Sinking poll numbers for GOP gubernatorial candidate Dan Maes and his disclosure that he filed personal bankruptcy 20 years ago re-ignited calls Saturday for him to exit the race, including a “reality check” from a prominent Republican who helped his campaign last month.
Bob Balink, the El Paso County clerk and a member of the GOP state executive committee, sent Maes an e-mail Saturday taking him to task for “probably eliminating all chances of a conservative winning the election” and walking “away from your responsibilities” by filing for bankruptcy in 1989. The Post reported Saturday that in 1989, Maes, who was then 29 and single, filed for bankruptcy.
Balink, who tried to help Maes set up proper safeguards for his campaign finances last month, called Maes financially “irresponsible” currently, pointing to his $17,500 fine for campaign-finance violations.
In light of his job and position in the party, Balink was careful not to directly call for Maes to get out of the race, but the implications were clear.
“I don’t believe, if you were truly honest with yourself at this time, that you feel you have any chance whatsoever of victory,” he wrote in the e-mail obtained by The Post.
Balink declined to comment about the e-mail, saying it spoke for itself. He did not receive a reply from Maes, he said. Maes spokesman Nate Strauch said he didn’t know whether Maes read the e-mail.
“Dan has and will continue to take all opinions into consideration. He has no plans to drop out of the race,” he said.
Maes has lost support from a number of prominent Republicans, and behind the scenes Saturday, many Republican leaders were brainstorming to find a new strategy for getting Maes out, GOP sources involved in the talks said.
