By Jerry Kopel

I was sifting through thousands of pieces of papers and documents that will eventually end up in the Western History section of the Denver Public Library, when I found a newspaper whose existence I hardly recalled. It was "The New Political Newspaper" which had a brief life beginning 15 years ago in March, 1988 under editor and publisher Jody Strogoff.

The paper eventually transformed into the already existing Colorado Statesman with the same makeup, type, features and columns The New Political Newspaper had in 1988. The issue in my possession was No. 5 and it contained the biographies of three who are STILL on the publication list. I'll summarize, starting with Jody Strogoff.

"The transplanted New Yorker got her first real taste of true Western life as a cub reporter in the boom-and-bust town of Craig and in the more serene surroundings of Steamboat Springs where she lived for almost three years in the 1970s.

"After initially blowing her credibility with natives there by mistakenly labeling fallen antlers as "driftwood" in a photo caption, she soon caught on to the lingo of the land.

"She has a degree in journalism from the University of Colorado. That was followed by a Master's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri. She interned in Washington, D.C. where she covered the natural gas deregulation hearings on the Hill...and the Republican and Democratic national conventions in 1980 and 1984.

"She spent ten years as reporter/photographer/editor of the Colorado Statesman newspaper where she cut her teeth on covering politics in the state."

Next is Cheryl Meyer who is presently art director and was then "responsible for the graphic format of the paper. She is a graphics designer with Lafayette Studio who is no stranger to newspaper work. With Walt Kinderman, she acquired the old Colorado Democrat, as the state party was abandoning it and transformed it to the Colorado Statesman.

"She serves as design consultant for several papers and in her non-newspaper activities works with a number of writers and other media professionals in producing brochures, advertisements and trade publications. She also generates logos and corporate identities."

(Writer's note: At one time in her life, she was a constituent of mine and made the terrible decision of supporting my opponent.)

Next is Ron Pudim the "fantastic cartoonist" whose cartoon, as always, is on page 2. It showed Steve Durham as a sheriff holding a smoking gun in his left hand and his right foot resting on the corpse of a man holding a beer can next to a car labeled Drunk Drivers. And Steve says "Don't stop them and test them. Shoot them is my motto."

Pudim has lived in Colorado since 1963 and in Boulder since l964. He hails originally from Wilkes-Barre, PA.

(Pudim describes himself) "I am liberal, vote mostly Democratic, and am a rabid environmentalist. If you grew up next to a hard coal mine, you'd be one too."

He holds degrees from Rutgers (chemistry) Tulane (microbiology) and CU (philosophy). "I plan to become a responsible adult, a pompous ass and a Republican sometime after the year 2000. I have a number of entertaining vices, a few virtues, and no redeeming social values."

Pudim confesses "I have a love affair going with Colorado. It will probably prove fatal."

This edition of Jody's paper was filled with pictures of George Bush (the elder) campaigning in Colorado, and who, as we now know, went from vice president to president in 1988.

If Pudim ever produces a book of his Statesman cartoons, I'll be in line to buy one.

(Jerry Kopel served 22 years in the Colorado House.)