Jared Polis injected himself into Denver teachers' strike. Now he needs a way out.

From the steps of the Capitol on Wednesday, Denver teachers demanded better wages and affirmed their intent to strike — a message aimed not just at the school district but also Gov. Jared Polis.

“Hey Polis, do what’s right, join our teachers, in our fight,” the crowd of hundreds chanted just outside the governor’s office window.

The rally punctuated the political pressure on the new Colorado governor, who two weeks into his term inserted himself into the middle of an intense, five-year contract dispute in the state’s largest school district before being asked to help.

It’s a precarious situation loaded with significant political risks for the Democrat, who wants to make education the top priority of his first year but who entered office with only tepid support from teachers. But it also offers Polis a chance to reap great rewards — like former Gov. Roy Romer did 25 years ago when he mediated the last Denver strike — if he can help negotiate a deal to keep teachers off the picket lines.

Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2019/01/31/jared-polis-injected-himself-into-denver-teachers-strike-now-he-needs-a-way-out/