2006 Colorado's 4th congressional district election
Frederic A. "Eric" Eidsness, Jr. (born December 1, 1944), is an American political figure. A former Reagan appointee within the Environmental Protection Agency, Eidsness is currently a Reform Party candidate for the 4th Congressional district in Colorado, currently held by Republican Marilyn Musgrave.
A veteran of the United States Navy, Eidsness served in Vietnam 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.
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.
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. 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.
A self-described "fiscal conservative" and "social moderate," Eidsness has been critical of the U.S. War in Iraq, and has called for a concrete timetable for troop withdrawal. 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; he also supported Democratic nominee John Kerry during the 2004 presidential election and was a leader of Republicans for Kerry in Colorado. Eidsness holds more traditionally conservative positions with regard to stricter enforcement of U.S. immigration policy and control of government spending.
References
- Reagan's water assistant might challenge Musgrave, Fort Collins Coloradoan, 31 August 2005.
- Paccione, Musgrave officially have competition, Fort Collins Coloradoan, 1 April 2006.