CUs Switch Sides To BackEx-Banker

WHEATRIDGE, Colo. - (08/13/04) -- The credit union lobby is throwingits support this time behind freshman Rep. Robert Beauprez, afterdoing everything they could to defeat the former banker in the 2002elections, in the closest congressional race in the country. JohnDill, the new president of the Colorado CU System, said they haveworked to mend fences and build a relationship with Beauprez, theformer chairman and CEO of Heritage Bank, since his election twoyears ago. "We feel like we have an open door and an open ear withhim" Dill told The Credit Union Journal, adding that Beauprez hadvoted for credit union-backed bills on bankruptcy reform andregulatory relief. Beauprez, who also served as chairman of theColorado Republican Party, bested credit union-backed MichaelFeeley, the former Democratic Senate Minority Leader, in 2002 byjust 121 votes. Beauprez faces Democrat David Thomas, the districtattorney in Jefferson County in November. In the state's biggestrace, the one to succeed Republican Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell,the credit union lobby has yet to choose between Republican PeterCoors, heir to the Coors beer family, and Ken Salazar, theDemocratic Attorney General.