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January 28, 2012 01:34 AM UTC

The Right Man For Congress in CD6 - CO State Representative Joe Miklosi

  • 33 Comments
  • by: nancycronk

Rumor has it CO Senator Brandon Shaffer, current candidate for CD4, will be deciding this week whether or not to jump into the CD6 race, abandoning his campaign in CD4. My guess is, he’s waiting for CO Representative Joe Miklosi’s numbers to come out from the last quarter. For those who have not been paying close attention, Colorado’s CD4 became less easily winnable as a result of recent Congressional redistricting.

I respect and admire Brandon Shaffer; he is literally one of my political heroes. Not just that – I am indebted to him. I’ve made calls for his race in CD4 very recently.

Loyal readers on Colorado Pols may remember Senator Shaffer’s unwavering support of Michael Bennet in the 2010 Senate Race. Not only was Senator Shaffer one of just a few legislators who believed in Michael Bennet from the beginning (add State Representatives Karen Middleton and Daniel Kagan, as well as Congressman Jared Polis to that list), but he also took a lot of grief for Bennet at the Boulder Convention and Assembly. I stood by Senator Shaffer then, and always will.  

Senator Shaffer courageously sponsored a controversial anti-human trafficking bill written by my friend Beth Klein, as well. Always a diplomat and a statesman, Senator Shaffer had to answer to opponents on both sides of the aisle to defend the bill. I am grateful to him for his courage and strong sense of justice; he acted to protect young street girls and boys who would otherwise have no political voice, and who certainly were in no position to benefit his office financially or politically.

Yet, I support Joe Miklosi for Congress in CD6. Joe has laid the groundwork since the beginning for a successful campaign to oust tea-party darling, Congressman Mike Coffman. An expensive primary in CD6 will not help win the seat for a Democrat. Because of the Citizens United Supreme Court ruling, unprecedented amounts of dirty corporate money will be pumped into this Congressional race (You thought you were sick of Bennet/Buck ads in ’10? Just wait!). We need every dime from every Democrat we can scrape together to defeat corporate loyalist Coffman.

My friends and I are deeply invested in this race. While working for MoveOn in 2008, my team and I registered many thousands of new voters across the state, most of whom turned out to elect President Barack Obama. Staffers of then Secretary of State Mike Coffman instructed voter registrars to register voters one way, then Coffman said they did it incorrectly, prompting him to try to throw out more than ten thousand of the registrations. It took a federal investigation to get him to stop.

Coffman’s office has also turned away left-leaning and independent constitutents who have tried to meet with Coffman, telling them, “Congressman Coffman represents those who voted for him”. Add to that the time Coffman’s staffers flat-out lied and told television reporters the crowd of 1000+ pro-health care reform activists we gathered outside his office were in fact, anti-reform tea partiers.

Democrats and Independents alike in CD6 want Republican extremist Mike Coffman out of office as soon as possible. The Colorado Democratic Party could not justify helping us much in 2010; CD6 was considered a lost cause. This year is different; the numbers are in our favor. Winning in CD6 depends on two huge variables: getting out the vote in Aurora, and Mike Coffman’s friend, Secretary of State Scott Gessler, doing his job with integrity. The first variable is within our control. The second takes faith in our political system.

Why Representative Joe Miklosi?

Joe identified CD6 as his next goal long ago – long before Congressional redistricting made CD6 a competitive seat. Joe cares about Veterans, and knows Coffman has failed them. Joe believes in listening to his constituents and working across the aisle when necessary, and Coffman’s record is abysmal at both of those things. Joe cares about the many diverse interest groups in Aurora, and wants to protect their interests; Joe has a solid record in the state legislature to prove it. Joe understands suburban and rural voter’s issues, and has learned the political landscape of our district. He’s met many of us, and we’ve signed on to his campaign.

Joe Miklosi won me over as a supporter a couple years ago when I saw his extraordinary skills as a mediator and consensus builder. At the time, progressive radio talk-show host Mario Solis-Marich was raking Democratic State Senator Morgan Carroll over the coals ruthlessly for her “no” vote on tuition equity; he literally aired slanderous commercials on his radio station at every break. As a friend and supporter of Morgan’s who understood her rational while wishing she would vote “yes”, I was outraged. Those who know Morgan know she is a legal genius – if Morgan says a bill is not written well and violates the State or U.S. Constitution, you can bet your house keys that she’s right. Senator Carroll wanted a bill that was better written and would hold up in court, and was willing to work together as a team to draft a better bill – one that would not only win, but stand.

I called a group of Latina/Latino friends and asked them to meet with Senator Carroll and myself over dinner to talk about what happened on tuition equity and try to rebuild together for another round of legislation. The first meeting was great. The second meeting, with an expanded circle of invitees, was very heated and tense. In stepped Representative Miklosi, someone who cares deeply about the issue and wanted what was best for Colorado, and helped to diffuse the tension and clarify mutual goals. It was at that moment I saw an extraordinary statesman in Joe Miklosi –not your average Joe.

I recently asked my network of 2500 facebook contacts (most of whom are progressive activists in Colorado) if they think Senator Shaffer should primary Representative Miklosi, and those who responded were overwhelmingly against the idea. Those in CD4 said they would feel betrayed, and would ask for their contributions back. Those in CD6 said they were already supporting Joe Miklosi, who has worked long hours since Day One to build relationships, going to many house and senate district meetings and special events.

Money may have started trickling in slowly at first (CD6 residents have a version of learned helplessness, I think), but pundits will discover the pace picked up remarkably in the fourth quarter of 2011. CD6 residents are starting to believe in the political process again, and they… we… are finding our hope in Joe Miklosi. Joe Miklosi has also won the support of many labor unions and nearly every Democratic state legislator in the area.

The 2012 election cycle will see an unprecendented amount of PAC money dumped into Colorado, but the latest incarnation of the eggmendment and the marijuana legalization initiative will get out left-leaning and independent voters in large numbers. Under those circumstances, Democrats tend to do well. I trust Senator Shaffer (and his very capable campaign manager, RBI’s Craig Hughes) will see the wisdom in staying in the CD4 race and giving it all they’ve got. We need to win both Congressional seats in CD4 and CD6, and in 2012, it’s possible to do so. Why? Senator Brandon Shaffer is a class act, and Representative Joe Miklosi is not your average Joe.

Please send Congressional candidate Joe Miklosi as much money as you can if you want a strong new leader in Congress.

Still To Come Very Soon: “Who is Joe Miklosi?”

 

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33 thoughts on “The Right Man For Congress in CD6 – CO State Representative Joe Miklosi”

    2. I stayed up too late watching the rerun of the latest GOP debate last night… and it shows. Loved Romney’s zinger about Gingrich building on the moon!

  3. And I do not feel betrayed or want my money back if he decides to run in CD6.

    It is not possible to win CD4 as it has been been drawn in redistricting. That is a fact. I wish it were not but it is. Let’s not pretend a Democrat is going to win in a district that has now been redrawn to be as safe for Republicans as CD5.

    You paint all donors in CD4 with a very broad brush. I lived in CD4 for 19 years (not anymore–I’ve got Polis) and I know my district pretty damn well after working on two Reps campaigns for Congress here. It was rough before and impossible now. I also know several donors to Shaffer’s campaign who have been talking about him moving to CD6 and they seem to understand why he would consider running there. They also are not interested in having their money returned.

    Maybe you ought to come on up to CD4 and talk with some of us sometime for a more well rounded picture of our views. I appreciate that your Facebook friends are standing resoundingly behind you and your candidate but I dare say that banking on what your Facebook friends think may not be the best way to gauge opinion on a congressional race.

    I like your passion for your candidate and appreciate your efforts, Nancy. For that, I applaud you because I think loyalty is important. I think honesty about a race is also important and it’s time to publicly note and acknowledge that some big name Democrats are courting Shaffer to leave an unwinnable district and take on Coffman instead.

    May the best Democrat in CD6 not only win the primary but the general election. That is my greatest hope.

    1. in CD4. I simply said I asked a bunch of people, and they all said they wouldn’t like it. I suspect some would — I just don’t know any. I would love to know who those big names are that are courting Shaffer to run. The folks I’ve talked to say they hadn’t heard it. Can’t get much more “honest” than that. Feel free to let me know privately, if you think I need to know. My email address is all over the net.

      1. The staffer at his Longmont campaign office was pretty upfront and answered my questions in detail regarding this subject. I’m sure they would be happy to talk to you but you might want to be upfront that you are a volunteer for Miklosi’s campaign just so your conversation is on the up and up on both ends.  

            1. The staffer on the other line was a woman –great people skills — but she wouldn’t tell me anything. Naturally, Bennet’s staff and the State party folks keep telling me, “We’re neutral”, too, but I know how these things work.

              Kicking myself for taking a couple months of lower-key politicking to be with my family when I should’ve helped Joe get his name out there, more.

              Like I said, I think the world of Brandon, too, and would be a proud supporter if he was our candidate. I’ve just never been a fan of ugly primaries. I think that’s pretty well documented from other races.  🙁

              1. Joe has the grass-roots support sewn up in Arapahoe County. Most of our legislators out here have come out swinging hard for him, and everyone I know on the executive committee are big fans of Joes. Perry Haney would have to buy most of his campaign workers, while Joe has friends. Brandon — hard to say. We like Brandon, but most of us have already signed on with Joe and respect him greatly for all he’s already done. I never dreamed Senator Shaffer would primary a friend, and I can’t believe Craig Hughes wants to go down “ugly primary lane” again. Big money versus grass-roots. Uggh. Big uggh. (I took a break from politics over the holidays cause it’s not pretty. Wondering sometimes why I keep coming back.)  

  4. This is a bit off topic for your diary, Nancy, but if you really believe Coffman is a tea-party darling, you don’t understand his relationship with the Republicans at all.

    2. The guy has voted against everything Barack Obama has ever been for. His voting record is more than 90% with his party. He does nothing to work across the aisle, as far as I can tell. If your definition of the tea party is not “extremist partisans”, then please tell me what it is. http://projects.washingtonpost…

      1. He’s not their darling. They tolerate him, but he isn’t someone they have any affection for.

        And no, my definition of tea partier is not “extreme partisan” — that would be extreme partisans.  

        1. I say again, ask a tea partier whether Coffman is a darling of the movement. He’s not. That’s why he goes out of his way to court them.

          It’s not a meaningless distinction. Cantor and Ryan are tea party darlings, Boehner and McConnell are not — and the difference between the two is what led the country to the brink of default last summer. Hewing the Republican line is NOT the same as winning affection from the tea party — sometimes, quite the opposite.

          1. Do you think it is possible they pretend not to like him because they know the affiliation doesn’t poll well? It’s hard to tell the difference record-wise between an official “tea party darling” and one who just likes to date around with them.  

  5. I couldn’t help but notice self-funded millionaire candidate Dr. Perry Haney wasn’t even mentioned in the discussion for the race for the 6th CD Democratic nomination.  I don’t think he is just going to fold up his tent and go away because of what Brandon Shaffer may do.

    Haney would benefit by petitioning his way on to the ballot, then outspending his opponent(s) in the primary.

    Bad news for the 6th CD Democratic nominee is that south Jeffco Republicans, as well as the Elbert and Douglas counties GOP, are gearing up to support Mike Coffman in the 6th CD with their time, money, and effort.  South Jeffco Republicans know they don’t matter in the 1st CD.  Elbert and Douglas counties GOP realize Cory Gardner is a lock, especially if Shaffer bolts.  They are poised to adopt Coffman in 2012.

    Think this will have no impact?  Elbert County Republicans did this with Kathleen Conti and she ended up taking out Joe Rice.  

    2. No one has ever heard of him before this. This leads to a painful question: In targeted, big money races in the era of the 24 hour news cycle, the internet and twitter, how much of a factor is support from the local party leaders? As a party person, I want to believe it is important, but I honestly don’t know.

  6. So you’re saying Miklosi will have raised a lot more in the 4th quarter than he did in the “slow trickle” he had in the 3rd quarter? Since he’s the only one of the Dem legislators who hadn’t released his quarterly congressional fundraising numbers yet, call me skeptical.  

    1. Just heard there were some days that were great. Overall, I have heard, his numbers weren’t bad. He’s working hard.

      I’ll support whomever the candidate is. I think the world of both Miklosi and Shaffer. As for Haney, he may be a great guy with an even better personal story, but he’ll never get much support from the County party because he hasn’t reached out to any of the officers personally, I’m told. That does not win friends. (Terry Snyder and I communicated once, but it wasn’t Haney himself. Terry was very gracious when I told him I was already supporting Joe.)

          1. He jumped in and went full on even at a time when he didn’t have a chance to win. But now he does, it’s this many months on, and he still hasn’t built a proper network?

            I have hope he can take down Coffman, but with optimism like that, I’m already looking to 2014.

          3. No matter what I say, you guys poke holes. The guy has been building a network for months. He’s worked around the clock. He’s put 110% into it. He’s got tons of support in Arapahoe County (I don’t know other places because I only live in one.) If you want me to make up numbers, I won’t do that. We should all know very soon (tomorrow?).

            I think the world of Brandon Shaffer and would be proud to have either legislator represent me and my family. I just am not a fan of ugly primaries or late-to-the-party candidates, and I don’t think most of the Dems in CD6 are either. (Some of my same reasons for preferring Bennet over Romanoff.)

            1. But if he doesn’t have an established network by now, that says something about his campaign.

              You know what says something as well? Where’s the DCCC? The party doesn’t even know if this is a viable pick-up yet. Miklosi’s running out of time, and it’s because most Dems don’t know if it’s worth it to fight now, and potentially waste a lot of money when it could have been put to better use else where, or two years from now when they can find a better candidate.

              Maybe if you guys weren’t running a carpetbagger, or at least one with an already established network, things would be looking better.

              Will I be happy if we wins? Absolutely. He’ll have pulled off a stunner. Do I hope that happens? Absolutely. Odds still aren’t in Average Joe’s favor though.

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