On the march, Ed Haynes has mustered supporters in a bid to take back the seat he once held as the
Chairman of the Republican Party of Larimer County. Among the casualties, Ronald Reagan’s 11th
Commandment – Never speak ill of another Republican.
The first volley demonstrates the fight will be ugly. Six longtime Larimer County Republicans supporting
Haynes have already asked for current Larimer County Republican Chairwoman Nancy Hunter’s
resignation in an apparent attempt to soften her up for the election. No date has been set but it should occur
in early February. Insiders tell LovelandPolitics.com Nancy Hunter now will not run for re-election,
however, she has been quoted in local media as saying she hasn’t yet decided.
Among the issues dividing the party are those now in the past but the wounds appear to be fresh. Haynes, a
lifetime government employee - now retired, is leading the charge of those Republicans who supported
Referendums C and D. They feel party leaders were in error when they opposed the Referendums contrary
to the wishes of the greater business community. In addition, a number of Haynes supporters have accused
Hunter of presiding over an “inquisitionâ€� to oust any Republican not loyal to her “narrow ideology.â
€�
The Executive Committee of the Republican Central Committee met in late November of 2006. On the
agenda were the names of Central Committee Members accused of violating rule 10 of the Larimer County
Republican Party by-laws that require Central Committee Members to refrain from supporting non-
Republican candidates running against the Republican nominee.
While Rosemary VanGorder, one of the accused, did agree to resign shortly after being notified by Nancy
Hunter of the Republican Executive Committee discussion, others have not.
Why is this important? The election in early February will be held with the approximately 300 Republican
Central Committee Members who represent all of the precincts in Larimer County. Ed Haynes and Nancy
Hunter (if she runs) will compete for a majority of those 300 votes. According to one source, Haynes
burned-up phone lines in early December trying to create a mutiny against Hunter so he could point to the
turmoil in the party and show there is need for a change.
Fern Wolaver, a supporter of Haynes, sent a letter to Hunter asking for her resignation and cc’d local
press in an apparent attempt to discredit Hunter as a leader of the local party. According to Wolaver, she
believes Hunter’s position working for Congresswoman Musgrave provides a conflict of interest.
Conveniently, she failed to raise this objection earlier during the past nearly four years Hunter has served as
Chairwoman of the party. Now that Wolaver was found to be violating the by-laws by the Republican
Executive Committee, she wants Nancy Hunter (who hasn’t been accused of violating the by-laws) to
resign also as a condition of Wolaver’s resignation.
Wolaver and Haynes appear to be trying to sell the press the idea the inquisition conducted to oust disloyal
Republicans was Hunter’s idea and therefore the reason for Hunter to go. According to Hunter, she has
always attempted to enforce the party rules fairly regardless of internal factions or infighting.
The facts may back her up. Rosemary VanGorder, an anti-abortion activist who is not a likely supporter of
moderate candidate Ed Haynes, did agree to resign after being contacted by Hunter regarding the Executive
Committee’s decision. According to VanGorder, she did indeed march in a parade for the candidate
opposed to Republican County Commissioner Kathay Rennels. Hunter was correct in asking her to resign
her position according the by-laws.
Kitty Wild and Fern Wolaver also showed public and open support for non-Republicans in the last general
election but have refused to resign. In a move reminiscent of Fidel Castro’s politics, Haynes appears to
be interested in a “selected purge� where only those not supporting his candidacy are forced to resign.
Former State House Representative and recent campaign manager for Don Marostica, Tim Fritz, is believed
to have offered at least one of the names to the Executive Committee for removal. Dan Betts, the current
Vice-Chairman, is also rumored to be supporting the rebel faction trying to discredit the party leadership.
The outcome of the upcoming election will be greatly determined by the precinct captains who constitute the
300 some members of the Larimer County Central Committee. If they perceive Ed Haynes’ staging for
his run to have damaged the party as a whole, they may reject his campaign of dirty tricks. On the other
hand, if Haynes is able to blame Hunter and the more conservative elements of the party for defeats in last
year’s election, he may win.
Ironically, Haynes has blamed Hunter and conservatives in general for failing to deliver larger margins for
Republicans in the last election. He may want to re-think that strategy given his own record.
Haynes is no stranger to losing. Congresswoman Musgraves’ recent campaign opponent, Angie
Paccione, beat Haynes in a run for the State Legislature a few years ago. Haynes also headed the Larimer
County efforts for gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez in the last election. After nine months of difficult
labor on behalf of Beauprez, Haynes delivered a stillborn result allowing Ritter to stroll into an easy victory
with the support of Larimer County voters.
Chairman of the Republican Party of Larimer County. Among the casualties, Ronald Reagan’s 11th
Commandment – Never speak ill of another Republican.
The first volley demonstrates the fight will be ugly. Six longtime Larimer County Republicans supporting
Haynes have already asked for current Larimer County Republican Chairwoman Nancy Hunter’s
resignation in an apparent attempt to soften her up for the election. No date has been set but it should occur
in early February. Insiders tell LovelandPolitics.com Nancy Hunter now will not run for re-election,
however, she has been quoted in local media as saying she hasn’t yet decided.
Among the issues dividing the party are those now in the past but the wounds appear to be fresh. Haynes, a
lifetime government employee - now retired, is leading the charge of those Republicans who supported
Referendums C and D. They feel party leaders were in error when they opposed the Referendums contrary
to the wishes of the greater business community. In addition, a number of Haynes supporters have accused
Hunter of presiding over an “inquisitionâ€� to oust any Republican not loyal to her “narrow ideology.â
€�
The Executive Committee of the Republican Central Committee met in late November of 2006. On the
agenda were the names of Central Committee Members accused of violating rule 10 of the Larimer County
Republican Party by-laws that require Central Committee Members to refrain from supporting non-
Republican candidates running against the Republican nominee.
While Rosemary VanGorder, one of the accused, did agree to resign shortly after being notified by Nancy
Hunter of the Republican Executive Committee discussion, others have not.
Why is this important? The election in early February will be held with the approximately 300 Republican
Central Committee Members who represent all of the precincts in Larimer County. Ed Haynes and Nancy
Hunter (if she runs) will compete for a majority of those 300 votes. According to one source, Haynes
burned-up phone lines in early December trying to create a mutiny against Hunter so he could point to the
turmoil in the party and show there is need for a change.
Fern Wolaver, a supporter of Haynes, sent a letter to Hunter asking for her resignation and cc’d local
press in an apparent attempt to discredit Hunter as a leader of the local party. According to Wolaver, she
believes Hunter’s position working for Congresswoman Musgrave provides a conflict of interest.
Conveniently, she failed to raise this objection earlier during the past nearly four years Hunter has served as
Chairwoman of the party. Now that Wolaver was found to be violating the by-laws by the Republican
Executive Committee, she wants Nancy Hunter (who hasn’t been accused of violating the by-laws) to
resign also as a condition of Wolaver’s resignation.
Wolaver and Haynes appear to be trying to sell the press the idea the inquisition conducted to oust disloyal
Republicans was Hunter’s idea and therefore the reason for Hunter to go. According to Hunter, she has
always attempted to enforce the party rules fairly regardless of internal factions or infighting.
The facts may back her up. Rosemary VanGorder, an anti-abortion activist who is not a likely supporter of
moderate candidate Ed Haynes, did agree to resign after being contacted by Hunter regarding the Executive
Committee’s decision. According to VanGorder, she did indeed march in a parade for the candidate
opposed to Republican County Commissioner Kathay Rennels. Hunter was correct in asking her to resign
her position according the by-laws.
Kitty Wild and Fern Wolaver also showed public and open support for non-Republicans in the last general
election but have refused to resign. In a move reminiscent of Fidel Castro’s politics, Haynes appears to
be interested in a “selected purge� where only those not supporting his candidacy are forced to resign.
Former State House Representative and recent campaign manager for Don Marostica, Tim Fritz, is believed
to have offered at least one of the names to the Executive Committee for removal. Dan Betts, the current
Vice-Chairman, is also rumored to be supporting the rebel faction trying to discredit the party leadership.
The outcome of the upcoming election will be greatly determined by the precinct captains who constitute the
300 some members of the Larimer County Central Committee. If they perceive Ed Haynes’ staging for
his run to have damaged the party as a whole, they may reject his campaign of dirty tricks. On the other
hand, if Haynes is able to blame Hunter and the more conservative elements of the party for defeats in last
year’s election, he may win.
Ironically, Haynes has blamed Hunter and conservatives in general for failing to deliver larger margins for
Republicans in the last election. He may want to re-think that strategy given his own record.
Haynes is no stranger to losing. Congresswoman Musgraves’ recent campaign opponent, Angie
Paccione, beat Haynes in a run for the State Legislature a few years ago. Haynes also headed the Larimer
County efforts for gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez in the last election. After nine months of difficult
labor on behalf of Beauprez, Haynes delivered a stillborn result allowing Ritter to stroll into an easy victory
with the support of Larimer County voters.
| Nancy Hunter announced at the Monday morning Republican Breakfast she decided not to seek another term. |
| Ed Haynes, wearing the t-shirt of failed gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez |
| Larimer County Republican Party Conflict Ed Haynes (below-right) Initiates Aggressive Campaign to Discredit Republican Party Chairwoman Nancy Hunter (right) who insiders say will not run again. December 2006 |
| Little known fact: Ed Haynes was born in Oak Ridge, Tennessee and Nancy Hunter is also a native of Tennessee. |
LovelandPolitics.com
