January 10, 2012 09:28 PM UTC

Democrat Announces Challenge To J. Paul Brown

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• by: Colorado Pols

One of the better legislative pickup opportunities for Democrats in 2012 is the reapportioned HD-59 seat currently held by freshman Rep. J. Paul Brown of Ignacio. Reapportionment switched Rep. Brown’s forgiving conservative base in Montezuma County with liberal Gunnison as the Durango Herald’s Joe Hanel reported a couple of days ago, and for the oft-embarrassed (and embarrassing) Rep. Brown, that does spell fairly deep trouble.

Today, Democrat Patrick Swonger, a telecommunications executive from Silverton and member of that town’s Board of Trustees, announced at Fort Lewis College in Durango that he’ll challenge Brown this fall. Full release after the jump–we’ve heard good things about Swonger and he may well be the man for the job, but if he develops any problems along the way, we would expect a wealth of qualified Democrats ready to take out on Rep. Brown.

Patrick Swonger for Colorado House 59th District

Silverton, CO 81433-0241

SWONGER SEEKS DISTRICT 59 HOUSE SEAT

Patrick Swonger of Silverton, Colorado, held press conferences on Tuesday in all six counties of the newly-formed 59th District to announce his Democratic candidacy for the Colorado House of Representatives. The La Plata County event was held in Durango at the Student Union Building Plaza at Fort Lewis College at 10 AM on Tuesday.

“My campaign is about jobs, education and preserving our environment while leveraging both its beauty and bounty.”  Swonger describes himself as a moderate who would work to bring jobs to the district while standing firm for families, children and small business.

Swonger’s professional background is as diverse as the constituency he wants to represent.   “I’ve been in the military, large corporations, tiny start-ups. I’ve volunteered on town boards, regional councils, and search and rescue. I’ve seen a lot of the challenges here in the 59th, but I want to get to know our community even better.”

As part of his 2012 Colorado House campaign for the District 59th seat, Swonger announced a ’59 JOBS’ initiative. His goal is to work a half-day or more alongside fellow Coloradoans in 58 different district jobs. “Ranching, farming, energy, education, tourism, health care: these are some key industries for our area in the 21st century. Working in these fields is the best way to learn more about what folks need to succeed.”

“The 59thjob?  As the newly elected 59th representative, of course – then I can craft legislation to help the current and future businesses of my district.” More information is available about the ’59 JOBS’ initiative on www.swongerforcolorado.org, the campaign website.

“We have to move past partisan politics and work together to make progress with reason,” said Swonger. “We face immense challenges in rebuilding Colorado’s economy, creating good jobs and adequately funding education. We desperately need vision and political leadership. The people of this district don’t want to waste two more years in Denver on extreme political agendas and polarizing ideologies.”

An Air Force veteran, Swonger is a past commander of American Legion Post 14 in Silverton. He’s worked in a variety of Colorado’s key industries – tourism, hospitality, construction, and the mining industry. After completing college at the University of Florida on the G.I Bill, Swonger spent nine years as a successful division manager of a Fortune 500 company before starting a regional telecom and IT service business in Silverton in 1994. More recently his company, Vidion acquired the Silverton cable television system. Swonger is married with three school-aged boys.

Swonger’s public service has embraced non-partisan work. In addition to six years as a Trustee on the Silverton Town Board, he has worked extensively on the Western Slope to improve regional internet and telecommunication services through a bi-partisan coalition known as Operation Linkup. He also serves as a representative on the Southwest Council of Governments.

Swonger is a past board member of the International Television Foundation, Mountain Studies Institute and the advisory boards of the University of Florida – College of Journalism & Communications and U.S. Distance Learning Association.  He has served as a volunteer EMT, an officer in San Juan County Search & Rescue, Silverton Chamber of Commerce, San Juan Economic Development Association and other regional and community boards.

“The people of Colorado and this district are weathering tough economic times,” said Swonger. “I offer a clear choice in this election as a moderate who can make progress with reason in representing the people of the 59th district.”

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