August 16, 2012 05:12 PM UTC

Hudak to Host Veterans' Town Hall Saturday

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• by: Colorado Pols

We’ve previously written about State Senator Evie Hudak’s propensity to take advantage of one of the perks of incumbency: hosting patently apolitical town halls — in line with her duties as an elected official — which also bolster her name identification and profile on the campaign trail. Every constituent, after all, is a potential voter.

Take, for example, Hudak’s upcoming forum for veterans:

ARVADA-State Senator Evie Hudak (D-Westminster) is hosting a community forum to inform veterans and community members in her district about the state and local services available to veterans. The Colorado Division of Veteran Affairs and Arvada American Legion Post 161 will be there to present and answer questions from the audience. All of Senator Hudak’s town halls are free, nonpartisan, and open to the public.

Senator Hudak is a strong voice for veterans and active service members at the Capitol. Over the past 4 years, she has supported ten legislative initiatives for veterans, active service members, and their families. Most recently, Senator Hudak voted to support an amendment that garnered $1 million to support veteran job training, mental health services, and homelessness prevention.

Senator Hudak offered the following comment about the upcoming forum:

“Without veterans and active service members, we would not be able to enjoy the rights we do as Americans. That is why I am hosting an event to help them get connected to the resources that can help make their lives a little easier. It’s the least I can do.”

WHAT: Forum for veterans

WHO: State Senator Evie Hudak

WHEN: Saturday, August 18, 10:30 a.m.

WHERE: Standley Lake Library, 8485 Kipling Street, Arvada

It’s hard to criticize the senator for hosting a forum for vets and military families. To her credit, Hudak takes part in more constituent outreach than many other members of the Senate. Even in years she’s not running for re-election, Hudak tends to host multiple community events a month.

Still, just as before, the invite from the Senate Majority office reads just like campaign literature. Why emphasize that Hudak is a “strong voice for veterans” and “garnered $1 million to support veteran job training, mental health services, and homelessness prevention?”

Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that Republican opponent Lang Sias has spent nearly thirty years in the military and served as “national veterans director” on John McCain’s 2008 presidential bid.

Veterans and those who serve in the military tend to vote Republican anyway, but Sias’ lengthy resume and ability to speak their language gives him a leg up on the incumbent with this particular voting bloc.

Although this town hall is valuable for SD-19 veterans to learn about “local services,” it also serves as a reminder that, while Sias may be a veteran, Hudak has at least done some work for veterans.

Then again, “topgun instructor” probably sounds a lot better to vets than “voted for an amendment.”