Loveland - February 10, 2010
During a candidate's forum Tuesday night council candidate Adam Koniecki announced he was being pressured to abandon
his candidacy to represent Ward 1 on Loveland's City Council.
The person who is pressuring the candidate to step aside and endorse a rival candidate is the father of a boyhood friend of
Koniecki who is also a full time City of Loveland employee. Tim Hedgespeth opened his email to Koniecki by stating:
"We all know the importance of a conservative winning. There are many reasons we need a conservative in that
seat. One of the main reasons is John Case and his backing from the WRA."
Hedgespeth continued his plea by writing;
"Should you choose to withdraw and throw your support behind Donna, you could really display maturity, civic
concern and wisdom. Not to mention the support of Rice backers in the future. She has already said she would
back you in the next election if you would [not] run. I do not mean to offend you and I know your heart is in the
right place..."
Hedgespeth is now the third Rice supporter who has approached a rival of Rice to encourage them to throw their support
behind Rice and back-out of the race - appearing to speak for Rice. What makes this offer different, and possibly illegal, is
that Hedgespeth is attempting to persuade the candidate to abandon his race in exchange for a reward in the future; Rice
stepping down in 4 years and endorsing Koniecki. Federal and State law prohibit anyone from offering inducements to a
candidate for public office to back-out of a race.
Hedgespeth, like his son Tate, previously supported Koniecki as the "conservative" candidate in the race but changed his
view after Koniecki made comments about Centerra and McWhinney that Hedgespeth found offensive.
".....and your statements in Saturday's Reporter-Herald regarding McWhinney and Centerra as Loveland's
biggest concern really miss the mark. When you consider the unemployment rate, the economic downturn and
the City's budget deficit due in part to significantly lower sales taxrevenues; Centerra should be a place where
we are trying to stimulate business and growth to create jobs and increase sales taxrevenues. Sales tax revenues
fund services provided by City departments that operate out of the general fund. Enterprise funds (W&P, Trash
Collection, etc.) do transfer funds to the GF, but they are also feeling the pain of lower revenues."
"The majority of the people I talked with feel your not ready. In order to defeat Case and his WRA backers, we
will need a united front. I would suggest that you and Donna speak to each other. One of you needs to withdraw
from the race for the good of our community. The other candidates seem to have much better credentials then
you currently possess. Donna has stated she only wants to serve this term and then move on. My opinion is that
you should withdraw, using the opportunity to show your commitment to doing what is best for Loveland and
gaining both respect and a couple more years of experience."
Koniecki wasted no time in shooting back the following email in reply;
--- On Sun, 2/7/10, Adam Koniecki <adamkoniecki@yahoo.com> wrote:
From: Adam Koniecki <adamkoniecki@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Ward 1 seat
To: "T Hedgespeth"
Date: Sunday, February 7, 2010, 11:24 PM
dear Tim,
Thank you for your concern but my decision is final. I am running for this spot and will not back down. Donna is
nothing more than another RINO ( republican in name only) she is not a "conservative". She has been asked to
run by Klassen who at the council retreat proposed numerous new taxes in clear defiance of his " lower taxes"
campaign platform. I am tired of hearing that someone is " more electable " then another. This is why we have
such incompetent leadership in this country. I know that you think the McWhinneys are all that. I also know for
a fact that that sentiment does not hold true for the majority of ward 1 voters. The corruption that has taken
place out there cannot be allowed to continue. In Nov. I spoke with the general manager of the outlets who told
me I had his support simply because he does not like the Mcwhinneys. out of the 9 people I have bumped into
while handing out flyer's these past few days, 6 have told me I have there vote. If you want a true conservative
on the council then you need to support me and Donna needs to drop out. If all you care about is keeping people
with R's behind there name on the council then by all means support Donna.
Adam
Ps I am out of yard signs, if you chose to support Donna please let me know so I can pick up my sign and put it in
a more prevalent location.
----- Forwarded Message ----
From: T Hedgespeth
To: Adam Koniecki <adamkoniecki@yahoo.com>
Sent: Mon, February 8, 2010 12:48:40 PM
Subject: Re: Ward 1 seat
Adam,
It is very unfortunate that all you got out of my e-mail is that I "think the McWhinney's are all that." Good luck with your
campaign.
Tim
During a candidate's forum Tuesday night council candidate Adam Koniecki announced he was being pressured to abandon
his candidacy to represent Ward 1 on Loveland's City Council.
The person who is pressuring the candidate to step aside and endorse a rival candidate is the father of a boyhood friend of
Koniecki who is also a full time City of Loveland employee. Tim Hedgespeth opened his email to Koniecki by stating:
"We all know the importance of a conservative winning. There are many reasons we need a conservative in that
seat. One of the main reasons is John Case and his backing from the WRA."
Hedgespeth continued his plea by writing;
"Should you choose to withdraw and throw your support behind Donna, you could really display maturity, civic
concern and wisdom. Not to mention the support of Rice backers in the future. She has already said she would
back you in the next election if you would [not] run. I do not mean to offend you and I know your heart is in the
right place..."
Hedgespeth is now the third Rice supporter who has approached a rival of Rice to encourage them to throw their support
behind Rice and back-out of the race - appearing to speak for Rice. What makes this offer different, and possibly illegal, is
that Hedgespeth is attempting to persuade the candidate to abandon his race in exchange for a reward in the future; Rice
stepping down in 4 years and endorsing Koniecki. Federal and State law prohibit anyone from offering inducements to a
candidate for public office to back-out of a race.
Hedgespeth, like his son Tate, previously supported Koniecki as the "conservative" candidate in the race but changed his
view after Koniecki made comments about Centerra and McWhinney that Hedgespeth found offensive.
".....and your statements in Saturday's Reporter-Herald regarding McWhinney and Centerra as Loveland's
biggest concern really miss the mark. When you consider the unemployment rate, the economic downturn and
the City's budget deficit due in part to significantly lower sales taxrevenues; Centerra should be a place where
we are trying to stimulate business and growth to create jobs and increase sales taxrevenues. Sales tax revenues
fund services provided by City departments that operate out of the general fund. Enterprise funds (W&P, Trash
Collection, etc.) do transfer funds to the GF, but they are also feeling the pain of lower revenues."
"The majority of the people I talked with feel your not ready. In order to defeat Case and his WRA backers, we
will need a united front. I would suggest that you and Donna speak to each other. One of you needs to withdraw
from the race for the good of our community. The other candidates seem to have much better credentials then
you currently possess. Donna has stated she only wants to serve this term and then move on. My opinion is that
you should withdraw, using the opportunity to show your commitment to doing what is best for Loveland and
gaining both respect and a couple more years of experience."
Koniecki wasted no time in shooting back the following email in reply;
--- On Sun, 2/7/10, Adam Koniecki <adamkoniecki@yahoo.com> wrote:
From: Adam Koniecki <adamkoniecki@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Ward 1 seat
To: "T Hedgespeth"
Date: Sunday, February 7, 2010, 11:24 PM
dear Tim,
Thank you for your concern but my decision is final. I am running for this spot and will not back down. Donna is
nothing more than another RINO ( republican in name only) she is not a "conservative". She has been asked to
run by Klassen who at the council retreat proposed numerous new taxes in clear defiance of his " lower taxes"
campaign platform. I am tired of hearing that someone is " more electable " then another. This is why we have
such incompetent leadership in this country. I know that you think the McWhinneys are all that. I also know for
a fact that that sentiment does not hold true for the majority of ward 1 voters. The corruption that has taken
place out there cannot be allowed to continue. In Nov. I spoke with the general manager of the outlets who told
me I had his support simply because he does not like the Mcwhinneys. out of the 9 people I have bumped into
while handing out flyer's these past few days, 6 have told me I have there vote. If you want a true conservative
on the council then you need to support me and Donna needs to drop out. If all you care about is keeping people
with R's behind there name on the council then by all means support Donna.
Adam
Ps I am out of yard signs, if you chose to support Donna please let me know so I can pick up my sign and put it in
a more prevalent location.
----- Forwarded Message ----
From: T Hedgespeth
To: Adam Koniecki <adamkoniecki@yahoo.com>
Sent: Mon, February 8, 2010 12:48:40 PM
Subject: Re: Ward 1 seat
Adam,
It is very unfortunate that all you got out of my e-mail is that I "think the McWhinney's are all that." Good luck with your
campaign.
Tim
LovelandPolitics.com
a non-partisan, not for profit, news website reporting on Loveland, Colorado.
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| Council Candidate Offered Deal To Resign From Race by City of Loveland Employee |
| Tim Hedgespeth, City of Loveland |
| Adam Koniecki Council Candidate |
| COLORADO ELECTION CAMPAIGN REGULATIONS ARTICLE 45 Fair Campaign Practices Act 1-45-115. Encouraging withdrawal from campaign prohibited. No person shall offer or give any candidate or candidate committee any money or any other thing of value for the purpose of encouraging the withdrawal of the candidate's candidacy, nor shall any candidate offer to withdraw a candidacy in return for money or any other thing of value. |