By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice
BRIGHTON — A who’s who of Colorado Republican Party leadership here Saturday was still unable to answer a pressing question: Are they a minority faction or a unified movement for change?
It could not be answered, they say, because a court order prevented their meeting of the party’s Central Committee. Those in attendance here at Faith Fellowship Church had planned to discuss the removal of State Chairman Dave Williams, and possibly his vice-chair and secretary in a sweeping change at the state office. The court order preventing it was decided about 24 hours earlier, reportedly without their notice.
“We are in crisis mode,” Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer said. “We are one vote from a super majority in the [State] Senate and in the [State] House of 65 members we only have 19 seats. Our candidates are not getting support from the state party office.”
That status alone might not be a fair criticism of Williams. It also was the case under former Chairwoman Kristi Burton Brown and her predecessor, Chairman Ken Buck. Democrats have been increasing majorities for some time, but Kirkmeyer argued a lack of support from the state party doesn’t help.
There are other criticisms of Williams, such as his decision to endorse candidates in opposed primary elections and what some termed an unprecedented move to declare candidacy for the 5th Congressional District and retain the party chairmanship. Those who recall when Buck was chairman would recall he was also a congressman at the same time, although he wasn’t in place during the election. Williams’ messaging during Pride month that some say was anti-LGBT also has angered some in the Central Committee.
“I could opine on Dave Williams’ epic fails for a long time, but I’m here to improve leadership,” State Rep. Richard Holtorf said.
In lieu of a meeting to potentially vote for removal of Williams, those in attendance settled for a “non-meeting rally” in which a litany of Central Committee members leveled their criticisms toward the chairman. No business was conducted. There was an indication the meeting would be rescheduled with the same order of business: remove Williams and his team.
The Rocky Mountain Voice offered Williams an opportunity to respond to the criticism from the Central Committee meeting. 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.
About 100 members of the Central Committee did attend Saturday, but Holtorf pointed out they alone were short of the needed votes for removal. Many of the members were prepared with proxy votes for other members, which those in attendance heard created a quorum of the Central Committee and would have resulted in the 60% of votes needed for removal. After some discussion over a bond Williams may or may not have paid the court, Kirkmeyer announced the “meeting” would not take place, but rather a “rally.”
One member of the Central Committee argued Williams and the state party owe them damages for expenses, considering gas, lodging and food costs many attendees absorbed to not have a called meeting.
“I know there are people saying we can’t have this chaos,” Kirkmeyer said. “It is chaos now.”
Heidi Pitchforth, a candidate for State House District 31, offered her concern toward the endorsements Williams made in the primary.
“My dream for a chairman is a chairman who will not put his thumb on the scale,” she said. “We need a chairman actively involved in helping every House district, so we can have this Red Wave we all hear about.”
It immediately followed concerns from Kirkmeyer related to the 8th District race for Congress, in which Gabe Evans and Janak Joshi were opponents.
“Gabe went through the assembly and was supported [by delegates],” she said. “His opponent was endorsed by Dave Williams, and supported. Gabe won in a landslide.”
Brighton Mayor Greg Mills offered his concern over the endorsement process, seeming to hint toward a prior policy of Burton Brown that every elected office is important.
“They should be promoting more Republicans. Of all the people Mr. Williams endorsed, four of 18 made it past the primary,” Mills said. “If you are not getting a net gain of Republicans representing you, then you have failed as a state party chair.”
Richard Keck, the vice-chairman of the Boulder County Republican Party, suggested a reason he said the scheduled meeting was necessary.
“My loyalty is to the organization. What is good for the organization?” he asked. “I have a duty to respect the organization. We have lost that in our state organization.”
Kathleen Chandler, the 4th District member of the State Executive Committee, accused Williams of “removing those he could” from the executive committee. She also accused him of “ramrodding”. But, the biggest problem, she says, is with Williams at the helm funding has dried up from donors.
Eli Bremer, a former congressional candidate and a candidate for state party chair, accused Williams and the state party of not serving notice to organizers of the Central Committee meeting of litigation and that prevented their defense to the court. It ultimately was a well-played strategy to stop the meeting, Bremer said.
“This state matters to me,” said Brita Horn, a candidate for state party chair. “We need to support our candidates. We need to get out the vote and protect the vote.”