Bruce Benson's backing for CU post mixed

A group of business leaders, foundation heads, lawyers and former city officials wrote Thursday to support University of Colorado presidential finalist Bruce Benson — given that he promises to put his partisan politics aside.

"We know his commitment to quality education in general and to the University of Colorado in particular," says the letter, addressed to CU's nine regents and signed by more than 50 civic leaders.

"We are also aware of Bruce's passionate engagement in political matters. . . . We understand that Bruce has pledged to abstain from all partisan political activity if he is selected."

Former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb sent a separate letter offering his support for Benson.

Benson, an oilman and Republican operative, is the sole finalist for the CU job, a controversial decision that has sparked lively forums at all four campuses and protests in Boulder.

In a fresh sign of the depth of the opposition, the Boulder Faculty Assembly on Thursday rejected by a 40-4 vote a nonbinding resolution in support of Benson's appointment.

And later in the evening, the University Student Union Legislative Council passed a resolution voicing "great concern over the process in which this candidate was selected."

Among those signing the letter supporting Benson was Denver Public Schools Superintendent Michael Bennet, whom Benson opposed when Bennet was vying for the DPS post in 2005. When Bennet won the approval of the school board, however, his first voice-mail message was from Benson, who assured him he would do anything Bennet needed for DPS.

"He's absolutely held true to his word," Bennet said.

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