Denver – Republican gubernatorial candidate Marc Holtzman said today he is suspending his campaign so he can fight a measure on the November ballot asking voters to give up $3.6 billion in tax surplus refunds over the next five years.
Saying he does not want to be remembered as the governor whose first term was defined by the largest tax increase in Colorado history, Holtzman called on his likely primary opponent, Rep. Bob Beauprez, to do the same.
“I am choosing today to shift my focus away from my gubernatorial campaign in order to devote my energy where it is needed most at this critical hour, to ensuring the defeat of Referenda C and D this November,” Holtzman said in a letter obtained by The Associated Press.
“Bob, you and I share not only friendship, but also a deep dedication to fiscal conservatism. Let’s both put politics aside for the next few months and stand shoulder to shoulder against this tax grab.” Beauprez spokesman John Marshall said Holtzman’s letter to Beauprez was a smokescreen for a faltering campaign. He said Beauprez has found the time to represent his district in Congress and campaign for governor.
He said Beauprez had not received the letter, but rejected any suggestion of suspending his campaign.
“I certainly understand why Marc wants to get out of this race.
I think this is step one,” Marshall said.
The seat is open because GOP Gov. Bill Owens is term-limited.
Owens is backing Beauprez to be his successor.
Both Republicans have a commanding lead in fund-raising.
Holtzman reported that he raised $802,600, including thousands of dollars from the high-powered friends made when he worked in eastern Europe and Russia, where he founded an investment bank, while Beauprez, also a former banker, said his contributors helped him raise $516,000.
Democrat Bill Ritter, a former Denver District Attorney, said he raised more than $164,000 for his primary while his opponent, Rutt Bridges, a businessman and founder of the Bighorn Center think tank, has raised more than $131,000.
