By JIM SPEHAR
Maybe itâs a combination of realism and the fact that Iâm a professionally trained skeptic thanks to what some critics might consider an appropriate B.S. in Journalism. Or perhaps my status as a native hereabouts with some experience in local campaigning. But count me a little less certain than some about the possibility that last weekâs Grand Junction City Council election marks some sort of turning point in local politics.
âAll of the far-right candidates seeking seats on the Grand Junction City Council were defeated on Tuesday, a sign that the influence of Trumpism and Lauren Boebert might already be waning in conservative circles,â opined the anonymous authors of the left-leaning political blog Colorado Pols.
Even though the same voting systems were used to elect such Republicans as U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert and state Rep. Matt Soper, some members of the GOP in Colorado are questioning the legitimacy of Tuesdayâs Grand Junction City Council race.
Those objectors are all supporters of the four losing council candidates: Mark McCallister, Jody Green, Greg Haitz and Kraig Andrews, who all ran on a similar limited government platform.
âWE JUST LOST every single City Council Seat,â Grand Junction resident Cindy Paschal Ficklin posted on her Facebook page the day of the city election. Ficklin is an active member of Stand for the Constitution Grand Junction who has expressed an interest in running for the Colorado Legislature.
Grand Junction Election Results: Door Opens to Marijuana Business
Grand Junction Says Yes to Marijuana
Since the legalization of recreational marijuana in Colorado in 2012 and the first dispensaries opening in 2014, there has been much debate and discussion about bringing the marijuana business to Grand Junction. Local residents have watched other communities in western Colorado reap the benefits of marijuana taxation, all the while wondering how long it would be before Grand Junction would get a piece of the pot pie
According to the final unofficial election results released by the city clerk s office, Grand Junction voters have opened the door to marijuana businesses in the city. The vote was closer than what many may have expected with 58% of voters saying yes to ballot question 2B and 42% voting no.
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The eight candidates for Grand Junction City Council raised another $27,29, bringing the total for this election to more than $100,000.
The money, which was raised between March 12 and March 28, was reported to the City Clerk on Friday. Those reports also included the amount of money candidates had on hand at the start of the reporting period and their expenditures over that period.
The largest amount raised during the second reporting period was by Dennis Simpson, who raised $7,809. That amount included a $3,000 loan from Simpson to his own campaign, which is set to be paid back by today.
Abe Herman raised $7,436, which also included a loan of $2,500 from himself to his campaign. The terms of that loan, as reported to the City Clerk, list a repayment date of May 1. None of the other campaigns received loans during this period.