Times Counted 111443/169433 65.8 %

Total Votes 105314

Times Blank Voted 6119

Times Over Voted 10

Dana F. West REP 47509 45.11%

Karen Long DEM 57805 54.89%

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

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/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.

1. Southwest Adams Fire District #2 3365 W 65th Ave Denver 80221

2. St Martha’s Episcopal Church 4001 W 76th Ave Westminster 80030

3. Westminster Motor Vehicle Office 8452 N Federal Blvd Westminster 80031

4. St Mark Catholic Church 3141 W 96th Ave Westminster 80031

5. Westminster Church of the Nazarene 3501 W 104th Ave Westminster 80031

6. Immaculate Heart of Mary 11385 Grant Dr Northglenn 80234

7. Crossroads Church 53 E 128th Ave Thornton 80241

8. DeVry University 1870 W 122nd Ave Westminster 80234

9. Chapel Haven SDA Church 9911 Huron St Northglenn 80260

10. Holiday Hills Village MHP 2000 W 92nd Ave Federal Heights 80260

11. Thornton Civic Center – Training Room 9500 Civic Center Dr Thornton 80229

12. Mapleton Schools Admin Bldg 591 E 80th Ave Denver 80221

13. Perl Mack Community Center 7125 Mariposa St Denver 80221

14. Holy Cross Catholic Church 9371 Wigham St Thornton 80229

15. Northglenn Christian Church 1800 E 105th Pl Northglenn 80233

16. Villas at Sunny Acres – Ambassador Rm 2501 E 104th Ave Thornton 80233

17. Margaret Carpenter Recreation Center 11151 Colorado Blvd Thornton 80233

18. Lord of Life Lutheran Church 12021 Northaven Cir Thornton 80241

19. North Metro Church 12505 Colorado Blvd Thornton 80241

20. Northern Hills Church 5061 E 160th Ave Brighton 80602

21. Heritage Todd Creek Clubhouse 8455 Heritage Dr Thornton 80602

22. Brighton Recreation Center Rm 102/103 555 N 11th Ave Brighton 80601

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

24. Greater Brighton Fire District Great Rock Station 15229 Great Rock Rd Brighton 80603

25. Belle Creek Family Center 10693 Belle Creek Blvd Henderson 80640

26. Reunion Recreation Center 17910 E Parkside Dr N Commerce City 80022

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

28. Commerce City Recreation Center 6060 E Parkway Dr Commerce City 80022

29. Fletcher Elementary School 10455 E 25th Ave Aurora 80602

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

31. Bennett Community Center 1100 W Colfax Ave Bennett 80102

DROP-OFF LOCATIONS: In addition to the Service Centers and Vote Centers, voters may drop-off a VOTED mail-in ballot in the signed Official Return Envelope at any of the following Adams County designated drop-off sites: Drop-off locations will be open 7am to 7pm on Election Day (except Thornton Justice Center and Westminster Public Safety Bldg).

Aurora City Clerk’s Office 15151 E Alameda Parkway Aurora M-F 8am-5pm

Bennett Town Clerk’s Office 355 Fourth Street Bennett M-F 8am-5pm Sat Oct 30 9am-2pm

Brighton City Clerk 22 S 4th Avenue Brighton M-F 8am-5pm Sat Oct 30 9am-2pm

Commerce City City Clerk’s Office 7887 E 60th Avenue Commerce City M-F 8am-5pm Sat Oct 30 9am-2pm

Federal Heights City Clerk’s Office 2380 W 90th Avenue Federal Heights M-F 7am-5pm Sat Oct 30 9am-2pm

North Pecos Motor Vehicle Office 12200 N Pecos Street Westminster M-F 7am-5pm Sat Oct 30 9am-2pm

Northglenn City Clerk’s Office 11701 Community Center Dr Northglenn M-F 8am-5pm Sat Oct 30 9am-2pm

Thornton City Clerk’s Office 9500 Civic Center Drive Thornton M-F 8am-5pm

(Thornton Justice Center) 9551 Civic Center Drive Thornton Sat Oct 30 9am-2pm only

Westminster City Clerk’s Office 4800 W 92nd Avenue Westminster M-Thurs 7am-6pm

(Westminster Public Safety Bldg) 9110 Yates Street Westminster Fridays 8am-5pm Sat Oct 30 9am-2pm

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/

http://www.adamscountynewsandviews.com/

4/09/2010

By Jimy Valenti
THE COLORADO STATESMAN

Republicans gathered at the Adams County Fairgrounds last Saturday for their biennial GOP Assembly where delegates nominated 12 candidates for local and legislative races against Democrats who heavily dominate the district. The assembly also elected 201 delegates to represent Adams County at the May 22 Republican State Assembly in Loveland. 

Ali Hasan and J.J. Ament are all smiles at the Adams County gathering despite the fact they are both running for the GOP nomination for state treasurer.

Photo by Jody Hope Strogoff/The Colorado Statesman

“There was a ton of enthusiasm,” enthused Adams County GOP Chair Clark Bolser. “The candidates are running on the problems and concerns that so many here have with the legislature and congress. The delegates responded.”

Nearly every Republican running for statewide office, congress, senate and governor addressed the crowd of delegates and alternates.

But the actual campaigning started well ahead of the 8 a.m. registration time.

Hundreds of campaign signs planted along the drive into the Adams County Fairgrounds welcomed delegates. As the partisans approached the large glass doors to the fairground’s dome-shaped convention hall, CD 7 candidate Ryan Frazier greeted voters outside with coffee and bagels while state treasurer candidate J.J. Ament listened to delegate concerns.

Lori McInnis waves to delegates in Adams County after she is introduced by her husband, gubernatorial candidate Scott McInnis.

Photo by Jody Hope Strogoff/The Colorado Statesman

State Treasurer candidate Ali Hasan, meanwhile, was stationed inside, passing out doughnuts from a large box emblazoned with his campaign stickers. HD 32 candidate Al Jacobsen, with his slogan of making lemonade with Democratic lemons, naturally gave out lemonade. CD 7 candidate Mike Sheely donned his signature cowboy hat and wandered throughout the hall, shaking hands with as many delegates as possible.

Historically the district has not been overly kind to Republicans. All the county’s elected officials are Democrats. Rep. Kevin Priola, R-Henderson, is the only Republican legislator in the county’s delegation.

Of the 194,325 registered voters, 68,045 are Democrats, 55,978 are Republicans and 70,302 are unaffiliated according to recent figures from the secretary of state’s office.

Former county GOP Chair Mary Dambman moved to the district seven years ago from the Republican stronghold of El Paso County. She said she knew how to build a Republican foundation and while serving as chairman helped elect the county’s lone Republican, Rep. Priola.

Dick Poole, a former staffer for Sen. Wayne Allard, is now supporting Ken Buck in the Senate race.

Dambman wore what looked like a political toga — a Scott McInnis for governor t-shirt tied to a Ken Buck for Senator t-shirt — as she made the rounds beneath the fairground’s large dome.

Bolser ran as Dambman’s vice chair in 2008. The two agreed Bolser would chair the county’s Republican party this year, but Dambman said she would still help any way she could.

“I don’t want to be responsible,” Dambman said. “I want to be irresponsible for a change because I’m out there working for Scott McInnis and Ken Buck and that’s what I like. I have no title at all. I can be a free spirit.”

Bolser said the delegates were mostly new to politics and many of them are involved in local tea party or 9/12 groups. He commended them for participating in the Republican
Party.

Gubernatorial candidates Scott McInnis and Dan Maes, U.S. Senate candidates Steve Barton, Cleve Tidwell, Ken Buck and Jane Norton’s representative, CD 2 candidates Bob Brancato and Steve Bailey, and CD 7 candidates Mike Sheely, Lang Sias and Ryan Frazier addressed the delegates along with candidates for multiple state positions.

Attorney General John Suthers received the loudest applause and a lengthy standing ovation after explaining why he joined several other states in a lawsuit over health care reform.

Former Republican National Committeewoman Mary Dambman, also a former Adams County Chair, sits up front while Chairman Clark Bolser officially runs the assembly on Saturday morning.

“If this legislation is allowed to stand and the federal government is allowed to force you to buy any product or service they think is good for you, then there is no limit to the federal government’s control over your individual decision making,” Suthers said. “They can make you buy the car they want. They can make you buy the food they want.”

The assembly’s main business was to select a nominee to challenge Rep. Edward Casso in HD 32. All other 11 candidates were nominated through acclamation.

Chairman for HD 32, Martin Mendez, reported 54 voting delegates. Andrew Goad withdrew from the race. Standup comic and author, Al Jacobsen, received 7 votes — just 13 percent — and small business owner and IT consultant, Kaarl Hoopes, won the nomination with 47 votes, or 87 percent. Candidates needed at least 30 percent of the vote to get on the primary ballot.

Hoopes may have a tough time overcoming the district’s voter makeup — 40 percent Democrat, 37 percent unaffiliated and 22 percent Republican. Hoopes is running on a fiscally conservative platform and said Casso has supported tax and fee increases, thus causing unemployment.

“The biggest need is jobs,” Hoopes said. “There are a lot of these delegates that lost their jobs and I believe I can make a difference for them.”

Although many candidates ran unopposed, they used the assembly to sign up volunteers and build support.

Dambman said Adams County Republicans could make more inroads this year with help from the delegates. HD 34 candidate Brian Vande Krol said he signed up more than a dozen volunteers.

“We have a wonderful wind blowing behind us this year because of what’s going on in the legislature and nationally, but it all starts in the precincts,” Dambman said. “These delegates need to continue working in their neighborhoods to get Republicans elected in the county.”

Republicans nominated at the Adams County GOP Assembly were: Erik Hansen for county commissioner; Rebecca Lefebvre for county treasurer; Dana West for County clerk and recorder; Mark Nicastle for county sheriff; and Mike Arnall, M.D., for county coroner.

In addition, Representative Kevin Priola was nominated for another term in HD 30; Tom Janich was nominated in HD 32; in HD 32, Kaarl Hoopes won the noination; Don Beezly is the candidate in HD 33; Brian Vande Krol in HD 34; Edgar Antillon in HD 35; and Luis Alvarez was nominated for SD 24.

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