The Steamboat Pilot & Today

Denver — It may be his first run at public office, but Todd Hagenbuch already has learned an important lesson in political shrewdness: Never let a good fundraising opportunity pass you by.

“We’re trying to capitalize on the energy of the Democratic National Convention,” Hagen­buch said Wednesday night from a fundraiser he hosted at north Denver’s Spero Winery.

The 2008 convention’s location in Denver has brought national attention to the shifting politics of the West. That’s something Hagenbuch will be counting on — albeit on a smaller scale — in his hopes to become the state representative for House District 57, which covers Routt, Moffat, Grand, Garfield, Jackson and Rio Blanco counties. Hagenbuch will square off against Grand County Republican Randy Baumgardner in the November election. House District 57 has not been kind to Democrats in the past decade, but Hagenbuch is undeterred.

“I think the Democratic Party is changing,” said Hagenbuch, claiming there is an emerging view in the party that environmentalism and resource development are not mutually exclusive. “People like the Salazars (Rep. John and Sen. Ken) and Gov. Ritter have really put a new face on the party. These people have really come out and made their states better. I think that’s why we’ve seen a shift in recent years.”

Hagenbuch’s friends, relatives, neighbors, college friends, former teachers and others attended Wednesday’s fundraiser. Hagenbuch said he had a “dual childhood,” going to school in Denver while spending summers at the family ranch in Routt County. Hagenbuch told his guests that Western Slope issues are statewide issues as well because of the number of Coloradans who rely on the region for things such as recreation and water.

At a corner table at the winery, three of Hagenbuch’s former elementary school teachers could do nothing but gush about their former student.

Third grade teacher Shirley Simons remembered when she took her class to the park and Hagenbuch helped her chase some middle school students who had stolen her purse.

“From kindergarten, he was very unique,” kindergarten teacher Donna Hayes recalled. “I always thought some great things would come from him.”

In addition to fundraising, Hagenbuch plans to capitalize on what he considers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity by attending Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential nomination acceptance speech at Invesco Field today.

“I’d be crazy not to take advantage of this opportunity,” he said.

Hagenbuch will be one of about a dozen Routt County residents to attend the highly anticipated speech. Steamboat Springs resident Mark Fischer is another.

“That’s going to be a very interesting night to be wandering around LoDo,” Fischer said Monday. “And I don’t mean I think there’s going to be trouble. Just fun.”