Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Holbert a formidable opponent for HD-44 seat


Chris Holbert is “the odds-on favorite” to be appointed to succeed House Minority Leader Mike May (R-Parker) in House District 44, according to state Sen. Ted Harvey (R-Highlands Ranch).

Certainly the former president of the Colorado Mortgage Lenders Association has some very prominent backers – the most prominent being May himself.

Holbert said he’s also picked up endorsements from Harvey, former U.S. Sen. Bill Armstrong (R-Colo.), outgoing U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-Fort Morgan), 2008 CD-6 GOP candidate Wil Armstrong, state Sen.-elect Mark Scheffel (R-Parker), and state Reps. Frank McNulty (R-Highlands Ranch) and David Balmer (R-Centennial).

Dustin Zvonek, U.S. Rep-elect Mike Coffman’s (R-Aurora) manager, is also in the running, as is small businesswoman Polly Lawrence.
Zvonek has big-name support from Coffman, U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Littleton), and Colorado Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry (R-Grand Junction). Lawrence, a relative unknown who announced her candidacy during last weekend's DougCo GOP executive meeting, described herself to the Denver Post’s Jessica Fender as "a longshot."

Kendall Unruh, a 2008 Republican National Convention delegate from Castle Rock, considered running, but she decided against it in order to support Holbert, according to Holbert. Former state Republican Party finance committee chair Mark Baisley and GOP activist John Ransom have also decided against running, they each said.

Holbert, now a consultant who lives near Parker, said though freshman legislator orientation has already concluded, he's familiar with how the state legislature operates from his days spent at the Capitol as CMLA president.

I know the people there, I know the process, and I had experience in moving bills from start to finish and the hearing process. So I've got an idea what I'm getting into," Holbert said. "I'm not sure if the others have that experience."

Holbert said he also may have a leg up on the other candidates because he scouted out potentially running for May's seat earlier this year after hearing rumors that May might go for Harvey's state Senate seat if Harvey was elected to Congress. Harvey lost the CD-6 Republican nomination to Secretary of State Mike Coffman in August, though, so Harvey, May, and Holbert all stayed put.

A vacancy committee of about 120 elected officials, district captains and precinct leaders is tentatively scheduled to meet Jan. 6 to pick May’s successor, Douglas County GOP Chairwoman Kelsey Alexander told the Post.

2 comments:

  1. Why does it look like Holbert is testifying before a government hearing?

    He's a MORTGAGE BANKER, lol

    Wanna hear another joke?

    Why is Ted Harvey saying Holbert is the front-runner?

    Because Holbert cried at his Victory party, lol

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  2. In all seriousness, Holbert is a good man with a solid foundation, but he is flawed in regard to the future of Colorado Politics. What we (Republicans) need is a man who is capable of bridging divides, bringing new ideas to the table, while at the same time adhering to Conservative Values...

    There is one man in this race who fits this criteria: his last name begins with a Z and rhymes with tonic: Zvonek

    ReplyDelete