January 03, 2012 08:06 PM UTC

Bon Voyage, Tom Lucero

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• by: Middle of the Road

And in the blink of an eye, the latest Chairman of the Larimer County Republicans has left the building. To the surprise of many local party officials, Lucero abruptly resigned late last Tuesday, in a letter to the local party.

After coming on board last year to clean up the incompetent, fraudulent mess left behind by former Chair and now indicted Larry Carillo, Tom Lucero has apparently decided to move on.

In March 2011, former congressional candidate Tom Lucero was elected to lead the local county GOP out of the debt ridden morass left behind by his predecessor, two former Committee Treasurers that have since resigned and the executive committee of the Larimer County GOP.

Former Ft. Collins state legislator Steve Tool and local Tea Party activist Tom Buchanan have both been mentioned as possible candidates for Chair. Buchanan confirmed to the Loveland Reporter Herald that he is running. He added that Lucero’s abrupt resignation was an unexpected and “complete surprise.” An election to replace Lucero will be held on Thursday, January 12, by the Republican Central Committee, time and place yet to be determined.

Initial fines for continuous failure to report and file reports for at least $90,000 in campaign contributions originally ranged in the $200K range; as Lucero attempted to get his Larimer Republican house in order, the fines dropped to around $50 grand.

Those fines were reduced by the ever “forgiving” Secretary of State Scott Gessler to a measly $16,000 in August 2011.  Apparently, slashing those fines was not enough for Gessler or the local GOP, who also went on to hold a fundraiser  to “Retire the Debt.” Gessler graciously volunteered to assist the party in reducing their debt by attending a Fort Collins fundraiser where you could dunk our fair Secretary to your heart’s content.

After a media uproar over the “dunking fundraiser” at a local park, the fundraiser was moved to a private residence with a suggested contribution of $20 per person to be in the same room with our esteemed Secretary of State. All proceeds were designated towards paying off the fines.

Apparently, the fundraiser was a raging success. According to outgoing Chairman Lucero, the local Party has gone from “close to $35,000 in debt to having over $8,000 in the bank”. Sounds like an excellent time to leave on a high note.

KUNC reported last Thursday that Lucero resigned, “citing a need to focus more time on his consulting business.” At least he didn’t bail out to spend more time with the family.