Weiser taps Lesley Dahlkemper for lieutenant governor
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Lesley Dahlkemper. Photo: John Frank/Axios
Phil Weiser, the Democratic candidate for governor, selected Jefferson County Commissioner Lesley Dahlkemper as his lieutenant governor on Wednesday.
Why it matters: Dahlkemper, 59, adds diversity and more than a decade of local government experience to the Democratic ticket.
- The No. 2 post is a prominent platform for issue advocacy and a stepping stone to higher office
State of play: Weiser listed his reasons for choosing the term-limited commissioner:
- Her ability to be a governing partner
- Her dedication to public service
- Her skill as a bridge builder.
The two previously worked together to fight opioid addiction in partnership with rural Gilpin and Clear Creek counties.
What they're saying: "We are getting someone who is seasoned, who knows a range of issues inside and out," said Weiser, Colorado's current attorney general.
The intrigue: Dahlkemper's husband, Mike Feeley, served as a former state Senate Democratic leader and most recently as a lobbyist and shareholder at the powerhouse firm, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck.
Zoom in: In brief remarks at the Democratic Party's headquarters in downtown Denver, Dahlkemper cited Weiser's temperament and campaign priorities as reasons she agreed to join the ticket.
- Weiser dismissed criticism that both Democrats hail from metro Denver, saying, "I know her heart is all Colorado."
What we're watching: What role Dahlkemper will play in the campaign and administration — and whether she'd take a government salary like her predecessor, Dianne Primavera — remains undecided, Weiser told Axios.
- "She can do lots of different important functions, and that is an asset that we intend to fully use," Weiser said. "How remains to be seen."
The other side: Republican candidate Victor Marx has yet to name a running mate.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with new details throughout.