From Lynn Bartels' article “Rick O'Donnell heads for Texas,” published October 31 in the Rocky Mountain News:
Two-time congressional candidate Rick O'Donnell, who served as former Gov. Bill Owens' first policy director, is headed for Texas.
He's going to be president of a group that offers an MBA in entrepreneurship taught entirely by successful entrepreneurs.
“It's going to be a big change for me,” O'Donnell said Tuesday.
[...]
O'Donnell in 2002 and in 2006 ran for the Republican nomination in the 7th Congressional District.
In 2002, many politicos thought he ran circles around GOP opponent Bob Beauprez during candidate forums and debates. But O'Donnell lacked money and name recognition and lost to Beauprez in the primary.
In 2006, during a Democratic landslide nationwide, O'Donnell lost the general election to former state Sen. Ed Perlmutter.
But voters and political pundits in both parties praised O'Donnell's campaign, particularly the TV ads he designed in which he poked fun at himself.
“I'm sad to see Rick leave,” said Dick Wadhams, chairman of the Colorado Republican Party. “I think he's one of the best and the brightest.”
“I wish Rick good luck, much success, and I hope he finds Texas to his liking!” Perlmutter said in a statement.
Wadhams said O'Donnell played a “critical role” in Owens' first term, including pushing for tax cuts, improved transportation and education reform.
O'Donnell also served as Owens' director of the Department of Regulatory Agencies and director of the Commission on Higher Education.
In addition to dubiously stating that “political pundits in both parties” had praised O'Donnell's failed 2006 campaign, the News also failed to mention several controversies -- documented by Colorado Media Matters -- involving O'Donnell that arose during the campaign, including: