May 18, 2009 10:00 PM UTC

Beeson Announces Longshot CD-3 Run

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• by: Colorado Pols

Not really news after his “Tea Party” pre-announcement over a month ago, but the Aspen Daily News reports it’s “official”–9th District DA Martin Beeson will be the GOP sacrificial lamb candidate in John Salazar’s 2010 cakewalk.

Ninth Judicial District Attorney Martin Beeson announced his candidacy for Congress in Colorado’s 3rd district last night.

Beeson is currently District Attorney in the 9th Judicial District covering the western slope region of Garfield, Pitkin and Rio Blanco counties.

Calling himself “just a small town prosecutor,” Beeson offered a positive vision for America that he says he has already applied as district attorney, and will use as a blueprint for action in Congress.  “I’ve proven that confidence can be renewed through trustworthy public service,” Beeson said in a prepared statement…

Beeson took quick aim at those in Washington who abuse power and the public trust. “My vision for America requires leaders who can be trusted with public power and the public purse,” he said, reserving his most pointed criticism for recent tax increases, massive unfunded spending, and corrupted politicians.  He said Colorado families should “tell Congress, ‘You are not free to bail out your campaign contributors … to spend us into decades of unsustainable debt … to decide economic winners and losers … to take over our banks and businesses … to use our tax dollars to pay for your re-election campaigns.”  “But,” he added, “if you don’t like any of this, Mr. Congressman, you are free to leave, and the sooner the better!”

Beeson questioned incumbent Democrat John Salazar’s fitness to represent the people of the 3rd district saying Salazar was elected as a farmer and a service veteran but recently resigned from the Agriculture and Veterans Affairs Committees for “a fat-cat seat” on the House Appropriations Committee…

We don’t mean to sound overly dismissive, but the dynamics of CD-3 are not the same as they were even a few years ago when Republican Scott McInnis held the seat. The fact is that solidly Democratic Pueblo has emerged as the key to this district, over the beet-red but underpopulated Western Slope where Beeson can be expected to do well. Moreover, this seat is just not a priority for national Republicans next year, which means that “fat cat” Salazar will face a challenger with Wayne Wolf levels of backing–true, maybe not quite as bad as Wolf. Maybe Dick Wadhams will refrain from deliberately waving off donors this time.