The Republican primary – Who I am NOT voting for
August 4th, 2010
Which one to choose - Scott McInnis or Dan Maes? Neither!
I have just sealed up my Republican primary ballot and it will be going in the mail today. Most of the races we have only one choice but for some we have to make decisions and for me, it was not a matter of selecting a candidate but rather choosing to not select one.
In the race for Colorado governor we are to choose from Scott McInnis or Dan Maes and to put it frankly, neither is worth the ink spent to fill in the bubble on the ballot. The image you see to the right is exactly how my ballot looks as it is being sent in.
I have written before that I am sick and tired of having to choose between the lesser of two evils and that is what this primary race is. It is time to take a stand and send a message to these two candidates and to the state GOP that we will not accept either as our nominee.
Scott McInnis’ use of plagiarized material in essays he supposedly wrote and his subsequent attempt to shift blame are simply unforgiveable. This is not a man I can vote for – period.
The other choice, Dan Maes, is a bit tougher of a call. I feel like I should like Dan Maes but here I think we have a case of a man who is simply in over his head. The leap to the governor’s office is simply too big for Maes at this point and he would be a lamb to the slaughter in a battle against Democrat John Hickenlooper.
Why leave it blank? To send a message that neither of these two represent my views or views of Republicans and conservatives. Neither McInnis nor Maes can beat Hickenlooper and whichever wins the primary needs to withdraw their name so that a committee can select someone who can win and who has the right skill set and belief system to lead the state.
My hope is that when they see the number of undervotes on the tally, they will realize they can’t win. The gubernatorial race in Colorado is important – too important to entrust to either of these two candidates or the state GOP and Dick Wadhams.
The other big race – United States Senate
In the race to challenge either Michael Bennet or Andrew Romanoff, the Republicans are choosing between Jane Norton and Ken Buck. I believe either of these two will be good candidates and match up well with the Democratic nominee.
Norton and Buck seem to have the “right” stuff and I look forward to one of them taking a seat in the Senate chambers.
A little race but an important one – Adams County Sheriff
I did leave one other race blank on my ballot – that of a selection for Adams County Sheriff. Here there is only one candidate and the choice would seem simple. However, Mark Nicastle is only on the Republican primary ballot because of a change in political affiliation.
He did not make the change because of any philosophical difference with the left or because he felt his political beliefs were more in line with Republicans. Nicastle is a lifelong Democrat who switched parties so he could run against Democrat and current sheriff Doug Darr.
The Adams County GOP should never have welcomed a carpetbagger and they too need to understand we are tired of plugging our nose when voting.
The rest of the slate
In most of the other races there is only one choice and all seem to be good candidates and should represent the party well. Returning Colorado to its center-right roots is critical and these men and women need to carry forth a message that conveys the importance of stopping the slide to the left. Whether at the county level, at the state capitol or in D.C., the time has come to return the power to the people.
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Tony – Wow. Are you secretly listening to my thoughts? I undervoted governor for exactly the same reason! Freaky.
Some how the message needs to be heard that these types of candidates will no longer be tolerated. Like Adams said, undervoting will help the send the word.
Hello Tony,
I have to say I agree with most everything you stated here.
However, the men and women of the Adams County Sheriff’s Office overwhelming voted for a change from the current sheriff and vote to have Mark Nicastle become the current sheriff. It has been said that 600 ballots were sent out and a little more than half were returned, gosh I don’t think we live in Florida so the only ballots counted were the ones returned and counted in front of every member and non member present and Mark Nicastle over whelming won the vote, he won the vote of the very people that worked side by side with him. While lots of Deputies see Sheriff Darr, most have never worked with him…. He has told the employees what to do and at times told to be thankful they have a job. Don’t get me wrong, Sheriff Darr did a lot of good things in the beginning, but the honeymoon is over and the true agenda of a Doug Darr has been seen by the men and women of the Sheriff’s office. Sheriff Doug Darr and his command staff has completely forgotten where they came from and what it is like to be a cop and have to make split second decisions that will effect life’s for ever, good or bad. Doug Darr and his command staff will take weeks to look at a decision and then do the typical Monday morning quarter back thing and tell you how you should have acted and felt in the split second. Talking down to deputies and making them feel belittled.
It really is time for a new sheriff in Adams County, yes I said a sheriff, not a politician doing what he can at the State House passing bills and amendments, but a cop willing to lead his troops. Doug Darr is on TV stating because of his plan crime is down 42%, it is down nationwide so I guess Doug Darr has done a great job and it has affected the entire nation. Just remember it is the men and women of the Adams County Sheriff’s Office working the jail and in the streets that have driven down crime. When do you ever see command staff out late at night?? Only at community meetings that they started holding once Mark Nicastle let it be known he would challenge Doug Darr for his seat as Sheriff.
I would hope you would support the troops of the Adams County Sheriff’s Office and stand beside us as we support Mark Nicastle in his bid for Adams County Sheriff. The office of sheriff shouldn’t be determined if you are a Republican or a Democrat but if you can be a police officer and lead the department in an effective way. I believe Mark Nicastle can, and is prepared to become the next Sheriff in Adams County.
Of most importance, why are the Colorado elected officials allowed to run for a third term? …Because the wording in the amendment,the State of Colorado, allows this from the last voting poll (2008). Why did the State of Colorado allow this? Is it okay for the entire country to allow the President to run for three terms? Why did Adams County Colorado citizens put their County in this position in an upside down economy? It appears that no one cares about safety and security in Adams County Colorado and no one has enough intestinal fortitude to come forward and say that elected officials only have 8 years to get it done. Why do people not care about the things they have control over. We need to stimulate the economy and improve life for all citizens. Please, before you vote, read and understand what you are voting for.
Please be aware of your surroundings and help yourself stimulate the economy. We need change, not continuous irresponsibility on behalf of the non-voters who ride the fence and think their vote/opinion does not count. Eight years is enough!! “Please Repeal Colorado, and only allow elected officials to run for 2 terms, not 3.”