Media Tip Sheet: Colorado State University Experts on Political Campaigns, Upcoming Election

Election Day is nearing and Colorado State University has experts available to help media outlets put national and state candidate races, as well as ballot initiatives and referenda, into perspective for their audiences. The following list of faculty members is provided for media use only, not members of the general public.

Colorado politics:

John Staayer, professor of political science at Colorado State, has more than 40 years of researching and teaching Colorado politics, and for more than 25 years, he has supervised Colorado State’s internship program at the Colorado state capitol. Straayer can speak on state candidate races, the Colorado gubernatorial race, ballot initiatives and referenda and Colorado political history. To speak with Straayer, contact Nik Olsen at (970) 491-7766 or Nik.Olsen@colostate.edu.

Local politics/administration:

Scott T. Moore is an associate professor of political science at Colorado State University. He has lived in and observed Colorado’s politics for over 20 years. He specializes in state and local politics, public administration, and he has recently focused his research on Colorado tax politics and the state’s citizen-initiated financial policies. To speak with Moore, contact Nik Olsen at (970) 491-7766 or Nik.Olsen@colostate.edu.

Campaign finance/527 group activity:

Robert J. Duffy is a professor of political science at Colorado State. Duffy’s research and interests include American politics, with particular emphases on elections, interest groups and energy policy. Duffy’s research has included topics relating to campaign finance, including the role of independent spending in federal elections. To speak with Duffy, contact Nik Olsen at (970) 491-7766 or Nik.Olsen@colostate.edu.

Party/voter behavior:

Kyle L. Saunders is an assistant professor of political science at Colorado State. Saunders’ studies and interests include American politics, with particular emphases on public opinion, political behavior, elections, political parties and political methodology. Saunders’ research has included topics relating to political parties, the attitudes and behaviors of the electorate, campaign finance and electoral politics. To speak with Saunders, contact Nik Olsen at (970) 491-7766 or Nik.Olsen@colostate.edu.

Political rhetoric:

Karrin Anderson is an associate professor of speech communication at Colorado State. Anderson’s research focuses on contemporary U.S. political culture. She examines the ways in which political identity is rhetorically constructed and contested in popular media. Current work critiques the role of metaphor in contemporary politics and the function of gender in public leadership. Her interest extends to developing rhetorical theories that enhance human agency in contemporary political culture. To speak with Anderson, contact Nik Olsen at (970) 491-7766 or Nik.Olsen@colostate.edu.

Renewable energy:

Wade Troxell, associate dean for research and economic development in the College of Engineering, can talk about the significance of clean and renewable energy research in Colorado and the many industry partnerships between community leaders, economic development officials and university researchers occurring in northern Colorado, the state and the nation. To talk with Troxell, contact Emily Narvaes Wilmsen at (970) 491-2336 or Emily.Wilmsen@colostate.edu.

Retirement issues/PERA:

Vickie Bajtelsmit, finance professor in the College of Business, can talk about the impact of elections on personal finances, taxes and jobs. She is an expert on retirement issues and can talk about issues related to the Colorado Public Employees’ Retirement Association. To speak with Bajtelsmit, contact Emily Narvaes Wilmsen at (970) 491-2336 or Emily.Wilmsen@colostate.edu.

Elections and the economy:

Sanjay Ramchander, associate professor of finance in the College of Business, can talk about the impact of elections on the stock market, the economy and international markets. He is an expert on corporate finance, energy and oil futures and what’s happening to gas prices. To speak with Ramchander, contact Emily Narvaes Wilmsen at (970) 491-2336 or Emily.Wilmsen@colostate.edu.