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Democratic state Sen. Evie Hudak has resigned her seat to forestall a recall effort launched by constituents who sought to oust her from office for her support of gun-control laws passed by lawmakers last spring.
The senator made the announcement in a letter to Democratic leadership Wednesday. She did not attend a news conference scheduled for 10:30 a.m. at the Arvada Library, where some constituents offered words of support.
"By resigning I am protecting these important new laws for the good of Colorado and ensuring that we can continue looking forward," Hudak wrote in her resignation letter in regard to her gun votes.
Hudak's move ends the recall process, as now a Democratic vacancy committee can appoint someone to fill her seat until 2014.
Her announcement comes as proponents of the recall were wrapping up a petition drive in which they needed to submit about 18,900 valid signatures to the secretary of state's office. If enough signatures had been ruled valid, Hudak would have been the third Colorado lawmaker to face a recall election this year because of her support for tougher gun laws.
About two dozen supporters of Hudak gathered outside the Arvada Public library on Wednesday to applaud the state lawmaker for her work.
They held signs that read "thank you Evie."
"Her record spoke for itself," said Dennis Larsen, who has worked with Hudak and is a constituent. "She was a champion for education and cared about veterans and senior citizens."
No state lawmakers attended the news conference, but a host of Democrats locally and nationally sent press releases with praise for Hudak.
At the news conference, among supporters of the lawmaker were organizers vying to oust her from office. At times during the brief news conference Wednesday they shouted "let the voters decide."
"This is a cowardly way out of the recall," said Joe Neville, political director for Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, which helped organize the recall effort. "We're still charging toward Tuesday and no matter what we'll submit the petition signatures."
A group supporting the recall of Sen. Evie Hudak gathered signatures from a table on Oct. 22 in Arvada.
A group supporting the recall of state Sen. Evie Hudak gathered signatures from a table on Oct. 22 in Arvada. (Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post file)
Two of Hudak's Democratic colleagues, Sens. John Morse of Colorado Springs and Angela Giron of Pueblo, were ousted from office in September despite millions of dollars and endless resources trying to defend them.
It was the first recall of a state legislator in Colorado history, and recall opponents argued it set a dangerous precedent.
"This decision has been difficult to make. I believe I have listened closely to the ideas and concerns of my constituents in the past five years, both through over 100-town hall meetings and community coffees I have hosted, and in the thousands of e-mails and phone calls from engaged citizens in my community," wrote Hudak.
Hudak won a tough re-election bid in 2012, winning her northern Jefferson County seat by fewer than 600 votes over Republican Lang Sias. Conventional wisdom said she wouldn't survive a recall if it were put to a vote.
If that happened, Democrats would lose control of the Colorado Senate; with Morse and Giron gone and Republicans taking their seats, Democrats now only have an 18-17 edge.
"I am incredibly saddened to lose such a dedicated public servant in our Senate caucus. Senator Hudak is a tireless advocate for at-risk individuals, women, seniors, and for the education of Colorado's children. She has accomplished great things for her District and the people of Colorado, and she will be greatly missed," Senate President-elect Morgan Carroll, an Aurora Democrat, said in a statement.
Hudak was one of four Democratic lawmakers initially targeted because of votes on gun legislation, but supporters dropped their bid in the summer. They renewed their efforts after Morse and Giron were ousted.
Gun-rights activists in Colorado and nationally ripped Hudak for her inartful questioning of a rape victim during a hearing in March on a bill to ban weapons on campus. The woman told lawmakers that had she been permitted to use her concealed-carry permit and carry her gun on campus, the e incident may have ended differently.
Hudak disagreed.
"I just want to say that, actually statistics are not on your side even if you had a gun," Hudak said, during the hearing. "And, chances are that if you would have had a gun, then he would have been able to get that from you and possibly use it against you."
She received a torrent of vile and threatening e-mails and phone calls after the exchange.
Hudak, of Westminster, formerly served on the state Board of Education, and was passionate about education issues at the legislature.
She is known for her use of social media and for always having her phone close by.
When senators in 2009 discussed a rule that prevented them from using "wireless devices" during official votes on bills, Hudak couldn't resist.
"I guess you're going to have to pry my BlackBerry out of my cold, dead hands. I'm with Obama on this," she joked, referring to the president's decision to keep his device.
She tweeted during the New Orleans' Saints Super Bowl victory in 2010: "Are they cheering my name (HU-DAK)? - oh, right, WHO DAT! Yea, Saints!"
But she was criticized in October after Channel 4 reported that during a two-day legislative hearing Hudak regularly tweeted, surfed the Web and updated her Facebook page with "information that had nothing do with the hearings."
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