Hispanic tradition in state Senate leadership - Denver

Re: “Democrats’ vote historic; Groff chosen to lead the Senate,” Nov. 16 news story.

It is reassuring to be reminded that in Colorado, ethnic background is not a bar to high office, as Democrats this month chose state Sen. Peter Groff as Senate president and state Sen. Abel Tapia as president pro tem.

However, contrary to your article, no precedent was set in naming Tapia to his office. One hundred and fourteen years ago, in 1893, and again in 1901, Sen. Casimiro Barela — known as the “Perpetual Senator” for his 44 years of legislative service to Colorado — was elected president pro tem of the Colorado Senate. A member of the Territorial Assembly (1872-76), the Constitutional Convention (1875) and the state Senate (1876-1916), Sen. Barela, too, was a Democrat until 1904, when he changed his party — a less congenial affiliation, according to newspaper accounts at the time of his death in 1920.”*

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