Eric Eidsness

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Frederic A. "Eric" Eidsness, Jr. (born December 1, 1944), is an American political figure. A former Reagan appointee within the Environmental Protection Agency, Eidsness was a Reform Party candidate for the 4th Congressional district in Colorado, held by Republican Marilyn Musgrave, in the 2006 U.S. House elections.

A veteran of the United States Navy, Eidsness served in the Vietnam War before coming to work for the federal Water Pollution Control Administration in 1970. In 1975, Eidsness moved to Colorado, where he served with the Larimer-Weld Regional Council of Governments. [1]

In 1981, President Ronald Reagan appointed Eidsness to the post of Assistant Administrator for Water Programs within the Environmental Protection Agency, a post he held until 1987. Eidsness later returned to Colorado in 1991 and in 1999 settled in Fort Collins. [2]

A self-described "fiscal conservative" and "social moderate," [3] Eidsness has been critical of the U.S. War in Iraq, and has called for a concrete timetable for troop withdrawal. [4] Breaking ranks with many Republicans, Eidsness has also expressed opposition to the Federal Marriage Amendment proposed by Marilyn Musgrave, and opposes federal regulation of abortion; [5] he also supported Democratic nominee John Kerry during the 2004 presidential election. [6] Eidsness holds more traditionally conservative positions with regard to stricter enforcement of U.S. immigration policy and control of government spending. [7]

In late 2005, Eidsness launched an exploratory committee to examine the prospect of challenging incumbent Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave in Colorado's 4th Congressional district in the Republican primary. [8] Eidsness instead left the Republican Party and announced his candidacy for U.S. Congress on March 31, 2006, as a member of the Reform Party. [9] Eidsness' campaign garnered multiple newspaper endorsements, including the endorsements of the hometown newspapers of both his major-party opponents. [10] In final returns, he netted over 25,000 votes, or roughly 11% of ballots cast. [11]

In March of 2007, Eidsness declared that he was joining the Democratic Party, declaring: "I am a new Democrat who can bring business savvy and fiscal restraint to the Democratic Party's proposals should I run for Congress in 2008 and win." [12] Media observers speculated that this party switch was a prelude to a second run for Congress in 2008.