September 23, 2014 10:39 AM UTC

Gardner Moves Greeley Office Behind The Wire

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• by: Colorado Pols

As the Greeley Tribune's Bridgett Weaver reports, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Cory Gardner has moved his congressional Weld County service office inside a county court house annex building, citing protest activity this summer by immigration reform proponents:

Jennifer Finch, county spokeswoman, said Gardner’s move into a county building does not mean the county is taking a position on the Senate race.

“The decision was not based on politics,” Finch said. “It was based on assisting a government office that was in need of temporary space in order to continue to offer needed services to the constituents of Weld County. The county is not endorsing any political candidate for any political office.”

Protesters disrupted the building in which Gardner’s former office was located and that was a cause for his move but Finch said Gardner moving his office to a county building does not thwart free speech…

Chuck Poplstein, Gardner’s district director, said the move was amicable.

“After numerous discussions with our landlord we decided the best course of action would be to relocate to a space where protesters will not disrupt private business.”

The problem is, the Weld County Centennial Building, located adjacent to the county courthouse, has court house security–metal detectors, armed guards, and (we assume) prohibitions on mariachi bands. The solidly Republican Weld County government might say this wasn't done to put a stop to politically troublesome demonstrations ahead of November's elections, but that's obviously the effect. Gardner's three-month lease on the office space in the Weld County Centennial Building is $1–to "save taxpayer money," of course.

Can they do this if all parties want? Sure. Does it look bad for Gardner? Definitely.