end to that war. And, a priority here at home needs to be stabilizing our economy and preventing a catastrophe.

365Gay: Do you think the financial crisis threatens to overshadow other issues and needs that may not seem as urgent, but are important? Will our fears about our financial future cause us to neglect concluding the war? Healthcare reform? And how does a candidate or congressional member get the focus back?

JP: I think we need to look at a variety of issues. We can’t let this crisis take our eyes of the ball from protecting the environment. We need to improve our public schools. We need to continue the drive to reach universal healthcare.

365Gay:I know you have the support of the Victory Fund. Do you feel you have the support you wanted from GLBT activists and leaders in Colorado?

JP: Yes, certainly in my district. This is not a gay mecca district. We don’t even have a single gay bar in the entire congressional district, but we have a gay and lesbian community.

365Gay: Has your sexual orientation been much of an issue – negative or positive – as you campaign?

JP: No. I’m a candidate who is progressive and promotes a full-equality agenda. The people who oppose that agenda wouldn’t be voting for me anyway.

365Gay: You have a partner. How long have you been together? What role has he played in the campaign?

JP: Five years, and he’s been very supportive of this difficult campaign over the last year and a half. He’s a great part of my own support structure.

365Gay: I understand you are a big baseball fan. Who are you rooting for in the post-season?

JP: My Rockies didn’t make it — so we’ll see.

365Gay: You are on your way today to campaign with Michelle Obama. Has this election year been a bit more exciting for you than that first Dukakis campaign?

JP: Oh yeah, I got to speak and introduce Barack Obama days ago. And today I will be part of the presidential campaign program in my district. I’m honored to be able to participate at this level.

365Gay: What led you to run this year?

JP: The same thing that drove me to volunteer when I was 13. I’ve been concerned and worried about the direction of our country.