Palisade vineyard owner and Republican John “Rusty” Price will challenge incumbent Laura Bradford (R-Collbran) for the Colorado House District 54 seat this election year. Price filed with the Colorado Secretary of State’s office this morning, making official a run that has been the subject of rumor since Price resigned as Chairman of the HD 54 Board of Directors last Thursday.
Speculation over a potential primary challenge to Rep. Bradford has been present since her controversial traffic stop in Denver a month ago for suspected DUI. The incident, which resulted in an apology to Rep. Bradford from the Denver Police for initially suggesting, erroneously, that she had used an obscure Constitutional provision to escape charges, and a dismissal by a House Ethics Committee of any charges of wrong-doing, has nonetheless left the impression on many that she is a weakened candidate, and vulnerable to a primary in this heavily Republican district.
Mr. Price, who owns Valley Vista Vineyards in Palisade, said in an interview that he has been a registered Republican for decades, and active in the local tea party movement for several years, saying that he felt it “showed strength for the right reasons, and at the right time.” He declined to comment on how much of an influence the recent controversy surrounding Rep. Bradford had on his decision to run.
Mr. Price will formally announce his candidacy this evening before the monthly meeting of the Western Slope Conservative Alliance, at 6:30 pm, in the Grand Junction City Hall Auditorium, 250 N 5th Street. Former Congressman Tom Tancredo will be later speaking at the event, which brings together an average of 200 local conservative activists once a month to hear various speakers and announcements pertaining to the conservative movement.
Rep. Bradford, who in addition to serving as the HD 54 representative in the General Assembly, also serves as Chair of the House Local Government Committee, could not be reached for comment.
Rep. Bradford and Mr. Price are currently the only two active candidates to have filed with the Secretary of State’s office for the seat.
While you have to give credit to Kelly Sloan for resigning his position on the Western Slope Conservative Alliance board, (prior to writing his “articles”), in at least a cursory attempt to create the illusion of “fair and balanced” and “reporter”, his efforts fall short when viewed in the context of his history. Sloan received “special” dispensation when the self appointed WSCA board removed from their bylaws the requirement for US citizenship in order that Sloan (a Canadian national) could be seated on that board with the understanding that American’s for Prosperity (who Mr. Sloan represents locally) would furnish support to the Republican shill group in the form of insurance to cover ALL of WSCA’s events (such as their April 14th bogus Tea Party event planned for later this year). As Sloan busies himself in the “reporter” role creating bogus Tea Party bona fides for WSCA’s (and by extension the Republican Parties) anointed candidates, it begs the question, when you supplant foreign influence and financial support in place of Tea Party values and principles what do you get? Answer: A WSCA RINO toting a TEA Party flag in the expectation that voters won’t notice that in place of the flags rattlesnake is a red maple leaf and the don’t tread on me logo has a heavy Canadian accent, eh? Welcome to the International House of Politics, where you’re served a whole pile instead of a short stack. Bone’ Petit.