A House caucus made official the promotion of Rep Mike May R-Parker to House Minority Leader during a hastily convened caucus of Republican House members. May replaces Joe Stengel R-Littleton. Stengel resigned after it was revealed that he had charged the state a working per diem for 240 of 247 working days last year, including days spent on a Hawaiian vacation. State law allows legislators in leadership positions a per diem for days the legislature is not in session provided the member performs work on behalf of the state on those days.

May, who served under Stengel as Assistant Minority Leader, became Acting Minority Leader upon Stengel’s resignation.

“He has been thinking of the future,” said Rep Debbie Stafford R-Aurora while nominating May, noting that he has helped her campaign and urging other Republicans to vote for May “so that we can be in a position to take back this great chamber.”

Said May: “Although we are the minority party, I think we are the majority philosophy and that majority will be reflected in November.”

The change in House leadership may signal the Republicans’ resolve over challenging Democrats in the Senate first.  Senator Deanna Hanna D-Lakewood is under an ethics investigation for demanding “reparations” payment from the Colorado Association of Realtors. The charges against Stengel were widely considered the best bargaining chip the Democrats owned in softening measures against the Lakewood senator. With the Stengel issue resolved it may clear the way for a recall effort against Hanna with the full support of Republican leadership.

Meanwhile, Rep Al White R- Grand, who challenged May for the leadership post, in nominating himself, compared the choice of May, who had an inside track on the nomination, to picking between life in prison and death by hanging while not realizing that a full pardon was also an option. White joined the race late.

May, aged 51 is an accountant who owns accounting practices in Colorado and in Utah. First elected to the House in 2002, he is considered ideologically somewhat to the right of Stengel. Prior to serving in the House, May served on the Parker town council.

May served in the US Army from 1972 to 1975, with a stint serving in 101st Air Assault regiment based at Ft. Campbell, KY. He received an associate’s degree in business from Salt Lake Community College.

“I promise everything I have to this House and this party,” concluded May.

Replacing May as Assistant Minority Leader will be Ted Harvey R-Highlands Ranch.