April 18, 2018 09:48 AM UTC

Top Two Republicans for Governor Have Criminal Records

• 6 Comments
• by: Colorado Pols

The two topline Republicans on the #COGov ballot have criminal records –> #copolitics #coleg #cogov https://t.co/k3vXp143TW

— John Frank (@ByJohnFrank) April 18, 2018

On the ballot? Check.

Criminal record? Check.

[mantra-pullquote align=”right” textalign=”left” width=”33%”]’Lopez said he has also been charged with “a DUI and I think everybody knows that,” although he said he couldn’t recall when the incident occurred.’

— Denver Post, 4/18/18[/mantra-pullquote]

The above Tweet by Denver Post reporter John Frank points to a story by Mark Matthews about Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Lopez, who was one of the big surprises from last weekend’s GOP assembly when he picked up more than 30% of the vote to make the June Primary ballot. Readers of Colorado Pols are already familiar with Lopez’s checkered background, but he’s getting more notice now that he is officially on the ballot with Republican frontrunner Walker Stapleton. Of course, Stapleton also has a criminal record for a DUI in a hit-and-run case that was thrust into the spotlight again on Saturday when Attorney General Cynthia Coffman brought it up on stage.

As Matthews writes for the Denver Post, Lopez has plenty of skeletons in his closet:

But if the former two-term mayor of Parker wants to become Colorado’s first Latino governor, he and his cash-strapped campaign probably will have to find another gear to capture the June 26 primary and the Nov. 6 general election.

Along the way, Lopez also will have to contend with questions about his past, notably charges of domestic violence and driving under the influence, as well as his management of the Colorado office of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Lopez’s time at the U.S. Small Business Administration — which he regularly touts on the campaign trail — was not particularly smooth sailing:

During his tenure, the office was audited by the SBA’s inspector general, the agency’s internal watchdog. Although a number of complaints that prompted the review weren’t substantiated, investigators noted the branch “did not function as well as it should to provide consistent and worthwhile assistance to some of the companies” in its portfolio of small, disadvantaged businesses.

As examples, the report cited slow responses and a lack of accessibility. Customers “complained that district officials would not return their phone calls or meet with them despite persistent requests, and that from August to October 2009 their access to the district office was restricted to only two days a week and by appointment only,” investigators wrote.

The Republican ballot for Governor could soon double in size; both Victor Mitchell and Mitt Romney’s Nephew are awaiting word from the Colorado Secretary of State on the validity of petitions they submitted in March for ballot access.

In other words, there is still hope for Republicans that they might be able to choose a non-criminal for Governor in June.