On Tuesday night, for the first time since I worked as a senior research analyst on a presidential campaign, I watched a political debate with a pad of paper and a pen. It turned out I couldn’t scribble fast enough to capture some of the most jaw-dropping moments during the Denver mayoral debate. In particular, […]
Mario Nicolais
Special to The Colorado Sun
Twitter: @MarioNicolaiEsq
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Nicolais: Sadly, the STEM School shooting will become just another statistic
Wracked by emotion, students attending the STEM school vigil plead, “What happened at STEM is awful, but it’s not a statistic.” Tragically, awfully, in the long-term another set of statistics is exactly what STEM will become. Students were right to condemn the immediate, mechanical call for gun control at their vigil. Politicians and special interest […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Nicolais: Finding hope amid evil thanks to Kendrick Castillo
Cometh the hour, cometh the man. When two fellow students opened fire at the STEM School in Highlands Ranch, Kendrick Castillo lunged at one, saving the lives of many. In the face of unspeakable evil, and at the cost of his own life, Castillo became the hero both his classmates and our country needed. As […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Nicolais: If the chaotic session didn’t whet business’ appetite to participate in Democratic primaries, it should have
Six years ago, I sat across from several Colorado business leaders and warned, “If you don’t choose to play in Republican primaries now, you’ll be forced to play in Democratic primaries down the road.” After a legislative session that many businesses found harrowing, I wouldn’t be surprised if that time has already come. The rapid […]
Posted inEducation, Opinion, Opinion Columns
Nicolais: Mark Kennedy’s journey on LGBTQ issues outweighs his congressional record
The debate over Mark Kennedy, the sole finalist to be the University of Colorado’s next president, has been consumed by votes he took a decade and a half ago while serving as a member of Congress. Specifically, opponents have highlighted Kennedy’s 2004 and 2006 votes to ban same-sex marriage. That singular focus is not only […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Nicolais: A Holy Week miracle at Notre Dame
Fire ravaged the grand cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris during Holy Week, but when the flames receded to smoldering, wet mounds of wood on its floor, the church still stood. To me that is a Holy Week miracle filled with a message of promise for us all. The news about Notre Dame reached me as […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Nicolais: When Columbine became more than a rival high school
The 20th anniversary of Columbine marks a special milestone for me. I’m 40, and, consequently, I’ve lived as many years post-Columbine as I did before. Columbine has now been a part of the American lexicon longer than it was just another rival school in my life. Green Mountain, Columbine and Pomona high schools all opened […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Nicolais: What’s going on in the Galindo recall in Greeley?
The scuttlebutt at the state Capitol these days revolves around recalls. Nine committees containing the word “recall” have been registered with the Secretary of State’s Office since 2019 began. U.S. Rep. Ken Buck, R-Windsor, made recalls a central part of his victory speech after winning the Colorado Republican Party Chair election. As I wrote a […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Nicolais: Who is Colorado’s dreaded GOP Establishment?
Not a week had gone by since the Colorado Republican Party chose its new leadership before former Congressman Tom Tancredo leveled the ultimate GOP barb against the new administration. After U.S. Rep. Ken Buck won the chairmanship at the bi-annual meeting and appointed former chair Steve House to run day-to-day operations, Tancredo took to local […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Nicolais: Recalls have become the new normal in Colorado politics
Over the past six years, recall elections have become a staple of Colorado politics. Given the “on demand” mentality so prevalent in our society today, that shouldn’t be a surprise. More importantly, it isn’t a trend likely to end any time soon. This year’s iteration includes both candidate recalls and repeal of enacted laws. The […]