By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice
BRIGHTON — If the Central Committee were to clean house at Colorado Republican Party headquarters and remove all state officers, as has been proposed by a faction of the committee, who might assume leadership?
A non-meeting “rally” at Faith Fellowship Church here on Saturday, July 27, may have begun to answer that question. In fact, a couple committee members in attendance proposed they had found all three officers — those candidates to become chairman who stayed to participate in an impromptu question-and-answer session. Those candidates were Eli Bremer, Richard Holtorf and Brita Horn. Also seeking the chairmanship is Steven Peck.
“I would argue I might not make a very good secretary, if you look at my notes today,” Holtorf joked with the audience.
Added Bremer: “What I’m passionate about is that we have the right team for the right point in time.”
Horn noted her leadership of fire departments and connection to large donors in making the case she should be chair. She claims to have the resources to make an immediate financial impact for the party.
Dave Williams is presently the chairman of the Colorado Republican Party, but a faction of the fractured party has called for his resignation or removal for months. It is unclear whether the faction has the votes to remove Williams, but they claim to.
About 100 members of the Central Committee turned out Saturday in person for a meeting turned “rally”, after it was learned Friday a court order had been issued restricting the Committee from an official business meeting. Many of the members were prepared with proxy votes for other members, which those in attendance heard created a quorum of the Central Committee. When the meeting was postponed, three potential candidates for Colorado Republican Party chair stayed after lunch to field questions.
“I stand in the gap. I’m a fire chief,” Horn said. “I have Colorado money sitting on the table for us, if I’m the chair.”
Danny Moore, previously a candidate for Colorado lieutenant governor, accused some in the party of having a fear. It was not clearly defined what he meant.
“You have to stand up to a bully. Dave Williams is a bully,” Bremer said.
Countered Holtorf: “I’m not scared of Dave Williams. I started calling out that jackwagon a year ago. The old regime needs to go. It is time for a new regime.”
Two of the three candidates participating in the session are ranchers, Horn on a 2,200-acre spread on the Western Slope and Holtorf on a spread at least that size on the Eastern Plains.
Holtorf criticized the Republican “playbook” hasn’t been changed in eight years: “Dave, you get an F from me.”
Time is precious, Bremer said: “By the time we eject incompetent leadership, it will be 50 days [until Election Day].”
Horn reminded those in attendance, “if we don’t win, we don’t govern,” and offered her concern the state party has been absent in its support of candidates. Holtorf joined her comments, offering the state party had “done anything but” build unity.
“That is the epic fail of Dave Williams,” he said. “Period. Mic drop.”
The Rocky Mountain Voice offered Williams an opportunity to respond to the criticism. That email sent Saturday was not returned by the Sunday deadline provided. It was also noted by organizers the meeting was open and Williams was welcome to attend, should he have so chosen.
Holtorf used the opportunity to bring up RINO Watch, a report that most party insiders know the source and many of which have been named to the “Hall of Shame”. Some are multiple-time recipients of the “honor” and one Saturday claimed to have been named the RINO Queen. Republicans are “32 flavors of ice cream” and the tent has to be large enough for them all, Holtorf said.
When quizzed about the Liberty scorecard, Holtorf has the only score. His grade is failing, but he asked Republicans to consider his 93% CPAC score.
“As a rancher’s wife and with neighbors that are all Republican, I get 100%,” Horn said, in response to the Liberty Scorecard question.
Whomever might head up the Colorado Republican Party will have a chore ahead, Bremer said: “I don’t think we have the faintest idea what the finances are.”
That could potentially restrict the ability to operate and staff up the organization, he said.
Horn again pointed out she has the connections to solve whatever the financial woes might be.
Holtorf took the moment to speak on behalf of the Washington County Republican Party: “They are saying the state party is AWOL. It sucks.”
While the Central Committee was unable to meet Saturday for the identified purpose of removing Williams and possibly selecting a new chair, Horn sees it as a lost opportunity to make immediate change.
“I saw it as an opportunity to showcase myself and staff in advance of reorganization [in March],” she said. “There’s been no continuity.”
Other party officers include Vice-Chairwoman Hope Scheppelman and Secretary Anna Ferguson. While not an elected officer, Tom Bjorklund serves as treasurer.