BOULDER, Colo. -- Bruce Benson spent much of his day Tuesday addressing concerns from the faculty and students he hopes to represent as president at the University of Colorado.

Benson is the sole candidate for the position vacated by Hank Brown.

“Not everyone’s going to like me, not everyone’s going to want me. You learn this when you’re in the political business,” Benson told 7NEWS following an afternoon forum for faculty.

Benson’s political background and career in the oil and mining industry have fueled criticism on campus.

“I think this great university can do a lot better and there’s a better future for us not under your leadership,” said Jaime Nagle, a faculty member in the Department of Physics.

Benson is a former chair of the Colorado Republican Party. He also served as chairman of the state high education commission and Metropolitan State College of Denver board of trustees.

He earned an undergraduate degree in geology in 1964 at CU Boulder. Past presidents have most often had post-graduate degrees.

Benson said he “has the skills CU needs,” and understands the university system.

“I don’t think I have to learn a lot of the job because we have chancellors running the campuses and my job’s going to be a whole lot different than that,” he said.

Benson told faculty and students he has experience in fundraising and managing complex organizations.

“This is a man who’s given generously to our department,” said Mary Krauss, Chair of the Geology Department, in support of Benson.

Benson pledged to put partisan politics aside.

“I’ve always used those connections to further a cause, this is my cause now. I have one cause,” Benson told 7NEWS.

More than 200 students turned out for an evening forum with Benson at the University Memorial Center Tuesday.

Several students held clip boards with petitions in opposition of Benson outside the meeting.

Benson discussed his plans to raise funds for CU and “change the culture” about higher education in the state.

“If we don’t have the funding it’s going to affect tuition,” Benson told the crowd.

Questions from students immediately focused on his position on global warming and renewable fuels given his interest in oil and mining.

“It seems like you understand you need to have leadership on certain things. Climate change is one of those things,” CU student Amy Harris told Benson.

“I know there’s a lot of research going on here, I’m fully supportive of all of it,” Benson responded.

Benson said he also supports programs to increase the number of minority and underrepresented students on campus.

Laughs could be heard from the audience when Benson appeared to struggle when answering a question about defining diversity.

Benson is scheduled to hold another forum then meet privately with the Board of Regents Wednesday.

Regent Steve Bosley told 7NEWS Benson was recommended following a search that began last June. The 17 member search committee weeded through roughly 100 names of people interested in the job, some 25 were examined, and 7 were interviewed by that group, leading to one candidate.

The Board could make a decision late this week, but sources told 7NEWS it will likely be next week before a vote is taken.

Benson said he’s confident he’ll be appointed and mentioned an interview he saw with Sen. Hillary Clinton over the weekend.

“Her comment was ‘of course I’m going to win,’” Benson said.

When asked by 7NEWS, “ Is that your comment?” Benson replied, “Of course that’s my comment.”