MANITOU SPRINGS, CO -- Donna Ward is back ... and with a vengence!

With the position of Hair Consultant vacant and up for grabs in the upcoming April 2002 election, Donna Ward announced her candidacy in her Manitou Springs home.

Appearing relaxed as she poured coffee in her kitchen, Ward declared her determination to be Steve's next Hair Consultant. "You bet I'm running for Hair Consultant … I've got to. Someone needs to make sure you're doing the right things with your hair." exclaimed Donna.

Ward, who served as Steve's 5th Hair Consultant in 1999, did not share specific hair-related policies for Steve's long, naturally curly hair, but she did disclose her campaign slogan: An Exciting Time for Steve's Hair. Donna is best known for feeding Steve with her home-cooked food on many occasions and her principled - and sometimes outspoken - stand against Steve wearing his hair in a pony tail.

Donna, a married Manitou Springs resident and mother of three, claimed she learned a lot from last year's election, when she unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Hair Consultant, Dawnn. If she wins this time, she will be sworn-in as the 9th Hair Consultant ever to serve Steve's hair. At this time, Ward is only known candidate but others are expected to announce before the March 1 deadline.

"I think it's great (that) Donna is running, but if she loses again," explained Steve, "she'll be compared to John Elway when he lost all those Super Bowls."

With the exception of Donna's oldest son Eric, who also did not support her in 2001, all members of the Ward family support Donna's candidacy.

"I really want my Mom to be Hair Consultant because I don't want her to be upset like the way she was last year." said 10-year-old Amber Ward.

If the Ward campaign needs any encouragement, it should be pleased with the newly reapportioned electoral college, which demonstrates greater voting power to districts she is popular in: Manitou Springs (54 electoral votes) and Spice of Life Café (21 electoral votes).

Steve originally met Donna and her family when he spent countless hours inside her coffee shop, Stanley Arbuckle's. After Steve spent so much time in the shop pitying himself and 'drowning his sorrows' in coffee, Donna named a sandwich after him on her menu. Sadly, her business closed in 1999 when the building she rented was condemned.