Face the State Staff Report
The Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce endorsed Republican challenger Laura Bradford for House District 55 Thursday, a decision she hopes will set a precedent across the state.
Bradford is up against Rep. Bernie Buescher, who as chairman of the powerful Joint Budget Committee is one of Colorado’s most powerful Democrats. He is rumored to be next in line to be Speaker of the House, replacing term-limited Denver Democrat Andrew Romanoff.
BradfordJessica Fischer for FTS
But Buescher has to get re-elected first and Bradford says the chamber's endorsement proves she’s a formidable contender with a real shot at unseating the incumbent Democrat. She attributes the chamber’s support to the fact that she is a small business owner who has a better relationship with the business community in Mesa County than her opponent.
“This election is going to be a referendum and vote of confidence on Buescher,” said Bradford. “The business community needs to decide if they trust sending him back over the hill—this time with a gavel in his hand.”
Bradford owns a medical supplies company she started more than 20 years ago. In addition, two years ago she started a tree farm with husband on land they own near Collbran. She says her experience as a small business owner led her to politics and ultimately drove her decision to pursue elected office.
“I almost tear up with concern when I think about the state of the business community here,” said Bradford. “Buescher has tied himself to [Gov. Bill] Ritter on all his anti-business issues—especially concerning oil and gas.”
While much the nation is experiencing an economic downturn, the energy industry has been a boon to the economy of Mesa County. Residents there have largely avoided high foreclosure rates and an increased rate of bankruptcy filings. Almost half of Coloradans who work in oil and gas fields live in the county and make up a huge chunk of its workforce.
Grand Junction Chamber President Diane Schwenke said the board of directors voted with more an overwhelming majority in favor of endorsing Bradford. She said that even though it was a hard wrought decision because both candidates were so qualified, Buescher eventually lost the endorsement due to his voting record and support of Gov. Bill Ritter's property tax hike.
"Bernie supported the mill levy freeze and he doesn't have a strong record of voting with the chamber," Schwenke said. "Laura indicated she wouldn't vote in favor of any tax increase if elected."
The Grand Junction Chamber’s endorsement comes on the heels of the Metro North Chamber of Commerce’s recent announcement of its state legislative candidate endorsements.
R.J. Hicks, lobbyist and spokesman for the MNCC said the chamber made its decision based on questionnaire given to candidates. According to Hicks, it highlighted key issues for the business community and he said the chamber intended to endorse candidates who could garner sufficient bi-partisan support to successfully pass business-friendly bills.
The MNCC's endorsement list included two Republicans and 12 Democrats. Hicks, who did not vote on the endorsements, attributed this to the makeup of the chamber’s membership and to the inexperience of some GOP candidates. Broomfield Sen. Shawn Mitchell, the incumbent representing Senate District 23 was one the Republicans picked by the chamber. The other Republican was newcomer Daniel Lucas. His opponent, Rep. Paul Weissmann of Longmont, did not participate in the process.
“They were all bright people, but for many it was their first time seeking public office,” said Hicks. “Our area is primarily populated by Democrats and that same makeup is representative in our chamber."
The North Metro Chamber appears to be following a trend that has caught on among many other local chambers, favoring candidates that prefer greater regulation of the business community. Earlier this year, the Denver Metro Chamber came under fire for straying from its traditionally conservative small-business roots. Within the last few months, it has taken heat for not endorsing Amendment 47, a right-to-work measure that would protect workers from being forced to join unions or pay union dues.
The Grand Junction Chamber’s endorsement is a major victory for Bradford, who says she believes she had previously been written off by the Republican establishment as a lost cause. It’s also a significant change of heart for the chamber, which in 2004 named Buescher and his wife “Citizens of the Year.”
“I’m pretty excited,” said Bradford. “I think it’s going to turn some heads.”
Calls to Buescher were not returned as of press time.