Speakers at the Gunnison County Democratic Party’s annual dinner stayed on the theme of “unity” Sunday night. But there was a notable exception: the topic of Lauren Boebert.
Boebert, a Rifle Republican who represents all of the Western Slope in Congress, including Gunnison County, is not up for re-election until 2022. Yet there are several campaigns underway among Democrats seeking to unseat her. Four candidates, and a stand-in for a fifth, stood before an audience of about 100 at the I Bar Ranch to describe themselves and why they were running.
Laura Puckett Daniels introduced the candidates. The chair of the Gunnison County Planning Commission, Puckett Daniels has been secretary of the county party since January. She said “Trumpism is not dead,” in reference to Boebert and praised the candidates for their bravery in stepping forward to run.
“What we need is leadership at all levels that represents democracy, the democratic process, truth, fact, science. We need those things so that people are taken care of in our valley and in our nation,” Puckett Daniels said.
First up to speak was Colin Wilhelm, an attorney from Glenwood Springs. He said he wanted to give Boebert’s district, the 3rd Congressional District, a second chance like he gives his clients in court. He said he would focus on addressing climate change and taking insurance companies out of health care policymaking. But, he said, “this election is all about beating Lauren Boebert.”
“It’s not about us up here,” he said, referring to the group of candidates, “it’s about making sure Lauren Boebert is gone.”
Congressional candidate Debby Burnett, a veterinarian and physical therapist from North Park, said Boebert had caused her to break a promise to her daughter that she would stop swearing about politics when President Donald Trump was no longer in office.
The only way to beat Boebert in 2022 is to listen “to people who are surviving but not thriving,” she said.
From Pueblo, candidate Sol Sandoval said, “We can do a better job,” in reference to Boebert.
In elected office “we need more parents. We need more people with diverse lenses. We need people who can say, ‘Tired of student loans? So am I. Can’t afford a f****** masters degree? Me too. Can’t afford to live where you live? I hope I can until this runs out.’”
Sandoval said it was on members of the audience to do more. She referenced how much women pay for lipstick and designer boots. “Have you spent that much on us? Maybe that’s why we are so far down in the education system.”
Gunnison County’s state senator, Kerry Donovan, was not in attendance, though she is one of the candidates seeking to unseat Boebert. Donovan is term limited to step down as senator in 2023. Gunnison resident and former Colorado lieutenant governor Mike Callihan, gave remarks on her behalf.
“You remember the bobblehead on the dashboard? Well, I think we have one in Congress’ 3rd CD. You can see it: ‘Yes, Donald. Yes, Mitch. Yes, Kevin,” Callihan said.
“Any of these, including Kerry Donovan, would be superior to what we have now,” he said before reading a letter from Donovan.
Candidate Kellie Rhodes referenced Boebert the least of all the candidates and praised the message of unity introduced by Gunnison County Commissioner Liz Smith at the start of the evening.
Gunnison County Commissioner Jonathan Houck gave concluding remarks after the candidates spoke, focusing on that theme, as well. But he took aim at the Gunnison County Republican Party, which had held its Lincoln Day Dinner in Almont earlier in the day.
“To get to unity requires something called trust, and everyone who has spoken this afternoon has talked about issues that sit right next to the idea that you have to build trust to have unity. And this afternoon, right up in Almont, the Gunnison County Republicans are having their summer banquet or their summer meeting today. They are not talking about trust. They are not talking about unity. They are talking about being cheated. They are talking about an unfair playing field. They are not talking about things that revolve around trust. But they are still our friends and still our neighbors, and they are still people who we care about and who we work with.”
(Sam Liebl can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or editor@gunnisontimes.com)
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