By Matt Sebastian
Camera Staff Writer

University of Colorado Regent Robert Sievers won't need a petition to get on the ballot for this summer's Democratic primary after all.

Sievers received enough votes Friday night at the 2nd Congressional District Democratic assembly to secure a spot on the primary ballot for regent — although the two-term incumbent will be listed below former Boulder City Councilwoman Cindy Carlisle.

Carlisle took 61.5 percent of the assembly vote to Sievers' 38.5 percent.

Sievers, a CU professor who has held the 2nd district seat since 1990, had been concerned that he wouldn't even receive the 30 percent necessary to secure a space on the ballot. He had circulated petitions in hopes of collecting enough signatures to put himself back on the ballot.

"I'm delighted," Sievers said. "Now I won't have to use the 1,700 petition signatures that my supporters have collected very arduously for me."

On the Republican side, Regent Jim Martin won enough votes Friday to put his name on the 2nd CD primary ballot for regent just two days after announcing his candidacy for Sievers' seat.

Martin, elected to one of the board's statewide seats in 1992 and 1998, won 47 percent of the Republican assembly's vote at a meeting in Colorado Springs.

"This is a real confirmation that the people of the 2nd Congressional District feel that, through my votes, I have distinguished myself on the board as a leader," Martin said.

Martin said he is running for the 2nd district seat because his views are more in line with those held by residents of Boulder, which makes up most of the district.

He'll face CU professor Howard Wachtel in the Republican primary in August. Wachtel, who has been in the race for several months, won 52 percent of Friday's assembly vote.

"Given the fact that in most people's eyes I'm an amateur politician, I think I did pretty well," Wachtel said.

Also at Friday's Democratic meeting in Denver, Boulder businessman Rollie Heath announced his running mate for this fall's gubernatorial contest. Heath tapped state Senate Majority Leader Bill Thiebaut of Pueblo.

"Bill Thiebaut's varied political experience compliments my 40 years as a businessman and entrepreneur perfectly," Heath said.

June 1, 2002

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