"Buffie" McFadyen Exits CD-3 Race

10 Comments

by: Colorado Pols

Pueblo County Commissioner Liane McFadyen.

As quickly as she appeared, Pueblo County Commissioner Liane "Buffie" McFadyen announces via Facebook:

After a great deal of thought and deliberation, I have decided to withdraw from the 3rd Congressional race.

My decision was made after watching my son at his lacrosse game Wednesday. Timing as the saying goes, is everything. My son is a high school sophomore. After watching his first home game, I realized I'm not prepared to miss his last two years of high school here in Colorado. Time with our children moves much too swiftly and like any mom, I want to spend as much time as possible with my son over the next two years. At least I am hopeful for as much time as a teenager allows.

With that being said, I still believe a Democrat needs to represent the independent spirit of the 3rd Congressional District. I will do everything in my power to help us elect a new and effective congressman. I look forward to working together to take back the 3rd as a dedicated campaign volunteer.

McFadyen's withdrawal from the race is not a huge surprise, given the strange set of circumstances surrounding her before she announced her candidacy (that Pueblo police video). Who will now enter the race for Democrats is anybody's guess–and at this point would need to be a high profile contender. At one point, state Sen. Gail Schwartz was considered a likely candidate in this race after women's political action committee EMILY's List targeted Republican incumbent Rep. Scott Tipton, but reportedly declined to run. Democrats should not let CD-3 go with no or only token opposition. In addition to the district being perennially competitive, there's a strategic need to not leave any resource sink for Republicans unexploited.

Any ideas, folks?

10 thoughts on ““Buffie” McFadyen Exits CD-3 Race”

DavidThi808 says:

March 17, 2014 at 10:45 am

I truly would like to see Ralphie run for this seat. He's got good political instincts and at a minimum Tipton would be in for one hell of a race.

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1. DawnPatrol says:
  
  March 17, 2014 at 11:27 am
  
  Seconded, though I sense Ralphie doesn't suffer fools gladly, and such a move would require him to spend most of his time up to his eyeballs in them…
  
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2. DaftPunk says:
  
  March 17, 2014 at 11:29 am
  
  That's be awesome, but I'd guess he's lacking the essential characteristic needed to be a congressperson: Obsequiously sucking up to rich people for money.
  
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  1. Voyageur says:
    
    March 17, 2014 at 1:18 pm
    
    There is an alternative to sucking up to rich people, known as the Polis option. Be super rich yourself.
    
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3. Ralphie says:
  
  March 17, 2014 at 5:28 pm
  
  Too old. Not sufficiently interested. And I hate dealing with people.
  
  Oh, and I hate going to meetings. If I enjoyed meetings, I wouldn't have retired.
  
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vertigo700 says:

March 17, 2014 at 12:06 pm

I always thought Mike McLaughlan would be a great choice. Democrats from Pueblo just don't seem to get much traction in CD-3, maybe because Pueblo Democrats themselves are so fractured now after the Giron debacle. A Democrat from Durango could activate the southwest portion of the state in a big way…an area that is growing in population and is trending Democrat if we can get the voters engaged. I think its also positive that the anti-gun folks couldn't get the signatures to recall Mike. Generally Mike is pretty moderate and seems pretty focused on the issues of his district.

I don't know if he has expressed any interest, but I think Mike would be an excellent choice and would make this race very competitive.

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1. mamajama55 says:
  
  March 17, 2014 at 2:08 pm
  
  Agreed. And sorry about Buffie – barely knew her, but liked her. Pueblo Dems are their own worst enemy.
  
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  1. gertie97 says:
    
    March 17, 2014 at 4:58 pm
    
    Always have been, Mama.
    
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    1. JeffcoBlue says:
      
      March 17, 2014 at 6:26 pm
      
      Yup. Sadly.
      
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Duke Cox says:

March 18, 2014 at 7:49 am

Darn…I was looking forward to a spirited campaign. Tipton should not be allowed to just skate into re-election. He needs a challenger.

But I understand Buffies' POV.

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