Archive for the ‘General’ Category

Friends of Dana  West,

Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you.

It was an honor to have the support of so many people working on my Adams County Clerk and Recorder campaign.  I want to thank each and every one of you for the excellent effort we put forth in walking precincts, passing out literature, talking to your friends and neighbors, marching in parades, putting out signs, contacting voters, and donating your time and money.   In the end it wasn’t enough.  But “the whole trip has been worthwhile”, to quote a former WVIC disc jockey friend of mine.

I leave you with a smile on my face and in my eyes.  There will be future battles that we must be strong for and I look forward to having you in my corner.

Along with Desi dog, I thank you so much.

Keep the faith and keep in touch!

Dana West

Web site:  http://www.Vote4West.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/dana.west

Skype:  dana.west1

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/dana-west/8/605/749

Twitter:  danafwest

Google Voice:  (303) 351-1268

Home:  (303) 280-0243

Cell:  (303) 725-0718

Mailing address:  5274 E 129^th Way, Thornton, CO, 80241

To say Adams County “leans  left” would be a very accurate statement.  Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by 11% of the electorate in the county – an advantage of nearly 25,000 people.  Despite this, the Adams County Democrats took a pretty big beating in Tuesday’s election.

Before I discuss the various county races it should be noted that once again we do not have final vote tallies from our Counter Clerk and Recorder office.  Some of these races could change when things are finally officially finished.  More on that below.

In the marquee matchup, Thornton Mayor Erik Hansen has quite easily beaten incumbent Larry Pace and will become Adams County Commissioner for District 3.  Voters wised up to the dozens of scandals in the county, the cronyism and the questionable ethics of some of the county commissioners.

The nasty letters to the editor written by Democratic operatives and the chair of the county party did little to save Pace.  To say this is a huge victory for local Republicans does not do it justice – they punched the Adco Dems right in the eye with this one.

Hansen has promised to work hard to bring jobs to the county along with fiscal responsibility and increased transparency in county government and I am hoping he can make all that happen.  Some of the things I would put on his to do list include:

• Televised commissioner meetings.   These should be available for online viewing as well.
• Board of Commissioners meetings should be held in the evening so residents can attend and participate in their county government.
• A very close look at how the county handles contracting including increasing accountability and supervision.  There have been way too many scandals in many county departments and it has cost the taxpayers dearly.
• The county needs to increase representation on the Board of Commissioners to five seats.  Many other counties in the state do this and Adams County is too big and too diverse to have a mere three people adequately represent us.
• The continued employment of County Administrator Jim Robinson should be questioned and he likely needs to be terminated.  His track record for providing adequate oversight is horrible and it is time for him to go.

Voters choose to bring fiscal responsibility to County Treasurer’s office

Less than 2,500 votes separate Republican Brigitte Grimm and Democrat Diane Christner as of this writing but Grimm appears on her way to a win.  Private sector experience won the day and Grimm will help to restore taxpayers’ confidence in county government.  As for Christner, it appears she will have to find someplace new to make her photocopies.

County Clerk fails to produce election results but wins reelection

Click for larger version. The Adams County Clerk and Recorder once again fails to provide election results. The notice promises updated results “periodically throughout the day” on Wednesday. We are still waiting.

Certainly the most disappointing result in the county was the race for County Clerk and Recorder.  Karen Long’s failures in providing timely and accurate election results are well documented.  Despite this, newcomer Dana West was not given a chance to right a faltering ship and that is a shame.

The voters deserve better from the person that is trusted with protecting their most sacred right.  While Long celebrates her reelection, the reason she should have been fired is in full evidence.

The first results on Election Night were late (as always) and sporadic from there forward.  Even 24 hours later Adams County continues to lag in producing election results.  As of this writing there is a notice on the county’s website saying, “Counting for election night has concluded.  We will resume counting Wednesday,  11-03-2010, and report periodically throughout the day.”

Amazingly enough, another report has NOT been posted at all today leaving voters wondering what is going on.  Long did however have time to talk to the Denver Post for a story posted this afternoon.

Quick hits – Sheriff, Coroner and RTD

Doug Darr won a third term as sheriff beating carpetbagger Mark Nicastle.  This was probably the nastiest local election and the outcome isn’t particularly surprising.

The race for County Coroner is separated by only 136 votes with Democrat Monica Broncucia-Jordan leading Dr. Mike Arnall.  With the County Clerk dragging her feet counting votes the outcome of this race remains up in the air.

Then we move to the race for RTD Director for District K.  Incumbent Noel Busck was absolutely trounced by union stalwart Kenneth Riley.  This was a bit like picking the lesser of two evils. Busck’s ethics issues and failures to adequately push for equity with FasTracks hurt him.  Riley is an unknown for the most part but I hope he can hold RTD accountable and get taxpayers what they were promised.  I just hope he remembers he represents more than just his union buddies.
http://www.tonysrants.com/thornton/adams-county-democrats-take-a-beating-dem-dominated-county-sees-republican-gains/

EARLY VOTING CENTERS:

Early Voting/Service Centers are open from 7am-5pm Monday-Friday (except Watkins), 9am-2pm on Saturday, October 30th, and on Election Day from 7am-7pm.  At these locations, Voters may: Replace spoiled, defaced, or lost mail-in ballots, surrender a mail-in ballot and vote on an accessible voting machine, emergency register, and drop-off voted mail-in ballots.

Adams County Admin Bldg – Lower Level 450 S 4th Ave Brighton 80601

Adams Co Human Services Bldg – Lower Level 7190 Colorado Blvd Commerce City 80022

Aurora Motor Vehicle Office 3449 N Chambers Rd Suite A Aurora 80011

DeVry University 1870 W 122nd Ave Westminster 80234

Watkins Motor Vehicle Office (M-F 8am-4pm) 5150 Front Range Pkwy #G Watkins 80137

Westminster Motor Vehicle Office 8452 N Federal Blvd Westminster 80031

VOTE CENTERS: Vote Centers will be open on Election Day November 2, from 7am to 7pm. Mail in ballots may also be dropped off at these locations on Election Day. Read the rest of this entry »

County Clerk & Recorder – Dana West

There is no more important right handed down from our forefathers than the right to vote – it is our guarantee that our voice will be heard from the local level to Washington DC.  Protecting this right is of utmost importance and that is what makes this race critical.

Current Adams County Clerk and Recorder Karen Long has continued the failed election practices that have resulted in the county having one of the worst election systems in the state.  Despite ongoing issues for years, the tallying of votes continues to take an inordinate amount of time – more than 25 hours during the last election cycle.

This is simply unsatisfactory and Long’s explanations and excuses have grown tiresome.  Despite the technology that is available, she has claimed that, “Election day is not election day anymore in this day and age.  To think you are going to get results the night of is ludicrous.”  No, Ms. Long, your excuses are ludicrous.

Adams County voters have a chance to bring a fresh face with new ideas to the office of Clerk and Recorder.  Dana West has private sector experience in customer service that will lend itself well to the position and I believe he can turn things around in the office.  Vote for Dana West for Adams County Clerk and Recorder.

http://www.tonysrants.com/thornton/adams-county-election-races-time-for-a-clean-sweep-of-county-offices/

July 12, 2010

Longtime Adams County resident Dana West announced he would seek the office of Adams County Clerk and Recorder in the 2010 election.  West was selected at the Adams County Republican Assembly on April 3^rd and he will be working hard in the coming months to earn the vote of Adams County Residents on November 2nd.