May Says He'll Delay Retirement

Rep. Mike May surprised his colleagues at the Capitol today by saying he'll stick around awhile after all.

May, who announced last week that he'd retire before the start of the legislative session in January, said he'll delay his retirement due to unexplained interference in the process of choosing his successor as minority leader.

"Today I have made the difficult decision to temporarily delay my retirement from the House because of my sense of duty to the members of the Republican caucus," May, R-Parker, said in a statement. "With the possibility that outside influences may have attempted to interfere with the leadership election, and the reality of a delayed election, I do not feel that now would be an appropriate time to leave."

May did not elaborate.

"I will remain the representative of House District 44 and will continue to serve as minority leader until this situation has been resolved, as long as that may take," May said.

The House GOP caucus will have to meet sometime either before or after the start of the legislative session in January to work out the party's leadership in the chamber. May did not say how long he would stay or how long he expected that process to take.

Rep. David Balmer, R-Centennial, and Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, are jockeying to replace May as House Republican leader.

May was appointed minority leader in 2006 after his predecessor Joe Stengel, R-Littleton, resigned in the aftermath of a scandal relating to per diem payments.