FROM YOUR 

ARAPAHOE COUNTY REPUBLICANS

Issue III

6/4/2022

Welcome to the 3rd Edition of our Newsletter

Here's the third issue of our newly formatted Newsletter. We are grateful to you and to our many subscribers including all of our new members who have recently joined us. Welcome to you all! 

Our goal is to keep you well informed about the work and activities of your Arapahoe County Republican Party as well as updated on issues, concerns and happenings that are important to all "We the People" Conservatives.    

We will send you regular Newsletters which will sometimes include Alerts that deal with pending legislation or issues that are time sensitive. Our website will also provide current and topical content to help keep you informed and active in support of our shared passion for freedom and liberty.

Thank you for your support and your engagement!

Gary 

Gary Houser, Newsletter & Website Editor

Arapahoe County Republican Party

     IN THIS ISSUE     

• Message from the Chair 
• ALERT! PRIMARY ELECTION IS JUNE 28!
• The Candidate Connection - Hear from All Your Primary Election Candidates

Governor's Race

   Heidi Ganahl

   Greg Lopez 

US Senate Race

   Ron Hanks 

   Joe O'Dea

Secretary of State Race

   Pam Anderson

   Mike O'Donnell

   Tina Peters

Arapahoe County Commissioner, District 2 Race

   Jason Presley

   Mark Gotto

State Senate, District 27 Race

   Thomas Kim 

   JulieMarie Shepherd Macklin

• You Have What Voters Want! - Andy Peth
• Connect - Engage - Strengthen  Our Website Supports You

   IN UPCOMING ISSUES   

• Resolutions from Caucuses shaping the State Platform
• The Candidate Connection: Hear from County, State and Federal GOP Candidates
• Perspectives on the Upcoming Election
• Young Voters Move Right 
• The Growing Ethnic Populations of Arapahoe County

 Message from the Chair

In this special Primary Election issue you will find information from all of the Arapahoe County-related candidates competing in the upcoming Primary Election.  We asked and they answered what we hope are important questions you might ask them.  In addition, you'll find a special article from a special author who tells us how to effectively engage with people holding views different from ours. And more.

The Primary Election or Runoff Election to choose our candidates for the General Election is Tuesday, June 28. We feature each of the candidates who face a primary opponent. 

Competitive Races to be decided by the outcome of the Primary Election include:

US Senate: Ron Hanks vs. Joe O'Dea

Colorado Governor: Heidi Ganahl vs. Greg Lopez

Secretary of State: Pam Anderson vs. Mike O'Donnell vs. Tina Peters

State Senate, District 27: Thomas Kim vs. JulieMarie Shepherd Macklin

Arapahoe County Commissioner, District 2: Mark Gotto vs. Jason Presley

You can find links to each of their websites as well as website links for all the other Republican General Election candidates on our website's Candidates page at: 

arapahoerepublicans.org/copy-of-gop-2022-candidates 

Thanks everyone!

Suzanne 

Suzanne Staiert, Chair

Arapahoe County Republican Party

We are the Party that embraces the individual.

Every individual.

The momentum is building.

You can see it. You can feel it.

ALERT!

Primary Election is Tuesday, June 28

IMPORTANT PRIMARY ELECTION INFORMATION

• Election Date: Tuesday, June 28
• Starting June 6, ballots will be mailed to voters
• If you mail-in your ballot - be sure to place a stamp on it
• Postal Service recommends mailing your ballot by June 20 to insure it arrives by June 28
• Your ballot must be received by June 28 to be counted
• Postmark dates do not count as "ballot received" date
• You may also vote in person or drop your ballot at a  Voting Service and Polling Centers (VSPCs) beginning on June 20 and as late as the afternoon of June 28. 
• Find your nearest voting center here: https://www.arapahoevotes.gov/voter-service-polling-centers
• Sign up to track your ballot after you vote here:
• https://arapahoe.ballottrax.net/voter/#/  

“We do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.”

Thomas Jefferson

THE CANDIDATE CONNECTION

We asked all Arapahoe County-related candidates with Primary opponents to submit a 500 word response to the same four questions we posed to each. We wanted to give our readers (You) an opportunity to hear first-hand from them. 

Candidates Contacted

US Senate: Ron Hanks and Joe O'Dea

Governor: Heidi Ganahl and Greg Lopez

Secretary of State: Pam Anderson, Mike O'Donnell and Tina Peters

Colorado State Senate, D 27: Thomas Kim and JulieMarie Shepherd Macklin

Arapahoe County Commissioner, District 2: Mark Gotto and Jason Presley

Questions Asked

The four questions we asked each candidate to address are:

1) What are the major planks of your platform

2) Why should voters choose you vs. your primary opponent

3) How will you attract unaffiliated voters 

4) How would you beat your Democrat opponent in the General Election

Here are Their Responses. 

UNITED STATES SENATE CANDIDATES

Ron Hanks

I am a current Colorado State Representative, first elected in 2020.  My voting record is among the top 7 conservatives in the 73rd Colorado General Assembly.

I am Pro-Life.  I participated in the longest floor fight in Colorado history against the heinous abortion bill introduced this year.  We fought for over 24 hours, demonstrating previously unseen resolve.

In contrast, my opponent is not Pro-Life, and has said repeatedly that he would vote to codify Roe vs. Wade.  That distinction alone should disqualify my opponent from being the Republican nominee.  His abortion stance was only recently revealed, because he skipped the assembly and did not face the voters.  Instead, he paid for signatures to petition on to the primary ballot.   

I faced the voters at assembly, and came away with a remarkable victory.  Five other good candidates stood before the people, and I applaud them for their courage and their solid convictions.  Yet the delegates chose me to move forward.  I am humbled and strengthened by their decision. 

This entire US Senate race is about National Security and Inflation. 

Joe Biden has put us at grave risk and destroyed our economy, and Michael Bennet has enabled Joe’s efforts. 

As a 32-year military veteran specializing in intelligence, I define our greatest

National Security threats to be:   

Border Security.  I went to the southern border in 2018 and 2020 We were working to secure it, but Joe Biden killed the effort.  The 2.5 million persons entering illegally every year, the Chinese fentanyl killing our citizens, and the human trafficking for the sex and slave trade are Joe Biden’s legacy. WE CAN Restore Border Security in months: Finish the Wall and re-empower Border Patrol.

Energy Independence.  We were energy independent before Joe Biden. He destroyed it – and caused tremendous inflation with his decisions. We must override Biden’s edicts, and get permits and pipelines started again. With diesel near $6 (it is already higher in some states), EVERYTHING that travels by truck costs more.  The single biggest thing we can do to reduce inflation is to Restore Energy Independence. I know energy: I fracked in North Dakota, hammering iron and driving trucks with Blue Collar America. American ingenuity and hard work can rebuild in months what Biden has destroyed. 

Manufacturing.  We need Energy Independence (oil, gas, coal, nuclear) so we can bring manufacturing back to America. We get too many goods from China – including most of our pharmaceuticals.  Communist China is an economic and political adversary, and they can halt production, shipments, or raise prices to ruin our economy.  As we’ve seen supply disruptions cause massive price hikes.

We can Restore American Manufacturing, but it will take time.  We must start now. And it will provide good jobs for our middle-class, and vocational skills for our children.

Education.  We must restore traditional education.  Our kids are being indoctrinated, not educated.  Parents must have control at the state and local level.

To that end, I will work to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education.

I ask for your vote and I look forward to representing you in the U.S. Senate.

Ron Hanks

Candidate for United States Senate

Joe O'Dea

I’m an American first — not a party loyalist — but I am a conservative at my core.

I support term limits, a balanced budget, conservative judges, and the Second Amendment. But the economy and inflation are my focus.

Working Coloradans need a champion. Joe Biden has weakened America. Gas is over $4.25 and groceries cost more. And, the reckless spending from Washington, D.C. is making things worse. I’m running to take the fight to Joe Biden and Michael Bennet on these issues.

I was adopted at birth by a Denver cop and stay-at-home mom. I washed dishes to pay my way through Mullen High School and became a carpenter by trade. I left Colorado State early to start a construction company that today employs hundreds of Coloradans.

My life has been forged by hard work and perseverance. On the other hand, my opponent is a single-issue candidate. A politician blowing in the wind. Hanks has flip-flopped on everything from abortion to term limits. Hanks even supported stronger bargaining rights for public sector unions when he was running for office in California. That’s not what Coloradans need right now, instead they need a conservative outsider who knows how to get things done.

I’ve been honored to be endorsed by leading conservatives from across Colorado. Folks like Bill Owens, Hank Brown and Mark Hillman; small government activists like Jon Caldara, Laura Carno, and Michael Fields; rural conservatives like Jerry Sonnenberg from Sterling, Ray Scott from Grand Junction, and Bob Rankin who represents so many mountain communities on the western slope; and dozens of sheriffs, Donald Trump’s U.S. Attorney, and the largest association of police officers in Colorado have all endorsed me. 

Democrats are out-of-touch with the needs of working Americans. I’m focused on the issues that are hurting folks all over Colorado. I’m also not a career politician. I’m a fiscal conservative who loves Colorado and this country. That’s the message I’ll take to unaffiliated voters and even disaffected Democrats.

This is a high-stakes election. Bad policy and weak leadership have defined Biden’s presidency and his buddy Michael Bennet never stands up to it; he is a rubber-stamp for Biden. I will work with anyone, but I’ll be a brick wall against Bidens’ overreach and weakness. I’ll be a voice for working Coloradans. 

I can’t wait to take on Michael Bennet. He doesn’t act like he’s Colorado’s Senator, he acts like he’s Joe Biden’s Senator. Bennet uses his seat to help the Democratic Party instead of the working people of Colorado. I’m running on the issues of today, the same issues Michael Bennet helped create by voting with Biden’s reckless agenda 100 percent of the time.

I’m from Colorado and I’ve lived here my whole life. I’ve earned everything in my life and I’m going to go all across Colorado to debate the important issues and earn people’s vote.

I’ll tell anyone who will listen: I will be a voice for the working men and women of Colorado. I’d be honored to have your support.

Joe O'Dea

Candidate for United States Senate

COLORADO GOVERNOR CANDIDATES

Heidi Ganahl

Colorado is At a Crossroads and We Cannot Gamble on Inexperience

Colorado is at a crossroads. The problems we are facing are not insurmountable. The solution lies in who we pick to lead our state back to the Colorado Way of Life we all know, love, and need.

I am the only candidate for Governor with the experience getting the results necessary to beat Jared Polis. I am the only Republican elected state-wide currently serving in Colorado. In 2016, I beat Polis’ hand picked challenger, Alice Madden and their Colorado Blueprint in my race for CU Regent. In fact, I am the only person in this race for governor who has won as a Republican.

Since I launched my bid for governor, my message has been clear - we must lower our cost of living, crime rates, address the nonsense being taught in schools and mental health crisis, and respect rural Colorado.

Colorado's inflation rate is 9.1 percent, above the national average. Polis’ liberal tax and spend policies are fueling that inflation, which is costing each of us $8,700 a year. In the last 10 years, under Democratic governors, the size of our government has doubled. Polis has added 83 new taxes. He just signed a record $36 billion budget that created two new state agencies and added 12 hundred government jobs.

As governor, I will be a fierce defender of your tax dollars. I led the battle to protect TABOR by chairing No on Proposition CC.  I am a fiscal hawk.  I know how to manage large budgets. I built a $100 million brand from scratch, and created thousands of jobs as the founder of Camp Bow Wow. I will bring us to zero percent income tax, cut the gas tax in half and still fix the roads, and shrink the size of our government by 10% each year I’m in office.

I’m a Mom on a Mission. Education and protecting our kids is a top priority. I have taken the fight for Colorado Freedom to the most liberal place in Colorado - CU. As Regent, I have passed free-speech legislation, gotten rid of safe spaces on campuses, fought to keep tuition flat, and put civics back into the curriculum.

I will use the same passion and dedication to fix our K-12 education system. As a parent, I was a founding member of two charter schools.  And, when my own elementary school kids were learing sex education I was uncomfortable with, I tried to start another charter school. Unfortunately, Jared Polis and his liberal friends blocked my kids and the 700 others that had signed up for this school.

We need true school choice to ensure that 60 percent of our kids are no longer reading below grade level. If we fund the student, not the system, parents will have the choice to find a better solution because each child learns differently. We need transparency in the curriculum that allows parents to know how and what their children are learning.

In 2019, Colorado's violent crime rate rose by nearly double the national rate. We now have the worst car theft, bank robbery and property crime in the nation. I will be a law and order governor by getting our law enforcement the training and resources they need, returning to truth in sentencing, ridding our parole board of those who put criminals before victims and personal recognizance bonds.

And when it comes to rural Colorado, we need to give them a voice. We need to get our energy workers back to work, fight for our water, and get rid of all the extremists Polis has placed on the boards that oversee ag and ranching issues.

My conservative credentials are clear. I am pro-life. I believe in the First Amendment, Second Amendment, state's rights, free markets and the rule of law. As governor, I will trust the people and follow the Constitution and the only thing I will mandate is freedom.

At the end of the day, it’s about electibilty. I am a lifelong Republican, but my message resonates with the 44% of Undecideds living in our state. We must unite as a state to access the Colorado Freedom we all want. I can and will unite Colorado. I can and will defeat Jared Polis.  Like I said, I’ve won against far-left Democrats. I’m ready to do it again in November.

Heidi Ganahl

Candidate for Governor of Colorado

Greg Lopez 

Mob Mentality vs. a Gregorian Republic.

What do banning airplanes, eliminating cows, and universal subway systems have in common? They are all Democrat policy proposals introduced by the Democrat Party. The party of group think, tyranny of the majority and mob mentality. They are the party that does not want the rural vote to be heard. They want to ban all the methane from the cows and have national meat out days. The policies of Greg Lopez seek to combat mob rule by establishing a government where all 64 counties have fair and equitable representation. Higher amplification in minority districts is paramount in a free and fair society.

The Governor’s office is not the place for on-the-job training. It is vitally important that we elect a governor who can assume the full role on day one. Greg has executive experience in government, in non-profit, and in small business. He was a strong mayor in Parker, which means he held the responsibilities of City Manager in addition to Mayor. He knows exactly how to run a local and state government. He understands how to operate bureaucracies in an efficient and unwasteful way. He knows how to identify areas of fraud, waste, and abuse in the budget, and very importantly, how to correct these.

Additionally, Greg will govern as a servant of the Colorado people. He will always listen to the people and service to Colorado will be his ultimate pursuit. This includes correcting the misguided policies that have put our schools behind the rest of the country and the world, preparing our next generation for failure in a harsh world. Greg’s policies also include a focus on academics and virtue along with vocational training that can equip our youth with skills that can help them to find their calling and succeed, thrive, and achieve the American Dream.

The appeal of Greg Lopez to unaffiliated voters is a message of unity. We are many communities who rely on each other to be safe, sustained, and prosperous. We understand that with every freedom there comes a corresponding obligation. This means that we value freedom, and we value our neighbor. The health of our state is dependent on the health and well being of every community in our state. Our attention to the needs of all 64 counties and the importance each has to the pursuit of prosperity for Colorado will engage those who do not always find themselves interested in the politics of the state. Our hope is that unaffiliated voters will gravitate to a message of a Colorado for all and that People Over Politics will become a mantra, not only for this campaign, but for all of Colorado.

Governor Polis has not acted in the best interest of our state and our people. His administration is an example of putting politics over all else. He has damaged Colorado Small Business through his terrible COVID policies, he has harmed our rural economy by never considering their needs or their voices over the desires of his base constituents in the urban corridor. He has allowed national pressure to influence his decisions during the pandemic that, in some cases, have caused irreparable damage to our school age children. Everyone has suffered in some way under the Polis administration.

Greg will not allow these numerous blunders to be forgotten by the Colorado voters. Hope, prosperity, and safety will be the common characteristics that rebuild Colorado into the state where we can eat beef, take a flight, and avoid a subway ride for years to come.

Greg Lopez

Candidate for Governor of Colorado

Authored by Laura L. Hiatt, Campaign Communications Director 

SECRETARY OF  STATE CANDIDATES

Pam Anderson

Major Planks in My Platform

Trust and professionalism are the core of my campaign and who I will be as your next Secretary of State. To do that I will do three things.

One, I will end the hyper-partisan rhetoric coming out of the office. Coloradans need to know that their elections are being overseen by a fair referee. I am that referee.

Two, I will use my experience to further improve Colorado’s election security and accessibility. I have a track record of improving elections from the signature verification audit I developed to my advocacy for 24-hour ballot monitoring. I can be trusted to do what I do best: improve elections.

Finally, I will lead in my office. I’ll end the high turnover in the office and the focus will be on professionalism and what is best for Colorado’s elections and businesses, not on the next political steppingstone.

Why Choose Me vs. My Opponents

Simply put, primary voters should choose me because I have over 20 years of election experience and a proven and competent track record of running fair, verifiable elections. I’ve led and improved Colorado’s elections as the Wheat Ridge city clerk, the clerk and recorder for politically diverse Jefferson County, and the Executive Director of the County Clerks Association. And, contrary to my opponent, I have never left ballots on top of a box to let blow through the wind; I have never produced a false report to sow mistrust in our elections and raise my political profile. I am a conservative with proven leadership that’s improved Colorado’s election integrity.

How I Will Attract Unaffiliated Voters

I am going to attract unaffiliated voters by being the adult in the room. Unlike Jena Griswold, I won’t weaponize the office and then fundraise off of it. I am a professional, the only certified election official in this race. I love elections and want to make them better because it is a sacred right in America. I won county-wide in politically diverse Jefferson County twice, and served with distinction.  The people of Colorado are sick of the hyper-partisanship and deserve to know that their leader is above the fray and will fight for them.

How I Will Beat My Dem Opponent In The General Election

Secretary Griswold has lost the trust of Coloradans and shares some of the blame that has eroded confidence in the office. Jena has abused her position and used taxpayer funds to elevate her profile. This is a clear contrast to my record of leadership and running fair, safe, verifiable elections with integrity, and putting Coloradans first over political ambition. 

Pam Anderson

Candidate for Colorado Secretary of State

Mike O'Donnell

My name is Mike O’Donnell and I am running to be your next Colorado Secretary of State.

Major Planks in My Platform

&

Why Choose Me vs. My Opponents

Many people don’t realize that in addition to ensuring that we have free and fair elections, the Colorado Secretary of State is charged with the task of “enhancing commerce”.

Sadly, the current Secretary of State does neither.

Enhancing Commerce. I have 34 years of economic development experience assisting thousands upon thousands of entrepreneurs and small business owners start, grow and, more importantly, add jobs within their local communities. As we approach this next recession with the record high inflation rates that will continue well into 2023, the role of the Secretary of State in advocating for policies to minimize impacts on Colorado small businesses and the families they support, is more critical now than ever before.

That is why the office needs to be led by a business person and not a career politician.

Election Integrity. On the election integrity front, I purchased a copy of Colorado’s voter roll and have been methodically working my way through it looking for anything unusual. And even though I’ve barely scratched the surface, I am finding numerous “voters” living in/voting from government offices and business addresses, impossibly large numbers of people occupying and voting from single family residences, duplicate voters and even someone voting from a fictitious address.

The automatic voter registration law that Colorado adopted in 2019 actively suppresses the votes of constitutionally eligible Colorado voters by adding people to the voter roll every time they interact with a DMV office and then leaving it up to local county clerks to sort things out on the back end - if they can. Because of this idiotic “opt out” voter registration process and the fact that no substantive evidence of either residency or, in the case of foreign born individuals, citizenship is required before someone is added to the voter roll, people are added willy-nilly and ballots automatically mailed each election cycle to many hundreds of thousands of individuals who either don’t exist or who aren’t yet citizens.

My first task as Secretary of State after initially working with the incoming legislature to help craft laws that encourage free and fair elections moving forward, will be to audit Colorado’s voter roll in cooperation with local county clerks.

How I Will Attract Unaffiliated Voters

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How I Will Beat My Dem Opponent In The General Election

For any Republican candidate to win a statewide office in Colorado, they will need to secure the support from the 43% of Colorado voters who are registered as unaffiliated. (Only 26% of Coloradans are registered Republicans.)

The key to attracting support from unaffiliated voters is to present practical, common sense, middle-ground solutions to depoliticize the role of the Secretary of State and return that office to its business roots. It is not a political office! 

Coloradans of all political persuasions are fed up with all the shenanigans that surround that office and the incumbent Secretary of State, and that is how I will appeal to unaffiliated, Republican and even Democrat voters as I work to become Colorado’s next Secretary of State.

Mike O'Donnell

Candidate for Colorado Secretary of State

Tina Peters

Major Planks in My Platform

&

Why Choose Me vs. My Opponents

When asked why she was seeking higher office, considering the conflict with Colorado’s current Democrat Secretary of State Jena Griswold over the integrity of election results, Peters said, “Colorado needs a Secretary of State who will put people over the political theater and prioritize them over politics.” `Griswold’s political lawfare attacks on Clerk Peters proves that her and Joe Biden’s Merrick Garland do not want the voters to know the truth about election irregularities that SOS candidate Peters uncovered. Colorado deserves a Secretary of State who will stand up to the Biden administration that wants to run our country into the ground with nationalized elections.

Having conducted many elections in her role, Clerk Peters is also running for Colorado Secretary of State to restore trust and put an end to government overreach in our election process. She believes that weaponizing our elections and targeting political opponents has no place in Colorado. Her campaign is focused on getting back to honoring our Colorado Constitution, encouraging our state legislature to craft laws through a representative government by, of, and for the people.

She recently spoke at the Republican Rumble at the Grizzly Rose and said, “Country, service, and responsibility mean something to me. I have a duty and a responsibility to stand for truth and transparency, and your vote. “My son was a Navy SEAL and he died serving our country, and he had a saying, “Every day that you don't quit, you win.”

Secretary of State candidate Peters won 60% of the delegates at the Republican State Assembly in April and continues to consistently win straw polls across the state.

Clerk Peters thinks that the next Colorado Secretary of State needs to strengthen checks and balances by following the Colorado Constitution and restoring public trust. And she says she will put an end to reckless “emergency” rulings, government overreach, and corruption in the office of Secretary of State that Griswold currently is responsible for.

When asked if the 2020 Presidential election was stolen, Clerk Peters is consistent in her reply. “It’s bigger than one election; faith in our entire election system was stolen. That’s irrefutable  for  both unaffiliated and traditional party voters alike. Evidence has undermined their faith. The left tries to label that evidence as “the big lie,” but those voices are many of the same who were attempting to influence the outcome of our elections to begin with. Our own Secretary of State limiting public access to voting machines combined with highly suspicious election processes damaged the people’s trust that we are truly free and self-governing.” Peters’ campaign is quick to point out that this happened under the direction of Jena Griswold, who Peters hopes to challenge in November.

How I Will Attract Unaffiliated Voters

&

How I Will Beat My Dem Opponent In The General Election

But before she can face Griswold, Tina Peters must defeat a pair of candidates who are working in tandem to make sure she doesn’t get that chance. Peters far out-raised both of her opponents, Mike O’Donnell and Pam Anderson who both publicly state that Joe Biden won the Presidency fair and square in 2020. But Anderson is soliciting the establishment wing of the Republican Party and Mike O’Donnell is hoping his message of cleaning up voter rolls will split off enough of Peters’ solid base of election integrity voters to allow Anderson to prevail. This isn’t a new tactic by progressive candidates but it’s a strategy that Peters’ campaign is well aware of. Peters raised almost $20,000 from close to 300 different donors in thirty minutes last week. That is more cash on hand than both the other candidates combined as reported to the State during the last reporting period. Neither of Peters primary opponents have the ground game nor the financial resources to defeat Griswold in the general election.

Tina Peters

Candidate for Colorado Secretary of State

Authored by Regina Thomson, Assistant Campaign Manager

STATE SENATE, DISTRICT 27 CANDIDATES

Tom Kim

This is a critical time for Colorado.  I am a leader and am optimistic that we can return Colorado to a State that practices fiscal responsibility, promotes classic education and where all our communities and residents feel safe, but we must act with urgency.

Major Planks in My Platform

I Will Foster a Strong Economy.  We must reduce the size and scope of our state government.  We have become one of the least affordable states in the country.  With my business experience, I will bring common sense to our regulatory environment and stop legislation that causes inflation.

I Will Support Effective Education.   Our system is failing as measured by the standards set by our state and local educators.  Over 60% of our third-grade students cannot read at grade level and over 70% are not proficient in math.  The leaders who delivered these unacceptable results must be held accountable.  School choice, parental involvement and transparency are a must.

I Will Promote Safe Communities.  Progressive government policies have led to a crisis in our public safety function.  Law enforcement is one of the few essential responsibilities for government and those who have undermined our system and caused this crisis by not standing up for the rule of law must be held accountable.

Why Choose Me vs. My Opponents

My experience and my track record of principled leadership and problem solving distinguishes me from my opponent.  I have made my living as an entrepreneur helping troubled companies across all industries.  Being a father of two children in Cherry Creek Public Schools, I am personally invested in our community.  

I have been selected by my peers to serve a term as the leader of my industry’s most prominent professional organization.  I have served on numerous non-profit boards, presently Denver Health and Hospital Authority.  I am a member of Colorado Concern.  I have supported the Colorado Fallen Heroes Memorial Commission.  Led by my wife, the Memorial was dedicated in 2021, fulfilling the vision of the State Legislature (SB07-086).   I am a member of the Roundup Riders of the Rockies.

I have a deep understanding of, and belief in, our Constitution and the importance of individual liberty, freedom and responsibility; my family lives these principles.  I am the only candidate with this combination of experience and relatability.

How I Will Attract Unaffiliated Voters

My message and my approach will appeal to the vast majority of the voters in the district.  My background will appeal to a broad range of voters because I have lived free-enterprise and we practice our values - at home, at work and at play.  I am hopeful, but realistic; I believe our best days are ahead.

How I Will Beat My Dem Opponent In The General Election

The vast majority of voters want to be free to live their lives without unnecessary governmental intrusions.  They want a fair shot at prosperity.  They believe that individual effort is paramount.  I will earn their vote because my story is their story.

I will execute a comprehensive campaign including door-to-door, meeting likely unaffiliated voters and listening to their concerns, and an aggressive ad campaign to get my message out to voters.

Tom Kim

Candidate for Colorado State Senate, District 27

JulieMarie Shepherd Macklin

I am JulieMarie Shepherd Macklin, an adoptee from Calcutta India, a 36-year resident of Arapahoe County, distinguished professional, small business owner, strong conservative voice, and your candidate for State Senate District 27.

Since January, I’ve knocked on thousands of doors and visited with hundreds of voters to learn about the challenges facing our families and the community. One thing is very clear: the current path democrats are taking us down isn’t working. From a family desperately searching for a quality high school option for their student, to an automotive technician who had his garage broken into and equipment stolen, to my neighbor working in oil and gas and watching his company forced out of the state, it is obvious that change at the State Capitol is overdue.

Major Planks in My Platform

I’m running on a platform of championing educational excellence, supporting law enforcement and prioritizing public safety, and making Colorado affordable.

• Education is the linchpin to our future success as a community and as a state. As an educator, former school board member, advocate for educational choice including charters and homeschooling, and a proponent of parental rights, I will champion a school system that ensures students are learning how to think, not what to think.
• As a victim of a home burglary and multiple auto thefts, I have seen first hand that we need to increase support for first-responders and law enforcement personnel.
• My family, my fixed income retired military mother, and my small business are feeling the pressures of inflation and burdensome regulations in Colorado. I will fight to reduce burdens on businesses, end taxes disguised as fees, and make Colorado affordable again.

Why Choose Me vs. My Opponents

My life has been defined by involvement in and service to my community. I’ve been active in civic and political spaces ranging from the Aurora school board, city and state commissions, working at a state agency, and most recently serving on Colorado’s first independent congressional redistricting commission. Collectively, these experiences make me uniquely qualified to run, win, and serve. It’s my seasoned leadership and real-world experience that make me prepared to hit the ground running in January and get our state back on track! I understand what it means to govern, how to be responsive to constituencies, the challenges of public budgets, and have stewarded public trust and resources. When seeking to advance a specific issue or agenda, I know how, when, and where to apply pressure, how to build coalitions and create forward momentum. I realize that simply throwing money at an issue doesn’t solve it and we must always be mindful of the unintended consequences of our decisions. All of this will guide me and my work at the state capitol.

I am the candidate with the experience, drive, and willingness to work to win Senate District 27 this November.

It would be an honor to earn your votes in the June Republican primary and the November general and to serve you, fighting for our values at the Capitol.

JulieMarie Shepherd Macklin

Candidate for Colorado State Senate, District 27

ARAPAHOE COUNTY COMISSIONER, D2 CANDIDATES

Mark Gotto

Major Planks in My Platform

• A Safer County- Auto and property theft has increased four times what it was two years ago. This is a plank for me and a plank for all of the citizens of Arapahoe County.

• A Health Department That Makes Educated Decisions - Arapahoe County will be creating their own independent health department. I am running for this office because I need to be involved in the early decisions of this department.

• A Fiscally Responsible Government - I am running for this office to ensure the County's 400 million dollar budget is managed efficiently with the right prioritization.

• Fight Back Against Agendas and Policies Forced Upon Us by the State Legislature - I will fight for you so policies from the state are what is best for the County.

Why voters Should Choose Me vs. My Primary Opponent

A County commissioner's position is an executive level position. You will run departments, budgets, processes, and policy. My experience as a City Councilman, a Vice President of operations at fortune 100 companies, a stay-at-home dad, and a government affairs leader has qualified me for this position. As a County Commissioner you lower crime by prioritizing where the funding needs to be targeted to lower auto and property theft. I will work with school districts to increase funding for School Resource Officers. We will approve funding for neighborhood patrol. I managed this as a City Councilman successfully, I will do it as a County Commissioner. A new health department will have checks and balances under my leadership. The board will have representation from health experts, business communities, and education institutions. A new health organization will have accountability where Commissioners, communities, and citizens will all be involved. Never again will one individual dictate all health decisions for an entire county. Only an experienced business leader with legislative experience can help navigate through this process. We are simply not spending our tax dollars appropriately. As your commissioner I will help the budget committee evaluate each tax and how it funds what part of the budget. Citizens deserve someone that knows how to ensure that appropriate measures do not exceed estimated resources. I did it as a business leader, I will do it as your County Commissioner.

How I Will Attract Unaffiliated Voters

These voters want what we all want. We all want to feel safe in our neighborhoods. We all want a health department that factors in children and businesses when making important safety decisions. We all want the right policy and budget decisions to help drive down inflation and cost of living. Unaffiliated voters want leadership and that is what I offer them.

How I Will Beat My Dem Opponent In The General Election

No one works harder and will run a more effective grassroots campaign. I will get Republicans out to vote. I will turn Unaffiliated voters. Will people vote for funding the police or defunding the police? Our current system is driving up inflation, increasing crime, diminishing our education system, and ignoring our homeless problems.

The differences are apparent. But, it is imperative that we effectively get the message out. I will vigorously knock on doors to ensure we win this race.

Mark Gotto

Candidate for Arapahoe County Commissioner, District 2

Jason Presley

My name is Jason Presley and I am a Republican candidate for Arapahoe County Commissioner District 2. I am a proud U.S. Navy Veteran, husband, father and have been employed as a Deputy Sheriff with Arapahoe County for the past 18 years and also have the honor of being the current President of Arapahoe Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 31, which is one of the largest FOP lodges in the state with over 500 members.

Currently, we have PROBLEMS, not issues that we must address in Arapahoe County.

Crime.  It is out of control at all levels.  I do want to stress that the Police officers and Deputy Sheriff’s in their respective agencies are doing their jobs to the best of their abilities.  The problem is the legislators at the Capitol tying their hands making it increasingly difficult to do their jobs effectively.  Being a member of the Colorado State FOP Legislative Committee, I have proven experience on working together with law makers so we can come up with common sense solutions and find fixes to the law enforcement reform bills that have been implemented in the last few years.  The rise in crime can be directly attributed to the majority of these bills and it has been a priority of mine to fix the problem so it will lower the possibility of any citizen of this county from becoming a possible victim.  Your safety and school safety will be my priority.

Homelessness.  Also, out of control.  We need a Commissioner in D-2 that actually understands the homeless PROBLEM that we have.  I am that candidate.  I have been in homeless camps and dealt with the homeless populations in Arapahoe County on countless occasions.  For some it is a lifestyle choice, some are in need of financial help, some are in need of mental health support and some need to be held criminally accountable for their actions.  Is there a current solution?  As of now, no.  Until we work together at all levels of Government and pool our resources, this PROBLEM will not subside.  I will work closely with the municipalities on finding reasonable solutions.

Affordability.  Need I say more.  With the increase in the prices of gas, food, utilities and every other imaginable item on a shelf, every resident of Arapahoe County has been affected financially in the last 2 years.  I want to make one point very clear; I will NOT support any new tax proposal in this current financial climate.  We also need an increased focus on economic development within the County so we can maintain our middle- class values of having a good job with good wages, a home that is affordable, high-quality healthcare and a secure retirement. 

Why You Should Choose Me as Your Next Commissioner  

I am not a politician, I am one of you.  I have had the honor of working for you and protecting you in your communities for the last 18 years and I will continue that when I am elected.  There is not another candidate that has the practical experience that I possess when it comes to resolving the problems we face in Arapahoe County.  I will be your voice.

How I Will Attract Unaffiliated Voters

As far as the unaffiliated voters, they are the key to winning this election.  Their primary concerns are the same as mine:  Crime, homelessness and affordability.  I work closely with the community and the overwhelming majority do not care for politics nor want to be bothered with it.  They want an elected official that will focus on the problems that affect them and not political self -interests.  I am the candidate that has the experience of dealing with the problems at the ground level and working together to find solutions.  I will be their voice.

How I Will Beat My Dem Opponent In The General Election

Winning the November 2022 election is the obvious goal.  Having the correct strategy will be the key to victory.  The problems will not magically disappear until the problematic elected officials are out of office and new, driven personality types of conservative candidates like my-self are elected to enact policies that are best for the people.  Yes, “For the People” a concept that needs to be re-discovered.  That is what I believe in and I will never loose focus on that fact.  I will be the voice for ALL D-2 residents when I am elected.  I am one of you!

I am asking for your vote on June 28.  Let’s get this done, together.

Jason Presley

Candidate For Arapahoe County Commissioner,  District 2

You Have What Voters Want!

by Andy Peth

If you ask Republicans what voters want, you may hear pessimism:

“They just want free stuff!  They want my gun taken away!”

It’s understandable.  Frustrated over lost liberties, Republicans resent the growing list of takers—those taking rights, taking power, or taking stuff and charging it to “taxpayers” (aka, us).  So, when asked what we can offer to win votes, Republicans can feel at a loss.

But in truth, we have a great deal to offer.  We just need a better sales pitch.

First, let’s set aside our anger.  Yeah, it’s justified, but it doesn’t sell.  Next, let’s drop our demands (which make listeners feel like bad guys) and lectures (which make them feel dumb).  No, I’m not saying we should abandon our talking points—just don’t lead with them.  Remember, voters are customers, and customers don’t want to feel bad or dumb.  They want to feel good, smart, and valued.

Now, let’s sell what they want—on every issue.  Understand, we only have seconds to “set the hook,” so the first words from our mouths must create interest in the next words from our mouths.  This is crucial.  The key is knowing what voters want, what they don’t want, and how Republicans have exactly what they really want.

For instance:

They do want liberty.

They don’t want our demands and lectures on liberty.

They do want schools training their kids for success.

They don’t want our lectures on predatory teachers sexualizing kids.

They do want a booming economy with lower inflation.

They don’t want us demanding they admit Trump was right.

FOLKS WE HAVE WHAT THEY WANT!

So, let’s start selling, with Education:

“Your child’s success is my only agenda.”   

Ahhh, now they’re interested!  Let’s continue:

“I don’t want your child forced to learn my values, politics, or views on sex.  I leave parenting to parents—good people like you.  Don’t you wish everyone felt that way?”

Jackpot!  Now they feel good and smart!  And notice, we didn’t lie or manipulate.  Setting aside our anger, we just put the customer first, not us—same message, different result.

Here are some more sales pitches on controversial topics.  Notice, these don’t win instantly, but rather set the hook. The hook is in italics and our explanation (Our Common Interest) follows:

Economy:  “You deserve an economy people run to, not from.” 

(Our Common Interest)  “They run from socialist nations to here, from blue states to red, and from urban areas to rural.  So, whatever they’re doing in socialist, blue, or urban areas, you don’t want that.”  (Jackpot)

Inflation:  “Your dollar should go further.” 

(Our Common Interest)  “Every dollar government prints and gives away…makes your dollar worth less.”  (Jackpot)

Government Handouts:  “People want to feel needed, not needy.” 

(Our Common Interest)  “Sorry for being partisan, but Democrats get you money in ways that make you need Democrats.  We get you money in ways that make others need you—like at a good job.  That’s what people really need.”   (Jackpot)

Stolen Elections: “It only takes one fraudulent vote to make yours worthless. You deserve better.”

(Our Common Interest) “Claiming an election was stolen isn’t ‘inciting violence’—it’s free speech. Fact is, every opening to election fraud is an invitation to election fraud. So maybe we should stop banning speech, and start opening evidence, closing openings to fraud, and protecting your vote by ensuring every vote is legal.” (Jackpot)

Do we have what voters want?  Absolutely! 

Carrying the torch of liberty, we Republicans have the product for which every soul longs!  Right?  The answer is focusing on what they want, not what we’ve lost.  After all, angry salesmen make lousy salesmen.

And here’s the payoff:  If we sell what voters want, we’ll get what we want,

...a very happy November!

Andy Peth is a popular media personality on KLZ radio, a prominent speaker and a positive force for American Liberty.

"One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors."

Plato

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