On the surface, these are the best of days for Democrat moderates in elected office and the worst of days for their Republican counterparts. Democrats John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet are cheerfully influential in D.C., while defeated Republicans Scott Tipton and Corey Gardner sit gloomily on the sidelines. Joe Biden passes consequential legislation without GOP support, while the Man from Mar-a-Lago calls on his followers to get rid of GOP moderates.Â
National politics have often been complex and unpredictable â just ask Hillary Clinton. I have no idea whatâs going to happen in 2024, so letâs move on and focus on the Colorado Republican Party. Personally, Iâm pretty much OK with moderate Dems in charge, but an enfeebled opposition is bad for the state and bad for democracy.
Now comes one more, losing one of Manitou Springsâ finest civic leaders of the past generation.
Mark Morland, who served 10 years (1997-2007) on Manitouâs City Council, the final 11 months as mayor before his career in public service was cut far short of its potential, passed away Dec. 8 at 58 after a long struggle against Huntingtonâs disease.Â
He had been gone from the political scene for more than a decade, as the slow but irreversible wrath of that neurodegenerative disease robbed him in every way.
Morland was set up perfectly for major accomplishments in life. After graduating from Coronado High School in 1980, he was accepted to Harvard and studied government, graduating cum laude in 1984. He eventually would earn a masterâs degree at the London School of Economics.
Morrison didn’t know Morland when she became mayor but quickly came to like him.
“He was there at council meetings faithfully,” she said. “He was hard-working, and I knew if council members had different points of view and I called on Mark, he would come up with something that we could all agree to.”
Morland also possessed what Morrison called “a wonderful mind.”
But he kept quiet about his physical problems.
While Morland was on the City Council, clues that there might be something wrong began appearing, Morrison said.
Morland sometimes would fall out of his chair, Morrison said, and with his characteristic good sense of humor would joke about being clumsy.