May 17, 2006 08:00 AM UTC

Lionel Rivera Turns in Petition Signatures

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• by: Colorado Pols

Republican Lionel Rivera today announced that?he is the first candidate to officially make the primary ballot for the crowded Republican field in CD-5. Rivera’s campaign turned in 1,700 signatures to the Secretary of State to petition on to the ballot; although only 1,000 signatures are necessary to make the ballot, there’s no word that the Secretary of State formally declared Rivera to have?made the ballot.??

Click below for the full press release…

Today, Colorado Springs Mayor Lionel Rivera turned in over 1,700 signatures to the Secretary of State, becoming the first candidate in the 5th Congressional District to officially make the August 8 primary ballot.?
Showing support across the district, Rivera turned in signatures from all six of the counties within the 5th CD.
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?It is with pleasure that I am able to turn in so many signatures today,? Rivera said.? ?I am honored by the support I have received through this all-volunteer process, both in the number of people supporting my candidacy by signing the petition, and the great volunteers who have walked neighborhoods with me and on their own to collect signatures.?
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Recently, campaigns have started turning to paid signature collectors to gain access to the ballot.? However, Rivera insisted on an all-volunteer effort, gathering more than 700 signatures of his own.? Additionally, there were over 20 volunteers contributing to the effort.
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?Gathering signatures myself gave me a wonderful opportunity to talk with the voters of the 5th CD,? said Rivera.? ?I got to meet people in all six counties in the district, hear about their issues and concerns, and hopefully secure their vote this August.?
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In order to petition on to the August 8 primary ballot, candidates must turn in at least 1,000 valid signatures from voters of the same party affiliation within the district. ?