Republican gubernatorial hopeful Marc Holtzman is threatening to pull out of the state convention and petition onto the November ballot amid concerns of potential “fraud and manipulation” in how the party picks its candidates, The Associated Press has learned.
Holtzman sent a letter today to state Republican Party Chairman Bob Martinez, demanding to know why the party refused to require a single ballot for all candidates and require that ballots be given directly to delegates. They are now handed out to county captains to pass out later.
“If we don’t get what we want, there are options,” said Lola Spradley, Holtzman’s running mate. “We can submit an application to the secretary of state for petitions. We’re prepared to go through the convention process if it’s a fair election. At this point in time, there are too many unanswered questions.” The state convention is May 20, with Holtzman battling GOP Rep. Bob Beauprez for top billing on the ballot in the race to succeed term-limited GOP Gov. Bill Owens. The only Democrat in the race is Bill Ritter, a former Denver prosecutor.
Martinez did not immediately return a call seeking comment, but an aide said nothing has been decided on details of how delegates will vote next month.
“The party will make the decision on voting procedures and no decision has been made yet,” said Rachael Sunbarger, spokeswoman for the state GOP.
Holtzman cited concerns with the convention two years ago, where there were numerous voting irregularities and credentialing mishaps that included unmarked ballots scattered on the convention floor.
That convention came to a halt when party officials discovered that some delegates were given two ballots and others got none.
Republican Senate candidates Pete Coors and Bob Schaffer were forced to negotiate a settlement that allowed Schaffer’s name to be listed first on the primary ballot.
“It is ironic that even Iraq, Venezuela and Nicaragua have held better elections than the Colorado Republican Party of 2004,” Holtzman said in his letter to Martinez.
Under state party rules, a candidate must get 30 percent of the delegates at the convention to make the Aug. 8 primary ballot.
Otherwise, a candidate must gather 10,500 valid signatures by May 25. That means Holtzman must make a choice before the convention.
Spradley said there have already been concerns over delegates appointed by county captains in places like Pueblo, where Holtzman won a majority at precinct caucuses last month but his strength was diluted by the appointment of at-large delegates loyal to Beauprez.
“The Republican delegates and alternates of Colorado deserve an impeccable, honest and transparent voting process so that the result is above reproach, above intraparty rivalries and without so-called party bosses employing strong-arm tactics,” Holtzman said in his letter.
Spradley said the campaign met with state party officials and the Beauprez campaign three times in an effort to resolve their concerns. She said Martinez was caught in the middle and not to blame.
“Sadly, we have met with objection after objection from the Bob Beauprez campaign. … It is of the utmost urgency that these matters are resolved to the full and complete satisfaction of both gubernatorial candidates,” Holtzman’s letter said.
John Marshall, a spokesman for Beauprez’s campaign, said Beauprez had agreed to Holtzman’s demands except one – putting ballot boxes at the convention in private areas. He said questions were raised about a possible fire hazard.
Another meeting between the two campaigns was scheduled for later today.
