Crowded Field To Replace Joel Hefley (R-CO)

Associated Press ^ | February 18, 2006

[Clintonfatigued]

Former El Paso County Sheriff John Anderson had planned to contest Hefley's nomination the primary. State Senator Doug Lamborn, Colorado Springs Mayor Lionel Rivera and Jeff Crank, former vice president of the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce are expected to join the race by early March.

The possible candidate list could even larger and include El Paso County Commissioner Wayne Williams, Colorado Springs City Councilman Darryl Glenn and state Representative Bill Cadman.

[Clintonfatigued]

Of all the possible candidates, I am most intrigued by Colorado Springs Mayor Lionel Rivera. Any Freepers know about him?

[fieldmarshaldj]

As far as I know, Mayor Rivera is a Conservative. He was initially "bashed" on Wikipedia as a member of the "dreaded" Christian Right, but the entry has since been revised to remove the "slur." ;-)

I couldn't tell you any negatives about the man.

[colorado tanker]

I don't know much about El Paso County politics, although I'm pretty confident the seat will stay in Republican hands. Rivera is not listed among the "front-runners" in the Denver press.

[r9etb]

I am most intrigued by Colorado Springs Mayor Lionel Rivera. Any Freepers know about him?

Nice guy, kinda bland, can't get too good a read on how conservative he is, or isn't. My sense of his election to mayor is that he seemed a lot more responsible than his opponents -- it's why I voted for him, anyway.

I don't think he'd be my first choice, but he'd probably do OK.

[r9etb]

I don't know much about El Paso County politics, although I'm pretty confident the seat will stay in Republican hands.

Last I heard, we're the most Republican county in the U.S. You're right -- the Republican candidate will probably win.

[Clintonfatigued]

Since you're an El Paso County resident, do you know who that Republican will be?

[r9etb]

I don't "know," but my guess would be that it'll come down to a contest between John Anderson and Lionel Rivera, and that Anderson will get the nod.

Rivera is appealing enough, but Anderson's really got "it."

Anderson made a name for himself as Sheriff, and was best known for making it much, much easier for El Paso County residents to get Concealed Carry permits. (Of course, the usual predictions of blood in the street were wrong....)

[colorado tanker]

The district I'm worried about is Beauprez's. He could have held it pretty easily, but an open seat is a different matter.

[Clintonfatigued]

Rick O'Donnell, the GOP nominee, is very well-funded. Is he considered to be a strong candidate?

[colorado tanker]

Yes, I believe O'Donnell will be our best candidate. The Dems also have a three-way primary going that might hurt them in the general. So, there's reason for optimism!