1-Color
June 20, 2014 Douglas County, Colorado Volume 12, Issue 33
parkerchronicle.net
Page 10
A publication of
Four vie for seat in CD4
PARKER DAYS TO REMEMBER
Republican victor will face Democrat, Libertarian in fall By Vic Vela
vvela@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Alanna Bell, 12, of Parker, and her dad, Eric, soak in the thrill of the Himalaya ride at Parker Days June 15.
Riders anticipate the drop on the Super Shot at Parker Days.
Three days of pleasant weather spurred yet another incredible turnout at the 37th annual Parker Days festival in downtown Parker June 13-15. Children devoured snow cones, teens screamed on rides, boot-scooters got in some line dancing, and dads won carnival prizes for their children on Father’s Day. The regional festival further solidified community bonds and got families out for some early summer sunshine.
PHOTOS BY CHRIS MICHLEWICZ
Brandie Bolton, 8, of Aurora, takes a run in a hamster ball.
Four Republican candidates who are vying to fill an open 4th Congressional District seat are touting their conservative values to voters as the June 24 primary draws near. The hopefuls are seeking a seat that is being vacated by U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner, who is leaving the House of Representatives in a bid to unseat Democratic Sen. Mark Udall this fall. The predominately rural district encompasses Colorado’s eastern plains. The district reaches northern cities, including Greeley and parts of Longmont, but it also includes some communities near Denver, including Parker, Castle Rock, Lone Tree and Elbert County. Gardner has thrown his support behind Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck to succeed him in the CD4 race. Buck — who narrowly lost a 2010 Senate race against Sen. Michael Bennet — is the household name among the four candidates looking to take over Gardner’s seat. “People talk about name recognition, but I think what I have is a brand,” Buck said. “People understand I am a fiscal conservative and I have a passion to reduce spending.” CD4 voters are hearing that same message from the other three candidates in the race: state Sen. Scott Renfroe; Weld County Commissioner Barbara Kirkmeyer; and Steve Laffey, a New England transplant who was once the mayor of Cranston, Rhode Island. Laffey lives just outside the district in Larimer County, where he raises cattle. The former head of a Tennessee-based brokerage firm, Laffey is a passionate fiscal conservative who hopes to help rein in federal spending, if elected. Laffey has been endorsed by former presidential candidate Herman Cain, a tea party darling. “I’ve never been endorsed by anybody,” Laffey quipped when asked about the significance of Cain’s endorsement. “Politicians hate me.” Renfroe, of Greeley, has represented state Senate District 13 since 2006. A fiscal and social conservative, Renfroe believes that his opponents cannot match his conservative credentials. “I support personhood and traditional marriage,” Renfroe said. “I’m a proven conservative with a proven conservative voting record. You can say you support things, but until you’ve been on a legislative body and voted on things, there’s CD 4 continues on Page 8
Parker resident Nate Latimer and his son, Indy, 9, ride the Fire Ball.
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