As Weld County District Attorney Michael Rourke sat in his office less than two weeks out from election night, he contemplated the next four years. Running unopposed, Rourke has no plans of going anywhere anytime soon. And term limited after this upcoming four-year term — with no intentions of going into politics after — Rourke will be working with a freedom not many in his position experience.
“It really gives us an opportunity to truly run the office the way we think is best,” Rourke said. “Which has always been our main goal, but just without any kind of lingering political consideration or concern bouncing around. “Freeing is a good way of saying it.
” Colorado is the only state to limit the terms of district attorneys, a decision Rourke has somewhat mixed feelings on. “I understand the desire to make sure you don’t have career politicians who are very difficult to vote out of office,” Rourke said. “But at the same, I think we’re losing a lot of expertise based on an artificially imposed deadline.
” When he took over as district attorney — though he had already worked in an administrative role in the office for eight years — it took him six years to feel totally comfortable in the role. That being said, Rourke doesn’t know if he’d have it in him to run for an additional term in four years, even if he could. “Some people have asked me if terms limits went away tomorrow, what would that mean for my career,” Rourke said.
“Fourteen years .