KUSA — 9NEWS has called the State Treasurer race for Democrat Dave Young over Republican Brian Watson.
As state treasurer, Young will be the state's head banker, replacing Walker Stapleton. Young will oversee managing the state's investments and will keep track of surpluses and deficits.
A large part of the next state treasurer's job will be managing the ballooning costs of PERA - the Public Employee Retirement Association. PERA manages the retirement benefits for the state's 560,000 public employees.
In June, Gov. John Hickenlooper signed a pension reform bill meant to help fill Colorado's $32 billion pension hole. The state treasurer has a voting seat on PERA’s board. It will be up to Young, as the next state treasurer, to help bring costs under control.
