January 11, 2010 05:58 PM UTC

HD49 Candidate Breaks Democratic Fundraising Record

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• by: Middle of the Road

(Why didn’t you promote this-local color is so critical – promoted by Danny the Red (hair))

In a house district that consistently leans red in both voter registration numbers and elections, there is a bright spot emerging from the Democratic side of things. Local Berthoud resident and small business owner Karen Stockley, a current School Board Director for Thompson R2J District, is plunging into the political arena by taking on BJ Nikkel, a former Marilyn Musgrave staffer and Mini-Me Kevin Lundberg representative who was appointed to replace him and serve out his term when he moved to the State Senate. Even better, Stockley’s breaking fundraising records along the way. More on Karen below.

But first, a brief overview of HD49–it is a brutally gerrymandered district. Physically impossible to canvass in the traditional way of knocking on doors, HD49 consists of 48 precincts which run from the Rockie Mountains on the west side to the Wyoming border on the north. It stretches down to Berthoud on the southern tip and to Windsor in the east. It encompasses Larimer County and a portion of Weld County. If you’re going to run for office in HD49, you’d better have a reliable car.  

Until the recent economic recession, HD49 faced a massive boom in growth in certain areas of the district. The amount of development happening along the I25 corridor and near Berthoud is nothing short of astounding. Berthoud is experiencing the same dilemma many mountain towns including mine are facing–how to continue to maintain growth while preventing development from erasing the charm and open spaces that brought so many people to our communities in the first place.

Prior to Stockley’s current stint as a School Board Director, Karen immersed herself in zoning and planning issues. She served on Berthoud’s Planning and Zoning Commission as well as on Master Plan Committees and related sub committees.

Stockley is self employed and the owner of Front Range Antiques in Fort Collins. She is married and the mother of five children, ranging in age from her youngest, age 9 to her oldest son who is 25 and serving as a police officer in Colorado Springs. Her husband Jay is a Navy Reservist and electroptical engineer.

With Karen’s background as a small business owner, she is uniquely qualified for a district that thrives largely on small businesses, tourism and development. Stockley understands that each of our communities are not living in isolation but directly affect each other:

…I learned that what happens in Berthoud increasingly matters in the suburbs of Fort Collins or in Estes Park, because we work and trade in the region, not just in our own towns.

With most naysayers declaring this to be the year Democrats lack interest and energy in both volunteering and politics, Stockley has managed to turn that notion on its head. Since announcing 11 weeks ago, Stockley has garnered contributions from over 200 donors.

In the 4th quarter of 2009, Stockley has raised $15,588.72, a new record for this district. Compare that total with the second highest fundraising effort in the last 10 years by Doug Frisbie in 2004, whose campaign raised a little over $7,000.00. She has more than doubled his efforts.

The average contribution was under $75 and 80% of her campaign donations came from Larimer County. A note of interest–23% of contributions came from Unaffiliateds or Republicans.

In a bad economy and supposedly depressed enthusiasm from Dems, Stockley defies the odds. I make no predictions when it comes to this district but it is a pleasant surprise to see a Democratic candidate come out of the gate so strong. If there was ever a year to pick off this seat against a weak opponent this is it, folks.

For more information about Karen and her campaign, go to http://www.karenstockley.com/

[Full disclosure–I am not involved as a paid staff member or volunteer for Stockley’s campaign. Just a resident of HD49 with a vested interest in good representation.]