Category Archives: Walker Stapleton

Treasurer Cary Kennedy bought $250,000 of air time for later in the season, according to both her website and fundraising email sent immediately after the press release (actually a nice ‘snowball’ pitch). You’ll recall that in 2006, Kennedy became the first state treasurer candidate to run TV ads–a key reason why she’s now the incumbent.

We have no doubt that her GOP opponents, Walker Stapleton or J.J. Ament, will be on the air soon as well; unfortunately, against each other. Stapleton has the deep pockets against Ament’s name and local support, so we’d expect a volley from Stapleton any time. Stapleton has the resources to make this primary very difficult for Ament, and Ament hasn’t shown the fundraising skills needed to compete down the stretch.

Full story: Kennedy Reprises ’06 TV Presence

(For those of you who missed the late Friday update. Thankfully, we won’t have to try to put Joe Gwissgnksangt on the Governor Line. – promoted by Colorado Pols)



As of 6/11/10 6:00pm

On ballot:

Jane Norton (R) – US Sen

Steven Barton (R) – CD1

Walker Stapleton (R) – Treas

Joel Judd (D) – SD34

Amber Tafoya (D) – HD4

Mark Mehringer (D) – HD7

David Casiano (R) – HD44

Did not make ballot:

Joe Gschwenter (R) – Gov

Mark Hurlbert (R) – SD16

Renee Blanchard (D) – SD33

Jennifer Coken (D) – HD4

Blake Harrison (D) – HD7

Raymond Keyawa (R) – HD59

Full story: Petition Update

( – promoted by Colorado Pols)



10/9/10 UPDATE: Three more have been finished, all were sufficient:

Jane Norton

Joel Judd

David Casiano

This Friday is the deadline for the Secretary of State to certify the Primary Ballots. That means all candidates’ petitions will have to be verified by that time.

So far only one is done.

So I guess we can expect a flurry of announcements the rest of this week about who made the ballot and who didn’t.

Amber Tafoya (D-HD4) turned in her petition nearly a week before the deadline and has been deemed sufficient so she will be on the ballot.

We are still waiting for sufficiency (or insufficiency) statements for the following people:

(submitted 26 May):

Jane Norton (R-Sen)

Steven Barton (R-CD1)

David Casiano (R-HD44)

(submitted 27 May):

Joe Gschwenter (R-Gov)

Walker Stapleton (R-Treas)

Mark Hulbert (R-SD16)

Renee Blanchard (D-SD33)

Joel Judd (D-SD34)

Jennifer Coken (D-HD4)

Blake Harrison (D-HD7)

Mark Mehringer (D-HD7)

Raymond Keyawa (R-HD59)

Petitions have to be checked in the order they are submitted. I am not sure what order they were submitted except to say which day they came in on.

But, as you might imagine, the Norton, Gschwenter, and Stapleton petitions will likely take a while since each one probably has at least 20,000 signatures to go through. Random sampling is not used on candidate petitions.

Full story: Petitioning Candidates

The reporting period for candidates running for state-level races ended last week, the first monthly reporting deadline now that we have closed within six months of the General Election.

Click below to see our Winners & Losers from the fundraising period that was, and let us know in the comments section about candidates for the state legislature who did particularly good or bad.

Note that the Winners & Losers here are selected based purely on how they raised and spent their money recently; we’re not making judgments here on other aspects of their respective campaigns.

WINNERS

John Hickenlooper (D-Governor)

The Denver Mayor raised an impressive $372,451 in just one month, which is a ton of cash to collect when the limits are only $1,000. Hick has already banked $850,000 of TV time for the fall, and in five months has raised $1.56 million. Hickenlooper’s reputation as a great fundraiser has certainly proved to be accurate.

Scott McInnis (R-Governor)

The Republican frontrunner for Governor had a solid month of May, bringing home $251,970 for a total cash-on-hand amount of $582,674. Unfortunately for McInnis, he has to watch Hickenlooper buy up cheaper airtime while he socks money away for his Primary date with State Convention winner Dan Maes. Yet for all McInnis’ problems as a candidate, and there are many, fundraising has not been one of them.

Stan Garnett (D-Attorney General)

Garnett raised $66,301 in May (leaving him a total of $85,570 cash-on-hand), which was significantly more than any other candidate not running for Governor. Of course, it should be said that Garnett is still probably picking up some of the low-hanging fruit after only announcing his candidacy in late March, but his reputation for deep financial connections seems to be true.

Cary Kennedy (D-Treasurer) and Walker Stapleton (R-Treasurer)

Kennedy and Stapleton had oddly similar months, with the incumbent Kennedy raising $38,782 and Stapleton bringing in $37,055. Check out how the two candidates now compare overall:

Kennedy: $449,091 raised/$279,805 cash-on-hand

Stapleton: $459,618 raised*/$280,404 cash-on-hand

*The caveat here is that Stapleton has contributed $115,000 of his own money to his campaign, so overall, Kennedy has been the stronger fundraiser. In fact, Kennedy has raised more money in total than any statewide candidate aside from Governor.

LOSERS

Bernie Buescher (D-Secretary of State)

With just $6,800 raised, Buescher had the worst fundraising period of any of the statewide candidates. Fortunately for Buescher, his $74,125 cash-on-hand is still three times as much as his hole-in-the-pockets Republican challenger Scott Gessler. Buescher is probably the safest incumbent on the ballot in terms of statewide candidates, but he still needs to ratchet up the fundraising to make sure that he doesn’t get surprised at the last minute.

Scott Gessler (R-Secretary of State)

Enough said.

J.J. Ament (R-Treasurer)

Ament had a nice month of May in getting the GOP nod at the state convention and knocking out one of his two Primary challengers, Ali Hasan. But his $11,845 raised in May was significantly less than fellow Republican Walker Stapleton, who now has $200,000 more cash-on-hand. Ament needs to do a lot better in June if he is going to beat Stapleton in the GOP Primary.

Dan Maes (R-Governor)

Despite beating McInnis at the state convention for top line on the GOP ballot, Maes only raised $34,682 in May. Maes has just over $21,000 cash-on-hand, most of which is probably earmarked already for gas money. Maes will need to do MUCH more than this if he’s going to have any chance of beating McInnis in August.

Full story: Winners and Losers: State-Level Fundraising

( – promoted by Colorado Pols)



In response to an odd question about potential campaign finance violations at a recent GOP candidate forum, Republican state treasurer candidate (and regular Pols poster!) Ali Hasan said it was the job of God, not government, to enforce Colorado fundraising laws.

Hasan’s invokation of God’s ultimate authority, reported by The Colorado Statesman, came in response to a suggestion a treasurer candidate might funnel personal contributions through acquaintances, which would violate Colorado law.

Both of Hasan’s rivals, Walker Stapleton and J.J. Ament, denied anything of the sort was going on in their campaigns and said it would spell the end of any candidacy pulling such a stunt. Hasan didn’t address whether his campaign was guilty but said the question was moot because the three candidates weren’t Democrats.

Hasan also affirmed a vow of omertà when it comes to ratting out fellow Republicans — he’s no snitch.

Read The Statesman’s account of the strange exchange below the fold.

Fountain City Councilwoman Lois Landgraf read questions submitted by the audience at a recent forum sponsored by the El Paso County Republican Women’s Club. (The Statesman doesn’t say when the event occurred, but the story is in the issue published Friday.)

Landgraf ventured into rocky territory when she read the question, “What would you do if you found out that your opponent was violating ethics by giving people money and asking them to give it back as a campaign donation?”

The candidates looked baffled; members of the audience giggled and whispered throughout the room.

“That is a campaign finance violation and it should be reported to the Secretary of State (Bernie Buescher),” declared Walker.

“It would be a risk that no candidate with integrity (running) for this office would want to be involved with,” he said, but added that if that had occurred, it would be a cause for “celebration” because the offending candidate would likely drop out of the race.

Ament said, “I’d just like say we’re not doing that – we’re working hard for every donation we receive.”

Hasan said that if a fellow candidate had violated campaign finance laws, it would be a matter between that individual and God.

“There are some punishments that God will take care of – not government. So I don’t feel it would be in my place to rat out a fellow Republican,” he explained. [emphasis added]

“This question doesn’t need to be asked. You’ve got three good men running for this office – we’re not Democrats,” asserted Hasan.

The audience burst into laughter and applause.

Full story: Hasan Says Campaign Law Buck Stops with God, Not Bernie Buescher

So we’ve talked a time or two about how GOP state treasurer candidate Walker Stapleton is marshaling his ties to the Bush family to raise big money from a nationwide network of donors–fairly unusual for a below-the-fold state race.

Well, it looks like Stapleton’s been at least partway one-upped in the big-name supporter department by primary opponent Ali Hasan, as the Denver Business Journal reports:

Ali Hasan, a Republican candidate for state treasurer, announced Thursday that he has brought former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich onto his campaign as an adviser.

Campaign manager Drew Dougherty said the Georgia Republican will help Hasan with voter targeting and with overall campaign activities. Gingrich assured the campaign that he is available to take phone calls and emails at all time, Dougherty said.

“He’s actually going to be fairly involved,” Dougherty said.

Hasan, a filmmaker and the son of one of the state’s most largest Republican donors, has spoken for Gingrich at fund-raisers and helped organize events for the former speaker in Colorado, Dougherty said.

One thing you can’t deny is that Newt Gingrich has campaign experience by the truckload: that, combined with Hasan’s limitless ability to self-fund his campaign, and we could be talking about a pretty major development in this primary.

UPDATE: In a release (full text after the jump), Hasan also touts the endorsement of Colorado House Minority Leader Mike May, described as his “greatest mentor.”

NEWT GINGRICH JOINS TEAM HASAN

The former speaker joins as campaign adviser in bid for Colorado State Treasurer

DENVER – Ali Hasan is proud to announce support from former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Newt Gingrich, in his campaign for Colorado State Treasurer.  Speaker Gingrich offers his official endorsement and will be joining the campaign as an adviser.

“I have known Ali for many years and without a doubt he is the right conservative voice for Colorado’s Treasury,” said Gingrich. “Ali’s model of investing in Colorado winners, not in Washington losers, will create jobs and maintain strong yields.”

The State Treasury of Colorado has over six billion in capital, with the State Treasurer solely controlling all investments.  Hasan estimates the majority of this capital to be invested with companies that have received or requested a federal bailout.

“I am extremely honored and blessed to have the endorsements of my greatest mentors, Minority Leader Mike May and Speaker Gingrich,” said Hasan.

Ali Hasan is a lifelong Coloradan, born and raised in Pueblo and Eagle counties.  A small business owner and award winning film director, Ali will ensure Colorado tax dollars and investments are invested with Colorado winners, not Washington losers.

###

Full story: Hasan Rings Up Newt Gingrich

From the Cañon City Daily Record, a campaign stop by gubernatorial candidate Scott McInnis and treasurer candidate Walker Stapleton.

Gubernatorial candidate Scott McInnis made a stop in Cañon City Saturday to speak to Fremont County Republicans about his goals if he is elected as governor in November.

Also speaking at Republican headquarters Saturday was State Treasurer candidate Walker Stapleton.

“Generally, I’m pretty optimistic about the future, but the future is the future,” McInnis said, as he expressed his concerns about the current administration’s handling of the economy. “This is the worst situation we’ve been in since the (Great Depression).”

…Stapleton said he would help open CSP II by advocating repealing Amendment 23, which requires a ratcheting up of education funding each year, thus allowing the Department of Corrections to compete for funding on a more level playing field.

“I think that all state programs are going to have to compete for limited funds,” he said. “It’s time education competes for funds.” [Pols emphasis]

He said the last thing anyone wants is to release offenders.

“We have to stop automatic ratcheting,” he said. “I will allow prisons to compete and ultimately be funded by precious tax money.”

We suppose that saying education should be on a “level playing field” with prisons might not get you run out of town on a rail in the heart of Colorado’s prison industry, Cañon City. It really is about the only place in the state you could get away with saying, in effect, that schools should get less money so prisons can get more. Very few politicians, certainly not the growing number who support sentencing reform for fiscal reasons, will want to touch that–even if they don’t like Amendment 23. We’re curious to hear what McInnis thinks of Stapleton’s choice of words.

And by the time that message, “cut schools, open more prisons,” reaches your average Jefferson County soccer mom? Yeah, we would not want to be Walker Stapleton.

Full story: Make Schools “Compete” With Prisons, Says Walker Stapleton

As the Pueblo Chieftain reports:

Greenwood Village Republican Walker Stapleton said he’s the best choice for state treasurer based on his education and professional background.

The grandson of historic Denver Mayor Ben Stapleton and cousin to former President George W. Bush made a campaign stop at Pueblo County Republican headquarters Saturday.

As treasurer, Stapleton said he’d wisely manage state funds for the Public Employees’ Retirement Association and be an advocate for taxpayers.

“I’m proud to say I’ve never been part of inside politics. [Pols emphasis] I’ve been involved with building a successful business,” the 35-year-old told the small crowd…

As we mentioned a couple of weeks ago, Walker Stapleton has amassed donations from a total of 46 states, a huge network for a state treasurer’s race. We don’t know how many people can claim no part in “inside politics” after pulling down checks from Christian, Nancy and Phil Anschutz, Dan Ritchie, and even cousin Barbara Bush herself, but it makes for entertaining copy in the small media markets.

Here’s a slightly more informed take on Walker Stapleton’s life on “the outside,” from a Washington Post story circa late 2006:

At every wedding, it seems, something happens not according to plan. Expect the unexpected, planners warn. But how many brides and grooms expect a peace protest?

That is what happens when the president shows up for the ceremony in the midst of a polarizing war. About 700 demonstrators marched past the seaside church where President Bush’s second cousin was to be married Saturday and then up to the checkpoint guarding the family summer compound to protest the war in Iraq…

For the Bush clan, this was a weekend of family milestones, with a funeral, wedding and christening on successive days. “It’s a pretty jam-packed weekend,” said one relative who did not want to be named. On Friday, the family marked the death of Grace Walker, the aunt by marriage of former President George H.W. Bush. On Saturday, they celebrated the wedding of her grandson, Walker Stapleton. And on Sunday, they will christen the new daughter of Walker Stapleton’s sister, Wendy.

Stapleton, 29, a real estate businessman in Colorado, is the son of the former president’s first cousin, Dorothy Walker Stapleton, and her husband, Craig Stapleton, who was a partner with the current president when they owned the Texas Rangers and now is ambassador to France. Walker Stapleton and his father were with George W. Bush working out on Election Day in 2000 when Karl Rove called the Texas governor to warn him he might lose. [Pols emphasis]

Just your typical “local kid makes good” narrative, wouldn’t you say? We’re sorry to inform you that despite what you may have heard, “George” Walker “Bush” Stapleton was never your paperboy.

Full story: How Much Deeper “Inside” Can You Get?

With GOP secretary of state candidate Scott Gessler rapidly dwindling as a serious threat to incumbent Bernie Buescher, and Democrats hoping at this point for whatever placeholder in the attorney general’s race manages to emerge, it’s looking increasingly like the biggest battle this year statewide (other than the marquee U.S. Senate and gubernatorial races, of course) could be fought over the state treasurer’s office.

On paper, this doesn’t look like a very hard call: incumbent Cary Kennedy has proven adept in her first term, with no major politically negative incidents–it usually takes something pretty big to oust someone from this office before term limits do. Kennedy has been doing pretty well with fundraising also, besting both Republican challengers who had filed before the end of last year.

Despite this we do see some potential trouble for Kennedy on the horizon, principally in the form of the better of the first two Republican candidates for her office, Walker Stapleton. Although Kennedy did raise more money than Stapleton in Q4, Stapleton demonstrated arguably the biggest fundraising network of any statewide candidate, raising donations from a total of 46 states–virtually unheard of in a race on this level, but reflective of Stapleton’s Bush family connections. The Denver Post briefly noted as much on Monday:

In the state treasurer’s race, incumbent Cary Kennedy raised $70,814 compared with Republican challenger Walker Stapleton’s $65,603, much of his contributions coming from out of state.

“I have established a national network of friends and business acquaintances who have contributed,” Stapleton said. “Business is not done regionally just in the state of Colorado.”

Kennedy’s campaign spokesman Tyler Chafee said her more local contributions show that “people are responding in her leadership and experience. . . . She is building a very broad grassroots donor base.”

While it’s true that raising the majority of one’s contributions out of state could work against a candidate, the other way of looking at this is he raised this money without maxing out local Republican donors–donors who will certainly pony up if he wins the GOP primary. That, combined with the connections to raise disproportionate amounts of money around the country for this state race, and we think Democratic strategists ought to be making doubly sure Kennedy is reinforced, both in donations and independent messaging–and that’s before we start talking about her newest GOP opponent, Vail playboy Ali Hasan, and his truly bottomless pockets.

Bottom line: as solid as Kennedy seems today, maybe the least controversial statewide officeholder seeking re-election and widely respected, the challenge she faces is not to be taken lightly.

Full story: Ignore The Treasurer’s Race At Your Peril

The Grand Junction Sentinel reports, holding a straight face with remarkable professionalism:

Republicans are looking at potential showdowns among Grand Junction Republicans Scott McInnis and Josh Penry, plus Dan Maes of Evergreen, for the right to run against incumbent Gov. Bill Ritter.

They also are looking at a match-up between Aurora City Councilman Ryan Frazier and Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck with the winner taking on Democratic incumbent Sen. Michael Bennet.

Meanwhile, a second Republican is bidding for the party’s nomination for Colorado state treasurer, setting up the possibility of a primary battle for the right to take on incumbent Democrat Cary Kennedy.

J.J. Ament, the son of Don Ament, a former state senator and agriculture commissioner, announced his bid on Monday. J.J. Ament would face Walker Stapleton, whose campaign already has begun and who is touting his ability to collect campaign cash.

“I’ve never been one to think that primaries are bad,” said Dick Wadhams, chairman of the Colorado Republican Party… [Pols emphasis]

Hopefully you put down whatever you were drinking before you read that last part–the rest of you blew the contents out of your nose laughing hysterically like we did. Wadhams…doesn’t think primaries…are bad? Did anybody bother to give Wayne Wolf or Scott McInnis a call for an alternative view? Because we’re guessing they have one, with lots of swearing! For Wadhams to say he’s ‘never thought primaries are bad’ is not just fictional, but so divorced from reality that it seems likely to outrage a fair number of people who know better–and have scars to prove it.

And any of you who might just be joining us from an alternate reality or a cave with no radio reception, seriously, don’t be fooled: this is not and never will be how Dick Wadhams rolls. Much evidence suggests Wadhams is already working to clear the field behind the scenes in the races that matter, and there’s a “public” winnowing in the works too–as Politics West reports:

In what Republicans say is their most competitive primary season since 1986, State Party Chairman Dick Wadhams has devised a high-drama way to separate the men from the boys (and yes, all the GOP candidates for top offices are male.)

The night before the party’s September central committee meeting in Keystone, Wadhams is putting on a candidate forum for gubernatorial and U.S. Senate contenders followed by a straw poll of the who’s who of GOP leaders and activists from across the state.

“We’ll be just a little more than a year out from the election at that point,” Wadhams said. “We can throw a little drama into it. It’ll be an interesting test for that moment in time.”

Between this insider-dominated event and Q3 fundraising numbers that will come out a couple of weeks later, watch for leadership to try like hell to lock in their favored candidates this year–well before rank-and-file Republicans get the chance to even learn names, let alone vote on them.

Full story: Dick Wadhams Loves Primaries*