Golden – Faye Griffin hopes her win Tuesday in the Republican primary will mean that after November she’ll get off on the same floor in the Jefferson County government building, but as treasurer instead of county clerk.
Griffin, who is term-limited as clerk, received 54 percent of the votes, compared with 46 percent for treasurer incumbent Mark Paschall, who at times has been controversial during his four years in office.
“What has happened is really unusual,” said Griffin, 66, who squeezed onto the ballot by just two votes at the April county assembly. “Somebody who is an incumbent usually takes the job, and a second-liner on the ballot usually does not win.”
Paschall, 50, said Griffin “maximized her resources to keep her name before the voters” by printing her name on envelopes accompanying mail-in ballots.
He said his anti-abortion and anti-gun supporters were drawn to legislative races, “and the treasurer’s job isn’t that important.”
Paschall raised $28,700, compared with Griffin’s $5,900.
Political insiders said they were surprised by the outcome, including county Democratic chairman Cal Johnston.
“The right wing of the Republican Party usually turns out in the primary, and the Independence Institute turns out their people,” Johnston said. “This was a crushing blow to the Independence Institute.”
Bob Moser, the Democratic treasurer candidate, said, “It doesn’t make any difference who won; I am more qualified than either one of them” with more than 25 years of accounting and auditing experience.
Staff writer Ann Schrader can be reached at 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com.
