July 27, 2012 11:55 PM UTC

More Information Emerges On GOP Legislative Candidate Investigation

• 0 Comments
• by: Colorado Pols

The Grand Junction Sentinel’s Paul Shockley follows up on yesterday’s story about GOP HD-54 candidate Jared Wright, the insider-anointed successor to disgraced Rep. Laura Bradford’s seat. Though Wright has no real opposition, with the deadline for a Democrat to enter the race against him well past, his recently-ended career as a police officer could leave him toxic:

Former Fruita police officer and House District 54 candidate Jared Wright is an endorsed prosecution witness in approximately 10 active criminal cases, while defense attorneys in those matters have been sent letters advising of possible credibility concerns, District Attorney Pete Hautzinger said Thursday.

Challenges to cases involving Wright are already filling up Mesa County court dockets…

Under a U.S. Supreme Court decision, Brady vs. Maryland, prosecutors are obligated to provide information to defense attorneys about potential “Brady material,” such as findings of misconduct of a police officer, allowing for impeachment of the officer’s credibility.

Wright resigned from the Fruita Police Department on July 13 following an internal investigation. The candidate said Wednesday he left the department to focus on his campaign. The substance of the investigation and its findings have not been made public by the city of Fruita.

The Sentinel’s Charles Ashby has the political angle, and it’s about what we said yesterday:

“Seriously. We’re kicking ourselves pretty hard this morning,” said Matt Inzeo, spokesman for the state party. “Our Mesa Dems would have had a huge summer/fall with a race like this to rally around.”

Depending on the substance of the allegations, it’s quite possible that Wright would do less harm to the GOP brand by exiting the race quickly, allowing the HD-54 vacancy committee to put somebody else up. You’ve got to feel for longsuffering Republicans in HD-54 should this happen, who were promised stability in the form of Wright after Rep. Bradford’s wild ride into ignominy.

Sometimes, as the saying goes, the grass is no greener on the other side.