By Jen Schumann | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice
The political battleground in Colorado isn’t simply limited to choices on the ballot.
Volunteers are finding the streets to be more than just a figurative battleground, as despite their efforts to promote a better tomorrow they are literally under attack today.
As Colorado’s election season heats up, a disturbing trend is emerging — campaign materials being stolen or vandalized and, worse, violence targeting campaign volunteers.
In a region spanning Colorado Senate District 12, House Districts 16 and 17 and other areas, the tension surrounding local Republican campaigns is manifesting in dangerous ways.
One of the most alarming events took place in House District 17, where Gordon Bertoglio, a 74-year-old precinct leader, was assaulted while confronting someone stealing campaign signs. Bertoglio, a longtime volunteer, was knocked to the ground and suffered a concussion.
“Some guy grabbed him, threw him to the sidewalk and he got a concussion,” said Kay Rendleman, a volunteer coordinator working closely with Rebecca Keltie’s House District 16 campaign. Bertoglio’s injuries sent him to the hospital, where he is still recovering from dizziness, headaches and symptoms including throwing up blood.
Keltie’s campaign has noted the theft and destruction of signs, a loss which could be valued at greater than $500 and possibly more than $1,000, based upon prior Rocky Mountain Voice discussions with candidates.
“We’ve lost probably 60 signs in the House District 16 campaign,” Rendleman said.
Elizabeth Riggs, a candidate for House District 17, is among those Bertoglio has been supporting. She has shared Facebook updates on his condition including photos of his injury, expressing her concern for the safety of all campaign volunteers.
But the violence is not isolated to House District 17. Campaigns in Senate District 12, House District 64 and U.S. House campaigns have also been hit hard by vandals.
John Fabbricatore, a candidate in Colorado’s 6th U.S. House District, reports losing more than 70 signs in one night, particularly in east Aurora. The value of his loss could be greater than Keltie’s.
The theft of campaign signs, while often dismissed as a minor nuisance, has serious implications for candidates and volunteers. It represents the loss of materials and a financial burden. The theft and destruction can be a barometer check on the growing climate of hostility.
In response to these incidents, volunteers like Rendleman have had to implement new safety protocols.
“We’re sending volunteers out in [male and female] teams together to ensure more protection and just being more situationally aware, making sure the timing is where there’s a lot of visibility,” Rendleman said.
She’s at a loss to comprehend the motivation behind the violence and vandalism.
“I guess it’s stuff on the Internet driving this inexcusable behavior,” Rendleman said. “I don’t understand it at all.”
Despite the chaos, Rendleman believes that Colorado citizens share a common goal.
“We share the same long-term goal, to help every person thrive emotionally and economically. We want every citizen of this country, every person, to be able to become the best person they can possibly be, and to thrive personally, emotionally [and] economically,” she said. “We’ve got to get back to reminding ourselves of our shared values.”
Rendleman recalls her own experiences from a time working on President Ronald Reagan’s campaign, reflecting on how his leadership could inspire the civility needed today.
“My first job out of college was working for the Reagan for President campaign. I was on paid staff, and he had an optimism and belief in the power of people and their goodness,” she said. “Even if you didn’t agree with his policies, you felt that belief. We need someone who can inspire that same kind of belief in the greatness of America and the greatness of Americans. There’s so much more we share than what divides us.”
Political violence isn’t confined to any one region or party, says state Rep. Ryan Armagost, who has a law enforcement background.
“I think this is a growing trend, a way of resolving conflict is by getting that instant gratification of doing something, whether it be vandalism or violence,” he said.
Armagost’s own experiences in Northern Colorado with threats have brought the issue even closer to home.
“I personally had a death threat last month, a five-minute voicemail essentially ending with the threat that my house would burn down,” he recalled.
Speaking directly against political violence, Armagost added, “[As Republicans] we obviously don’t condone any political violence. We pride ourselves on taking the high road. We don’t reciprocate [the] negative or unreasonable behavior that we see on a regular basis. We reciprocate through conversations and compromise, but we never reciprocate in inappropriate behavior or violence.”
He’s concerned with the present state law and order in Colorado.
“We’ve become a state where criminal behavior has almost become acceptable. We need to get back to some semblance of stability and normalcy in our state,” he said.
Colorado’s future depends on restoring safety and accountability, he says: “The only way to do that is at the ballot box.”
Both Rendleman and Armagost emphasize the need for civility and safety in political campaigns. Armagost says there is safety in numbers.
“I would caution people to be careful. Go out in groups, or at least pairs, and have some means of protecting yourself, whether it’s pepper spray or otherwise,” he said.
He calls for all political players, regardless of party affiliation, to condemn political violence and vandalism.