State Republican chair, Bob Martinez, defends his stand on Marc Holtzman's candidacy by pulling out the old, "I'm a team player," defense. From today's Denver Post, "State Republican Party chairman Bob Martinez took the unusual step of asking Marc Holtzman to drop out of the gubernatorial race because of major political issues affecting Colorado's future, Martinez said Wednesday. First, a Republican governor in a critical Western state would be able to help get a GOP presidential candidate elected in 2008, he said. Second, that governor would be in office during the 2010 census, which is used during the state's congressional redistricting two years later. If Colorado political history is an indication, that governor would have a good chance of getting re-elected and would be involved in drawing district maps. 'It's a partisan perspective, I know. But I'm the Republican chairman,' Martinez said in a phone interview. 'It's an extremely important seat.' Martinez has expressed concern that a primary between Holtzman and Bob Beauprez, a two-term congressman, would be expensive and bloody. That, he said, could irreparably hurt the GOP nominee in the general election against Democrat Bill Ritter."
The article also has a primer of the petition process: "Colorado candidates must hand in signatures to the secretary of state's office today in order to petition onto the Aug. 8 primary ballot. Each signature will be verified by the secretary of state's office, and the voting ballot will be certified by June 9. After the office determines whether a candidate has made the ballot, a five-day protest period goes into effect. During that time, the public and the candidates may review the petitions and fight the decision. At the end of the five-day period, protesters are permitted to submit their evidence at a hearing administered by Secretary of State Gigi Dennis or her deputy. A ruling must be entered in 48 hours. Because of the number of signatures requiring review, the secretary of state's office has hired 35 temporary employees who will work through the Memorial Day weekend."
Category: Denver November 2006 Election
6:32:46 AM 
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