Two Republican candidates, Wayne Williams for Colorado secretary of state and George Leing for Congress, received endorsements this week that have delighted their fans and surprised some voters.
The Colorado Spring Independent.
Williams got the nod from the liberal Colorado Springs Independent, a weekly newspaper that , not Republicans.
“It’s safe to say it doesn’t happen often,” said Robert Meyerowitz, news editor of the Indy.
The Fort Collins Coloradoan, which has a history of mixing it up with endorsements, backed Leing over the Democratic incumbent, U.S. Rep. Jared Polis of Boulder.
The Independent backed Williams, r, over the Democratic nominee, e.
“It’s a happy thing for the electorate in this race that you probably couldn’t go wrong no matter which man you choose,” the paper wrote.
“We’ve been on the receiving end of Williams’ office’s efficiency and its professionalism, both of which have been impressive. Unlike Neguse, Williams has experience running elections, including two very challenging ones: the 2012 primary that (and forced his workers to evacuate for their safety), and last year.”
The Coloradoan said Polis hasn’t really taken the time to listen to Larimer County and Fort Collins. Polis inherited the county, which used to be in the 4th Congressional District, following redistricting after the 2010 census.
“This year alone, Jared held 53 official events in Fort Collins along with dozens of informal and campaign events, and yet somehow the Coloradoan went with a Wall Street lawyer who just moved to Colorado in 2007,” countered Polis’ chief of staff, Lisa Kaufman, said.
“Leing, a Republican, is a unique candidate whose earnest nature caught the attention of the board,” . “A longtime lawyer from Niwot, Leing didn’t come forward with preconceived talking points from his party. Rather, he appeared to speak from the heart on issues such as jobs and public disenfranchisement with Congress. He eschews partisanship in favor of substance of issues.”
Polis has been in the news much of the year after funding ballot measures to limit fracking. They were pulled after Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper
In 2010, the Coloradoan didn’t endorse in the wild governor’s race with Hickenlooper, Republican Dan Maes and third-party contender Tom Tancredo, saying “none of the the three major candidates showed much interest in Northern Colorado, and the overall debate on issue has been severely limited because of GOP turmoil.” Maes beat Scott McInnis for the GOP nomination , where he had repeatedly campaigned.)
In the Senate race, the newspaper backed Republican Ken Buck over Democrat Michael Bennet and in the 4th Congressional District contest it endorsed the Democratic incumbent, Betsy Markey, over state Rep. Cory Gardner, a Republican. (Gardner is now running for the U.S. Senate against Democrat Mark Udall.)
In 2006, the newspaper backed Reform Party candidate Eric Eidsness in the 4th over the incumbent, Republican Marilyn Musgrave, and her Democratic challenger, state Rep. Angie Pacione.
With ballots going out to voters next week, many newspapers, , are releasing their endorsements.
