(- promoted by Rocky Mountain Right -)

Outside of the governor's race, there are few statewide races that matter more next year than treasurer. The role is, afterall, the state's CFO - or at least that's what it should be.

The current treasurer is more concerned with her own political agenda and pushing through education reform than she is with acting as a stop-gap to Ritter's economic boondoggles.

The truth is, the race for treasurer (along with the other down-ticket, statewide races) is largely ignored by the public. But, in light of today's economic climate and the governor's love affair with the federal economic stimulus package - the people of Colorado deserve a treasurer who's actually plugged in to the world of finance.

J.J. Ament's two-minute speech to the GOP crowd at Friday's event was quite possibly the most cogent explanation of why we need someone like him in that office that I've heard in a long time. He actually wants to be treasurer.

His opponent, who can't say his own name without mentioning his familial ties to the Bush administration, was lackluster at best, and is clearly looking at the treasurer's office as a political stepping stone to a higher call.

Sound familiar? It ought to. (See Mike Coffman political strategy, 1998; Bill Owens political strategy, 1992)

The state treasurer's office has turned into a scene from "Fiddler on the Roof" - each treasurer passing along the traditions of the last, with no thought to current financial strategies, or modern efficiencies in managing taxpayer funds.

The point is this: Ament has the chops to change all of that. He could actually put some thought into the game and maybe do the job, instead of acting as a lacky for the administration or performing in a politically expedient manner to bolster his political future.

I was impressed with Ament above all others. I'll be watching him and hope he decides to throw his hat in the ring for treasurer's office. I think he is a great hope for the state and for Republicans.