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| Lundberg Appointed To State Senate State House District 49 Rep. Kevin Lundberg Selected to Fill Vacancy in State Senate BJ Nichols is the likely replacement for Lundberg in the State House District 49 - |
Loveland -- January 10, 2009
If there was any lingering doubt about local Republican activists' views on the recent elections, it was settled Saturday morning in Loveland
as precinct officials from throughout State Senate District 15 gathered to appoint State House Representative Kevin Lundberg to fill the
vacant senate seat.
The 128 delegates cheered loudly when State House Rep. Kevin Lunberg asked for their nomination to the Colorado State Senate by saying,
"Some say we need to run to the middle of the crowd to get ahead. I disagree...." Lundberg's message to the vacancy committee
centered on the idea that Republicans were punished at the ballot box in the last election for failing to promote their own conservative
principles (especially on fiscal matters) not for having them.
State Senator Steve Johnson was elected to the Larimer County Board of Commissioners last November and is leaving his seat in the State
Senate with two years left in the term. Appointing Johnson's replacement in the State Senate became an argument over who could best win
the seat in two years - a conservative or moderate Republican.
State House District 51 Representative Don Marostica broadcast his views early on the matter when he told the Rocky Mountain News last
December, "The litmus test of Christianity for Republican leadership needs to be silenced. This is a new Colorado and the appearance of the
harsh positions on the social issues based on Christianity appears to the citizens of Colorado as not being very Christian."
Applying his own reverse litmus test, Marostica actively sought a moderate to fill the post and joined Senator Johnson and Larimer
County Commissioner Kathay Rennels in signing an endorsement letter for Mike Lynch. Strangely enough, Lynch wasn't
comfortable with the moderate label and struggled to distinguish himself also as a conservative when communicating to the vacancy
committee members. Nonetheless, Marostica's announcement that he was going to purge his party of "Christians" may have crippled
Lynch's candidacy from the beginning.
The nomination and endorsements for Lundberg began with longtime party activist Sue Rehg and the seconds to her nomination came
from a Weld County legislator, the district attorney and even a former Loveland city councilman.
Lundberg told the delegates when accepting the nomination, "Let me set my legislative record straight. Despite what you have been
told, I have introduced more than just 10 bills in my legislative career.....I have introduced 41 House Bills ........and 16 that passed."
Lundberg continued, "People who follow my voting record give me high marks.....I have never missed one day in the legislature
working for you."
He later stated, "My record shows I am a tireless advocate for conservative principles...." He said that "civil government" has an
important role to play but not to the extent it strangles freedom through too many rules, regulations and interventions into the private
sector.
Lundberg concluded by asking who in the audience would stand-up with him in supporting those principles. At least 2-1 people
stood and cheered Lundberg leaving little doubt who would win the vote.
State House Rep. Don Marostica announced his nomination of Mike Lynch but not before explaining to the audience that the seat
was previously offered to him. "I was asked originally to run for this seat but despite what other people....." Marostica spent at least
the first half of the nomination for Lynch talking about himself and his own political opportunities to be in the State Senate that he
graciously declined several times. When he did finally mention Lynch, he started by saying he doubted Lynch's ability to run before
later being convinced he was the right man for the job. This contradicts the fairly common belief among party regulars that Lynch
was first approached by Marostica and Johnson to seek the nomination.
Marostica was followed by a gentleman seconding Lynch's nomination who angrily shouted his reasons why Lynch should gain the
support of those gathered. Comments like "he actually makes something of value and he makes a payroll" were shouted into the
microphone in a commanding voice revealing a thick east coast accent. Some in the audience joked it felt eerily like a scene from the
Godfather. A "vote for my friend or else" type endorsement left the audience stunned and quiet.
When Lynch finally spoke and accepted the odd nominations, he embarrassingly referred to the previous speaker by stating, "I
always hesitate bringing Brian to these things."
Lynch introduced his "biggest supporters" in the back referring to his family as the "Lynch mob" to which the audience laughed. On a
more serious note, Lynch explained his reasons for seeking a position in the State Senate and talked about his qualifications for the
office. Lynch received a strong applause from the crowd when stating, "I carried an M-16 for a living and understand the importance
of second amendment rights."
Continuing his self-introduction about the company he runs in Loveland, Lynch said, "I got the business from my Dad and never really
thought I would become a guy who makes belt buckles in Loveland." He said the good thing is "we agree" on many issues. Though
he qualified that comment by saying it is important the party have fresh ideas, new issues and said "I hate to say this ..... even get
some Democrats" to support...."
Lynch also stated, "I stand proud to have people like Don Marostica, Steve Johnson and Kathay Rennels supporting me here today.
The people who actually run the local government around here."
Lynch concluded his comments by stating; "Look, I love this country, I love this party and at the end of the day I just want what's
best for this country."
After the nominees and the people who nominated them spoke an announcement was made that an additional delegate had arrived
thus raising to 129 the number of delegates. The vacancy committee rejected adding another delegate more than an hour after the
meeting began and 128 3X5 cards were handed to the delegates to record their secret vote.
As the votes were being counted, elected officials and those seeking elected office were invited to take the floor and speak to the
some 150 people gathered in the hall. Kathay Rennels, Larimer County Commissioner, asked the delegates to recognize Glenn
Gibson for his service on the Larimer County Commission and other sundry announcements were made.
Don Marostica also spoke but the talking in the hall combined with others shushing the talkers drowned out his voice for much of the
time he was speaking. At one point, a member of the audience challenged Marostica to explain where the money from Referendum
C had gone to which Marostica replied he and other legislators are looking into it.
Finally the announcement was made that Kevin Lundberg received 86 votes and Mike Lynch 42.
If there was any lingering doubt about local Republican activists' views on the recent elections, it was settled Saturday morning in Loveland
as precinct officials from throughout State Senate District 15 gathered to appoint State House Representative Kevin Lundberg to fill the
vacant senate seat.
The 128 delegates cheered loudly when State House Rep. Kevin Lunberg asked for their nomination to the Colorado State Senate by saying,
"Some say we need to run to the middle of the crowd to get ahead. I disagree...." Lundberg's message to the vacancy committee
centered on the idea that Republicans were punished at the ballot box in the last election for failing to promote their own conservative
principles (especially on fiscal matters) not for having them.
State Senator Steve Johnson was elected to the Larimer County Board of Commissioners last November and is leaving his seat in the State
Senate with two years left in the term. Appointing Johnson's replacement in the State Senate became an argument over who could best win
the seat in two years - a conservative or moderate Republican.
State House District 51 Representative Don Marostica broadcast his views early on the matter when he told the Rocky Mountain News last
December, "The litmus test of Christianity for Republican leadership needs to be silenced. This is a new Colorado and the appearance of the
harsh positions on the social issues based on Christianity appears to the citizens of Colorado as not being very Christian."
Applying his own reverse litmus test, Marostica actively sought a moderate to fill the post and joined Senator Johnson and Larimer
County Commissioner Kathay Rennels in signing an endorsement letter for Mike Lynch. Strangely enough, Lynch wasn't
comfortable with the moderate label and struggled to distinguish himself also as a conservative when communicating to the vacancy
committee members. Nonetheless, Marostica's announcement that he was going to purge his party of "Christians" may have crippled
Lynch's candidacy from the beginning.
The nomination and endorsements for Lundberg began with longtime party activist Sue Rehg and the seconds to her nomination came
from a Weld County legislator, the district attorney and even a former Loveland city councilman.
Lundberg told the delegates when accepting the nomination, "Let me set my legislative record straight. Despite what you have been
told, I have introduced more than just 10 bills in my legislative career.....I have introduced 41 House Bills ........and 16 that passed."
Lundberg continued, "People who follow my voting record give me high marks.....I have never missed one day in the legislature
working for you."
He later stated, "My record shows I am a tireless advocate for conservative principles...." He said that "civil government" has an
important role to play but not to the extent it strangles freedom through too many rules, regulations and interventions into the private
sector.
Lundberg concluded by asking who in the audience would stand-up with him in supporting those principles. At least 2-1 people
stood and cheered Lundberg leaving little doubt who would win the vote.
State House Rep. Don Marostica announced his nomination of Mike Lynch but not before explaining to the audience that the seat
was previously offered to him. "I was asked originally to run for this seat but despite what other people....." Marostica spent at least
the first half of the nomination for Lynch talking about himself and his own political opportunities to be in the State Senate that he
graciously declined several times. When he did finally mention Lynch, he started by saying he doubted Lynch's ability to run before
later being convinced he was the right man for the job. This contradicts the fairly common belief among party regulars that Lynch
was first approached by Marostica and Johnson to seek the nomination.
Marostica was followed by a gentleman seconding Lynch's nomination who angrily shouted his reasons why Lynch should gain the
support of those gathered. Comments like "he actually makes something of value and he makes a payroll" were shouted into the
microphone in a commanding voice revealing a thick east coast accent. Some in the audience joked it felt eerily like a scene from the
Godfather. A "vote for my friend or else" type endorsement left the audience stunned and quiet.
When Lynch finally spoke and accepted the odd nominations, he embarrassingly referred to the previous speaker by stating, "I
always hesitate bringing Brian to these things."
Lynch introduced his "biggest supporters" in the back referring to his family as the "Lynch mob" to which the audience laughed. On a
more serious note, Lynch explained his reasons for seeking a position in the State Senate and talked about his qualifications for the
office. Lynch received a strong applause from the crowd when stating, "I carried an M-16 for a living and understand the importance
of second amendment rights."
Continuing his self-introduction about the company he runs in Loveland, Lynch said, "I got the business from my Dad and never really
thought I would become a guy who makes belt buckles in Loveland." He said the good thing is "we agree" on many issues. Though
he qualified that comment by saying it is important the party have fresh ideas, new issues and said "I hate to say this ..... even get
some Democrats" to support...."
Lynch also stated, "I stand proud to have people like Don Marostica, Steve Johnson and Kathay Rennels supporting me here today.
The people who actually run the local government around here."
Lynch concluded his comments by stating; "Look, I love this country, I love this party and at the end of the day I just want what's
best for this country."
After the nominees and the people who nominated them spoke an announcement was made that an additional delegate had arrived
thus raising to 129 the number of delegates. The vacancy committee rejected adding another delegate more than an hour after the
meeting began and 128 3X5 cards were handed to the delegates to record their secret vote.
As the votes were being counted, elected officials and those seeking elected office were invited to take the floor and speak to the
some 150 people gathered in the hall. Kathay Rennels, Larimer County Commissioner, asked the delegates to recognize Glenn
Gibson for his service on the Larimer County Commission and other sundry announcements were made.
Don Marostica also spoke but the talking in the hall combined with others shushing the talkers drowned out his voice for much of the
time he was speaking. At one point, a member of the audience challenged Marostica to explain where the money from Referendum
C had gone to which Marostica replied he and other legislators are looking into it.
Finally the announcement was made that Kevin Lundberg received 86 votes and Mike Lynch 42.
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