Mike Sheely of Bennet, who ran in 2010 for the GOP nomination and a chance to unseat Democrat Ed Perlmutter, visits with the congressman, center, at his D.C. office on Tuesday. To the right is Sheely’s friend, Jerry Joyce. (Perlmutter photo)
When Republican Mike Sheely decided to cross off one of the things on his bucket list, he turned to the congressman he wanted to defeat in 2010: Democrat Ed Perlmutter.
Sheely said he always wanted to the visit the U.S. Capitol and tour Washington and when he planned a trip with his friend Jerry Joyce of Tennessee, he gave the Jefferson County lawmaker’s office a call.
“I wanted to stop in and see him because I ran against him,” Sheely said. “I’ve always liked Ed personally but I disagree with some of his policies. He’s a nice guy. He’s a really nice guy. He’s good to sit down and visit with.”
Sheely said he discussed two concerns with Perlmutter on Tuesday: deficit spending, “which is a problem for all of our grandkids,” and “what we’re not doing a situation he likened to the late 1930s when Hitler was allowed to expand his power.
Sheely, of Bennet, was one of four Republicans running for the GOP nomination in 2010. “I stand for a faith in God, an understanding of our Constitution and the love of our founding fathers. The people in Washington are destroying our country,” he said when asked why he was in the race.
Also running were Ryan Frazier, Lang Sias and Michael Deming. Frazier, an Aurora City Council member, and Sias, a former Top Gun pilot, to keep Sheely and Deming off the ballot. the nomination, despite it being a tough year for Democrats.
