COLORADO SPRINGS — The biggest Democratic Party state convention in Colorado history ended Saturday, but not before two protesters were led away by police and one lawmaker was left with an uphill fight to keep his job.
Though Colorado Springs is viewed as a Republican stronghold, the 10,000 or so Democrats who invaded town over the weekend didn’t seem intimidated.
“I don’t consider it their (Republicans’) territory,” said Colorado Democratic Party chairwoman Pat Waak. “Every place is fair game, and so is Colorado Springs.”
The festivities hadn’t even started Saturday morning at the World Arena before two protesters were arrested.
According to Colorado Springs police, Eric Verlo , 46, and Peter Froese, 58, were arrested just before 8 a.m. after leaving a “free-speech zone” and continuing toward the entrance of the arena.
Police said they told the two men to return to the authorized protest area, but they refused to comply. The men were arrested and later charged with trespassing, police said.
“I thought all of America was a free-speech zone,” another protester said angrily afterward.
Verlo, an activist from Colorado Springs, was an organizer with a website encouraging protesters to come to the state convention “to hone their message before the national convention in August.”
One of the few surprises of the weekend was the upset of Rep. Rafael Gallegos, D-Antonito, who was seeking a third term in the House.
Gallegos’ own District 62 assembly swept him out, picking Rocky White, a doctor from Alamosa, to be on the ballot. The district covers eight counties in south-central Colorado in an area that includes the San Luis Valley.
White attributed his victory to being well-known in the valley and “just campaigning like crazy.”
Gallegos, who received 14 votes, and Ed Vigil, another candidate seeking the seat who received 12 votes, can still petition to get on the ballot.
