Cary Kennedy on Her Run for Governor in 2018, Campaign Announcement

After former Colorado state treasurer Cary Kennedy announced that she is running for the 2018 Colorado governorship on Facebook Live from behind the wheel of a moving car, the video went viral for reasons she hadn't anticipated: Political opponents and the press needled her for supposedly distracted driving. But rather than fuming over the response, she says she's pleased that so many people got to hear her message.

Kennedy, who is not related to the Massachusetts Kennedy political dynasty, made her candidacy official shortly after Ken Salazar bowed out of the 2018 Colorado governor race. Former state senator and fellow Democrat Mike Johnston was the first major candidate to declare in January, with Kennedy and Representative Ed Perlmutter stepping forward in the wake of Salazar's demurral. On the Republican side, the most prominent candidate to date is 18th Judicial District DA George Brauchler, best known for prosecuting the Aurora theater shooting case.

The 48-year-old Kennedy began her climb up the Colorado political ladder with a position in the administration of Governor Roy Romer. She served as state treasurer from 2007 to 2011; she was defeated in a re-election bid by current treasurer Walker Stapleton, a first cousin of former president George W. Bush who's widely expected to declare for the governor's race, too. More recently, she served as deputy mayor and chief financial officer for the City of Denver after being chosen for the gigs by Mayor Michael Hancock. When she left these roles in January 2016 to start a consulting business, she was already being touted as a possible 2018 gubernatorial candidate.

In the following Q&A, Kennedy talks about the April 10 Facebook Live announcement, revealing that the drive was a de facto simulation in which strict safety measures were put in place to ensure that no one was in danger. From there, she talks about her background; how her views about immigration have been informed by her doctor-husband's own personal history; the importance of improving Colorado's education system and her other top issues; the impact of so many people moving to the state; the timing of her announcement; the possibility of a rematch against Stapleton; and speculation among some observers that her run for governor may actually be a prelude to Kennedy challenging Senator Cory Gardner in 2020.

Read more: http://www.westword.com/news/cary-kennedy-2018-colorado-governor-campaign-announcement-and-why-shes-running-8974218