Adams County Republicans » Candidates

Former Brighton Mayor Jan Pawlowski runs for county commissioner

ADCO GOP Administrator — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:37:07 +0000

Former Brighton Mayor Jan Pawlowski is hoping to return to life in public office.

Pawlowski, a Republican, is challenging embattled County Commissioner Alice Nichol, who has been linked to a scandal involving Quality Paving. Nichol, who was first elected county commissioner in 2004, is up for re-election this fall.

Pawlowski served as mayor of Brighton for eight years before leaving because of term limits. Prior to becoming mayor, she also served six years on Brighton’s City Council.

In a statement, Pawlowski said she hopes to restore integrity to the office of county commissioner.

“Adams County has been my home for the past 45 years, and it distresses me to see the negative publicity the county is receiving,” Pawlowski said. “We need change and I feel my political and community experience will bring a positive change to the board of county commissioners.”

Nichol, a Democrat, would be seeking her third term as county commissioner in District 2. She was elected to the Board of Commissioners in November 2004, re-elected in November 2008, and currently serves as vice chairman.

http://yourhub.denverpost.com/adamscounty/former-brighton-mayor-jan-pawlowski-runs-county-commissioner/o1IbGvo49R06TwSXNbcpSL-story

Joey Kirchmer: 303-954-2650 or jkirchmer@denverpost.com

Old regime county commissioner to leave office rather than face voters again

ADCO GOP Administrator — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:14:11 +0000

Adams County Commissioner Skip Fischer announced this week that he will not seek reelection for a third term. One of two commissioners now on the board with ties to the county’s scandalous history, Fischer saw the writing on the wall and will slip into history rather than go down in defeat in November.

As a commissioner representing the county’s District 1, Fischer did manage to avoid many of the scandals that plagued current commissioner Alice Nichol and former commissioner Larry Pace. Fischer however was intimately involved and voted on many questionable deals that have come to light.

The list of scandals that have disgraced the county in recent years is long and not-so distinguished. While Nichol and Pace were truly the bad seeds on the board, Fischer found himself caught in the middle.

Fischer was aware of what was going on and he certainly was complicit, casting votes without dissention on many key issues like the no bid contracts received by Quality Paving. However it is our impression that he wanted to do the right thing but simply did not know how to or did not have the guts to take a stand.

Following on Pace’s loss in November 2010, Erik Hansen assumed a seat on the dais and has been working on pushing through reforms to clean up county government. The moves are commendable but have been slow to take shape and not as extensive as what they should be – likely due to the old guard Fischer and Nichol still maintaining control.

Fischer’s exit opens the door for Adams Count y voters to continue the process of cleaning up the mess in Brighton and install politicians that are worthy of the office. Voters will need to be wary of who they cast their vote for as they are plenty of members of the Adams Family waiting in the wings to take Fischer’s place and this cannot be allowed.

Will Alice run?

There has not been any official word as to whether or not disgraced Commissioner Alice Nichol will seek reelection. The rumor mill has it that she is seriously considering running, apparently thinking that Adams County voters are stupid enough to return the ethically challenged commissioner to office.

Challengers are already lining up to knock Nichol off should she decide to seek a third term. Hanging over her head as well is an investigation being conducted by the Jefferson County District Attorney’s office into her dealings.

The outcome of the investigation matters little as Nichol’s role has been well documented. She would do well to step aside and save voters the trouble of kicking her butt out.

http://www.tonysrants.com/thornton/old-regime-county-commissioner-to-leave-office-rather-than-face-voters-again/

Join us at the People’s House Roundup in Westminster

ADCO GOP Administrator — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:06:56 +0000

I am letting you know of a People's House Round-Up that is going on in Westminster. Many have already occurred in Colorado and the Westminster one is scheduled for November 9th. These are great events that allow local folks to talk with their legislators as well as meet members of the Colorado House Leadership team. The small donor funds raised at the event will help expand our majorities in 2012. Since the energy and turnout has been so great, this is one of three additional locations to be added.

Please feel free to forward this invitation to any and all of the Republicans in our part of the Front Range.

Regards,

Rep. Priola

Kevin Priola

State Representative

House District 30

12255 Ursula St. Henderson CO. 80640

303.882.5486

www.kevinpriola.com

Join members of the Colorado House Republican Leadership and your local State Representatives for food, drink, and conversation.

Fundraiser benefitting The People's House, small donor committee

Dedicated to Expanding our Republican Majority in 2012

Suggested Contribution $50 per person

Please make checks payable to “The People’s House SDC”

If you have any questions or would like to RSVP please send an email to peopleshouseroundup@gmail.com

Visit www.peopleshouseroundup.org to donate online.

Colorado House Representative (HD-31) Kevin Priola is raising money for the House Leadership Fund on Wednesday, November 9, 6:00-7:30 p.m., at The Ranch County Club (Tejon/120th) in Westminster. The small donor contribution to this event is $50.

Not only are we are hoping for 100 attendees who will hear about the House's plan to increase its slim one-vote majority but also urging contributions from those unable to attend the event.

Thank you for your assistance in supporting this extremely important part of our House leadership's role in keeping the Colorado House of Representatives!

RVSP to : kpriola@hotmail.com

Your 2011 Republican Municipal Candidates

ADCO GOP Administrator — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 20:27:00 +0000

The 2011 Municipal elections will be held Tuesday November 1st

Here is a list of REPUBLICAN candidates in Mayoral, City Council, and School Board Races in Adams

County. We are in the last few campaign weeks before the mail-ballots drop on October 11. This is a

time when candidates NEED YOUR HELP. When it was supplied to me, I included contact info for the

candidate. For the others, Google the candidate’s name and either the city/state or the school district

number. If the candidate has a website, which should have contact info, you can find it that way.

Folks, these races are IMPORTANT. The races are “non-partisan,” but all that means is that there is no R

or D after the candidate’s name on the ballot. It has nothing to do with the principles held by a candidate

and where we throw our support. The Dems have been taking most of these seats for years, and the

Progressive agenda has been showing up in our cities and schools. We need to take back control at every

level of government. PLEASE help out. If you have trouble finding info for a candidate, contact me at 303-

457-1291 or heypattymac@juno.com, and I will help you search.

– Patty McCoy

Chair, Adams County Republicans

Link to: 2011 Republican Municipal Candidates

Adams County Commissioners Refer Ballot Question to Voters

ADCO GOP Administrator — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:59:30 +0000

State Law Mandates Referral of this Measure to the 2012 General Election

08/31/2011 – The Adams County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution in public hearing today, directing county staff to prepare a ballot question asking voters whether or not to increase the Board of County Commissioners from three to five members. This resolution represents a commitment the board made as part of the strategic reform package adopted on May 25, 2011.

"We promised citizens we would enact sweeping reforms to bring good and responsible government to Adams County," said Chairman W. R. "Skip" Fischer. "Today, we are following through on another reform measure."

The board recently conducted a public opinion poll to gauge residents' interest in restructuring county government to establish a Home Rule Charter Commission and/or change from a three to five member board of commissioners. The results of the poll, conducted by Ciruli Associates, found more support for considering a board expansion than for pursuing home rule. The survey further showed the public to be closely divided on the issue of expanding the board, with nearly one-half saying they favored the opportunity to vote on the issue.

"We said that we would bring this issue to our citizens, and now we are able to show that we are listening," said Commissioner Alice J. Nichol. "The people have spoken and we are committed to making sure they are heard."

Through the adopted resolution, the Board of County Commissioners authorized Adams County staff to take action to ensure this issue is referred to Adams County voters at the next possible election. Colorado Revised Statute mandates that this type of question may only be referred to the registered electors of the county at a General Election occurring each even-numbered year. The next General Election is Nov. 6, 2012.

"We are following through on every promise we made to citizens in May," said Commissioner Erik Hansen. "This is just one of the many reforms we are moving forward to establish a transparent and accountable system of government in Adams County."

Click the link called "Ballot Question Referred to Voters" under County Updates to view the resolution and survey results.

http://www.co.adams.co.us/

Republican Mark Nicastle prevails in suit against Democrat Sheriff Doug Darr

ADCO GOP Administrator — Fri, 13 May 2011 06:49:17 +0000

May 12, 2011 | 03:04 PM by Scott Gilbert/METRONORTH NEWS

A federal jury sided with Adams County Sheriff's Sgt. Mark Nicastle on Thursday in his lawsuit against Sheriff Doug Darr.

Nicastle alleged that Darr had retaliated against him for seeking the position of sheriff by disciplining Nicastle in 2007 and 2008 and then demoting him from lieutenant to sergeant. The jury awarded Nicastle $99,000 for emotional pain and suffering, $24,600 for lost wages resulting from his demotion, and $1 in punitive damages.

Darr won a third term in November, defeating Nicastle by about 6 percentage points in a three-way race.

Judge Robert Blackburn will decide at a later date whether to reinstate Nicastle as a lieutenant or award him so-called "front pay" for what he might have earned in the future. A ruling on whether to award attorney fees and litigation costs also will be decided by the judge, said Don Sisson, who served with Reid Elkus as Nicastle's legal team. The county will be responsible for paying damages.

Darr, who was represented by Assistant County Attorney Heidi Miller with assistance from paralegal Kelly Vis, alleged that the disciplinary actions and demotion were based solely on behavioral and performance issues.

When asked for comment after the verdict, Nicastle requested time before responding. Darr said none of the decisions he made were based on politics. He said he was term-limited at the time of the disciplinary actions and demotion, and said he steered clear of a 2009 ballot question that cleared the way for county officeholders to seek a third term.

Scott Gilbert can be reached at scottg@metronorthnews.com

http://www.great8newspapers.com/Articles-c-2011-05-12-220151.114125-sub-Nicastle-prevails-in-suit-against-Darr.html

Re-elect Beth Humenik Campaign Kick-Off

ADCO GOP Administrator — Thu, 12 May 2011 14:39:34 +0000

Campaign Kick-off

Meet Beth Humenik, Ward 3 City Council member

Join Clark Bolser and former Adams County Commissioner Marty Flaum to launch the campaign to re-elect Beth Humenik.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

2-4 p.m.

United Chinese Restaurant

4150 E. 128th Avenue in Thornton (just east of Colorado Blvd.)

Beth Humenik is the current Ward 3 City Council member and a college instructor.

"Thornton needs a proven leader to continue building a vibrant, strong community. Getting people back to work, maintaining service levels, quality of life and public safety are still high priority needs for our citizens."

E-mail: "Times New Roman";color:blue">bethhumenikward3@yahoo.com

Website: "Times New Roman";color:blue">www.bethforcouncil.com

GOP Chair candidates differ on particulars

ADCO GOP Administrator — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 03:32:40 +0000

GOP Chair candidates differ on particulars

…Such as what to do with a ‘RINO’

3/4/2011

By Ernest Luning

THE COLORADO STATESMAN

The four candidates for Colorado Republican Party chairman agreed that if a GOP candidate needs a lecture, it ought to be done out of public view — but that’s about the only topic that found all of them taking the same position at a forum on Feb. 24 at the Bemis Public Library in Littleton.

Whether it was the prospect of turning municipal elections partisan, if there’s such a thing as a RINO (“Republican in Name Only”), or even whether the chairman position should be paid, at least one of the four staked out a contrary position, sometimes sharply at odds with his fellow candidates.

Current state GOP Vice Chair Leondray Gholston, standing, makes a point at a forum for party chair candidates Feb. 24 in Littleton. Other candidates who attended are, from left, state Sen. Steve Harvey, Ryan Call and Matt Arnold. Moderator Lori Horn of forum organizers R Block Party looks on.

Photo by Ernest Luning/The Colorado Statesman

The forum, attended by more than 100 Republicans, was organized by the conservative group R Block Party, and featured chairman candidates Matt Arnold, head of the Clear the Bench campaign aimed at Supreme Court justices in the last election; Ryan Call, the state party’s legal counsel for five years and until recently chairman of the Denver County Republicans; state Sen. Ted Harvey, R-Highlands Ranch, who claims the endorsement of a majority of Republican legislators and a number of last year’s statewide candidates; and current state Vice Chairman Leondray Gholston, who works as a defense contractor in Aurora and laments that he isn’t represented by a single Republican, from state legislator on up. A fifth candidate, recent Michigan transplant Barton Baron, who is running on a ticket with a vice chairman and secretary candidate, skipped the forum.

State Republicans will pick new leadership on March 26 at the biennial state central committee meeting at Douglas County High School in Castle Rock. GOP Chairman Dick Wadhams announced last month he was dropping his bid for a third term. In his letter to state Republicans, Wadhams said he was “tired of those who are obsessed with seeing conspiracies around every corner and who have terribly misguided notions of what the role of the state party is,” and warned against the notion that simply “uniting conservatives” is the path to victory in Colorado.

An audience member at the Littleton forum stated bluntly, “I didn’t like Dick,” and went on to suggest that some of the candidates have been accused of “being his voice.” He then asked, “How are you different than Mr. Wadhams?”

Gholston, who has made a point of saying he isn’t distancing himself from the Wadhams regime, nonetheless said he comes at the party from a different perspective. “I have more of a grassroots background,” he said. “I think Dick takes a top-down approach, I’m a bottom-up kind of guy.”

“I’m Ted Harvey,” Harvey said to cheers and laughter. After a beat, he continued: “If you recall, I’m the one that ran against Dick. There’s not one other person up here who took the leadership to run for this seat when we knew there was a problem that had to be changed.”

Call allowed that he’s worked closely with Wadhams over the last four years but pointed out he has worked equally with county parties and candidates, and added that he’s been “fighting conservative battles” since his school days at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he headed the College Republicans. “I will do things very, very differently than our current chairman,” Call said.

“I’m much better looking,” began Arnold, with one of many quips he sprinkled throughout the discussion. But then he turned serious. Contrary to Harvey’s assertion, Arnold said, he’d been exploring a candidacy since before Wadhams withdrew, and the timing of his announcement was “dictated by stategery” (repeated use of the Saturday Night Live-inspired malapropism was another of Arnold’s trademarks). Then he turned more serious still: “Unlike Dick Wadhams, I will not actively sabotage the fundraising efforts of any candidate or cause that is out there promoting Republican principles.”

Asked by forum moderator Lori Horn to “define a RINO,” three of the candidates said they plan to retire the term if they win the party election, but the fourth made a case for it.

“I really do hate this term,” Gholston said. “I fight for the right to be called Republican — I’m the only one in my whole family … I’m not willing to take that right away from anybody.”

“We have to unite around the principles that make our party great, we cannot be pointing fingers at each other,” Harvey said. “Right now our party is divided worse than I’ve ever seen it, ever, in the 20-some-odd years I’ve been involved in politics.” He added that Republicans ought to be united trying to beat Democrats and not waste energy squabbling with each other.

Noting that his years as a Denver Republican have taught him that not all Republicans are going to agree about everything, Call asked the audience to toss out the purity tests. “We cannot afford to be pointing fingers at each other and drawing lines,” he said. “If you want to identify yourself as a Republican, you’re going to find a welcoming place in the party. It’s critically important that we tone down that divisive rhetoric.”

Arnold begged to differ.

“There are RINOs,” he said, riffing off a comment made by Gholston. “They’re not just endangered species.” He said the party ought to be concerned about “putting someone in office who will advance our principles” and not work to elect just anyone “with an R behind their names.” As an example, he said, the Coca Cola Company spends plenty on quality control “to ensure that when you buy a coke and pop open a can that what you’re getting is Coke. Our brand is important.”

Arnold painted perhaps the most vivid portrait of the problems he sees with the Republican Party under Wadhams later in the discussion. Calling last year’s mixed results at the ballot box “a horrible opportunity lost,” he evoked his earlier comments about the Coca Cola Company maintaining quality control over the brand.

“We must be able to reestablish the trust that the Republican brand actually stands for something,” he said. “And when you pop open that Coke, you’re going to get a Coke, not a rat head. We’ve had too many rats’ heads in our Coke bottles.”

Earlier, several of the candidates called for Republicans to stop attacking each other over perennially divisive issues, including Referendum C and the abortion debate.

“The stakes are just too high in this upcoming election for us to remain divided,” Call said. “The job of the party chairman is to create an open and a welcoming party. We need to stand for liberty, for limited government, but we have to recognize within our party there is room for honest disagreement on legislative policy.”

Looking exasperated, Call continued: “Within our party, you are still a good Republican if you believe the right to choose is a decision to be made between a woman, her doctor, her conscience and her God. It’s OK if you believe that sometimes, as a Republican, you can vote to keep extra revenue for your school district.” The party chair should focus on what unites Republicans, Call said, not on what divides them.

Gholston took up the same theme, calling himself a “nutty, right-wing conservative” but stressing that he doesn’t believe everyone in the world needs to share his views. “News flash!” he said. “We can’t do anything about abortion, we can’t do anything about it anyway. The council of nine has already ruled. So it does us no good to go butting our heads up and beating each other up year after year after year. I’ve established I’m a right-winger, but I’m so sick of that nonsense, I’m so sick of it.”

Republicans have been purifying themselves out of office, Gholston suggested. “The simple fact is, without majorities, we can’t even begin to address all the other issues that are going on right now.”

Branding himself a “Constitutional conservative,” Arnold said that fealty to the U.S. Constitution was his only litmus test. “There’s no compromise in that,” he said and then warned against getting distracted by wedge issues Democrats could exploit to turn Republican against Republican.

“There are areas where we’re going to have some disagreement — we’re not cookie-cutters, we’re not Democrats, we’re not Communists, we don’t have a Politburo deciding our policy.”

Harvey acknowledged that not every GOP candidate in the state can be as strictly conservative as Douglas County Republicans.

“As state chair, my goal is to make sure everybody is on the same page, going the same direction, to elect Republicans. Whether they are pro-choice Republicans in a moderate district or hard-core Republicans,” he said, party leadership needs to talk “about what we are for, not what we are against.”

— Ernest@coloradostatesman.com

http://www.coloradostatesman.com/content/992629-gop-chair-candidates-differ-particulars

State GOP Chair candidates speak at R Block Party south

ADCO GOP Administrator — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 16:12:56 +0000

Business owner to run for Thornton mayor

ADCO GOP Administrator — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 00:31:19 +0000

February 17, 2011 | 10:42 AM

Heidi Williams, a Thornton business owner and Adams 12 school board member, has set her sights on becoming the city’s next mayor.

The Republican will be on this November’s ballot, seeking to fill the seat vacated by Erik Hansen when he joined the Board of County Commissioners last month. The Thornton City Council now is operating with eight members after failing to award any member enough votes to become mayor.

Revitalization of south Thornton is a big issue for Williams, who chairs the Thornton Revitalization Advisory Board. Williams, who owns A Scrub Stop and More, a business offering medical garb and other workwear, also wants Thornton to be more friendly to small business.

"We need to revitalize," she said. "My shop is sort of on the edge of the sub-area we’re revitalizing."

"We’re definitely in the decline mode right now, so we need to change that," the Ward 2 resident said.

"We need to make some changes" to revitalize neighborhoods, such as requiring "residents that aren’t doing a good job do a better job," Williams said.

Williams would "like to see something done with the shopping center on 88th and Washington," she said. She also would like to see "better code enforcement" with the possibility of being stricter and having more consequences. "I’m not sure there are enough consequences for people who are not complying," she said.

She wants to see Thornton do a better job of competing regionally "for jobs and competing for people to come in and shop in Thornton and not leave Thornton to go shop elsewhere."

"We lose a lot of revenue in Thornton," she said.

Williams said that in her experience, it’s hard to open a business in Thornton, and although she’s heard that the city’s process has gotten better, she believes there is room for improvement.

Williams, who opened her store in 2004, said there was "a lot of one department not talking to another department." It took about four months for her to put up thin walls in the space, she said, and there was "not a lot of help, not a lot of customer service."

Thornton’s last two mayors, Hansen and Noel Busck, have left the position for other offices. "I have no other plans on the horizon," said Williams, who would step down from the school board if elected. "I have every interest in fulfilling at least one term, and two if re-elected."

Williams, who is married to Toby Williams, said she wanted to mention that she is a mother of three: a 16-year-old son, a 5-year-old daughter and "a little guy that’s almost 2."

Hansen will host Williams’ campaign kickoff event at 6 p.m. on Feb. 24 at her store, at 550 E. Thornton Parkway, unit 218. All city residents are invited, and can find out more by going online to heidiforthornton.com or calling Williams at 303-819-9722.

http://www.great8newspapers.com/Articles-c-2011-02-17-218995.114125-sub-Business-owner-to-run-for-Thornton-mayor.html