Doug Bruce's legacy

By Wally Edge

Generations of Colorado political insiders will tell the story of Douglas Bruce and how one very dumb and probably impulsive move forever defined an ultimately short political career. Bruce won a special election to the State House of Representatives in 2007 and immediately got into a tiff with Speaker Andrew Romanoff over the details of his inauguration. Bruce wanted the full House present, but Romanoff preferred – and mandated – a smaller swearing in ceremony when the House was not in session.

So Bruce shows up in the House chamber, family bible in hand, waiting to take the oath of office for what he must have imagined would be a long and fruitful political career – one of those

visions of sugar plum guys who looks in the mirror and sees the next Governor. What happened next comes from the Associated Press: “When Rocky Mountain News photographer Javier Manzano took his photo during the traditional morning prayer, Bruce, who was standing, brought the sole of his shoe down hard on the photographer's bent knee. A CBS4 News videographer saw Bruce make a kicking motion, but didn't see the actual contact. ‘Don't do that again,’ Bruce told Manzano.”

Eight months later, Bruce is a goner: he lost the Republican primary to newcomer Mark Waller. He’ll be gone in January, a political career lost to his own stupidity. And here’s a tip: remember the name of Javier Manzano. He’ll make a great trivia question someday.

Wally Edge can be reached via email at politickerco@aol.com.

Related topics: Andrew Romanoff, Douglas Bruce, Mark Waller, Javier Manzano

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