COLORADO SPRINGS — A political novice received more votes Saturday than state Rep. Douglas Bruce at the El Paso County Republican Assembly, setting up a primary race in House District 15.
Mark Waller, an Air Force reservist who has served 15 years in the military and two years as a deputy district attorney in Pueblo, received 57 percent of the vote compared with Bruce’s 43 percent. Waller’s name will appear first on the ballot.
“I think delegates clearly sent a message today,” Waller said. “They said, ‘It’s important to stand strong in what you believe, but it’s equally important to be able to effectively communicate that.’ ”
Bruce, a former El Paso County commissioner who was appointed to the legislature by a House District 15 vacancy committee, has been a controversial figure since he was sworn in as a state representative in January.
“Top line doesn’t matter. It means nothing,” Bruce said. “For good or ill, I think I have great name recognition after 20 years so, on a two-line ballot, they’re going to look at both lines. It’s a difference of 34 votes. . . . I don’t think that’s a mandate for anything. It’s not the same thing as running in a primary where, generally, there will be 10,000 people voting. Whether they like my personality or not, they know I’ve been fighting for the little guy for 20 years.”
Bruce irritated legislators when he postponed his swearing-in until the legislature’s fourth day, so he would serve less than half of a two-year term. The distinction means he can run for an additional eight years in the House instead of six.
On the day he was sworn in, Bruce kicked a Rocky Mountain News photographer. Bruce described it as a nudge. He’s been booted off a veterans affairs committee for refusing to co-sponsor a resolution honoring the military.
Robert Russel, a delegate in House District 15 and a former El Paso County district attorney, said he voted for Waller.
“I’m very familiar with how that system works up there, and you have to work with and get cooperation from a lot of people — Democrats, Republicans, but especially your own party,” Russel said. “You can’t go around alienating everybody and expect to get any decent results with whatever you’re seeking.”
Rick Schulte, a delegate in House District 15, said he voted for Bruce.
He said he thought that recent publicity about Bruce’s first weeks at the state legislature was insignificant.
“I think it’s really very trite,” Schulte said.
Erin Emery: 719-522-1360 or eemery@denverpost.com
