Five GOP candidates are in SD-4 race so far

CORRECTION: Laura Teal was not, as originally stated, grassroots coordinator for Mark Holtzman's 2006 gubernatorial campaign. She was Holtzman's political director.

With state Sen. Tom Wiens (R-Castle Rock) announcing last week that he wouldn't seek re-election this fall, a lot of would-be successors have popped out of the woodwork.

"I think there's about 45,000 registered Republicans in the (4th Senate) district, and I think 40,000 are thinking about running for the seat," said state Sen. Ted Harvey (R-Highlands Ranch).

Douglas County GOP Chair Kelsey Alexander narrowed that down to "probably 10" who are interested, though she said she didn't want to give names so as to not preempt candidates' own announcements about entering the race.

Five Republicans have confirmed to PolitickerCO that they will run for the seat: Precinct 131 Committeeman Ed Brewer of Castle Rock, Precinct 58 Committeeman Roger Partridge of Castle Rock, SD-4 GOP Chair John Peterson of Castle Rock, former Douglas County Republican Party Chair Mark Scheffel of Parker, and computer consultant Mark Vanderbilt of Castle Rock.

Other talked-about potential SD-4 Republican candidates, including state Rep. Amy Stephens (R-Monument), GOP activist Bill Henry, District 2 Captain David Gill, U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Littleton) outreach coordinator Charcie Russell, and Douglas County Commissioner Steve Boand, have all said they will not seek the position.

HD-45 GOP Chair Tim Brown and Castle Rock Mayor Randy Reed, who have also been discussed as potential candidates, did not respond to attempts to contact them by Thursday afternoon.

Former state Senator John Evans said Scheffel may have an advantage, since the 4th Senate District was specifically designed for Scheffel to win four years ago. However, Scheffel dropped out of the 2004 SD-4 race when Wiens announced he was running.

"They went through all that trouble, all that political heat and everything else, Gerrymandered the district, and then the guy they Gerrymandered it for decided not to run," Evans said.

However, Evans added, living on the margins of the district could also play against Scheffel.

"He's not from Castle Rock; he's not from the heart of the 4th (District). He's from Parker," Evans said. "So the issues that would affect Castle Rock and Monument and Lincoln and Teller counties and Lake County, are not his passion. The issues are not his because they're not going to affect his children."

Laura Teal, grassroots coordinator for Bob Schaffer's 2004 U.S. Senate campaign and political director for Mark Holtzman's 2006 gubernatorial bid, sent out an e-mail Wednesday to GOP supporters announcing a Friday conference call to coordinate Scheffel's campaign.

Compared to Scheffel, "the other candidates have relatively less name recognition," said former state Republican Party finance committee chair Mark Baisley.

And with the SD-4 assembly scheduled for May 30, candidates have only a short time to get their names out to the assembly delegates and alternates.

Brewer said, if elected, he'd focus on making Colorado more business-friendly, look to improve the state's transportation system, and practice fiscal restraint.

"We just have to make sure we maintain resisting spending at the state level," Brewer said.

Brewer is currently treasurer for Douglas County Commission candidate Jill Repella; Brewer said he and Repella agreed that he will remain in that position while running for Senate.

Partridge, a physical therapist who serves on the Douglas County Planning Commission and is involved with the Leadership Program of the Rockies, said he's known locally because of his business and his involvement with the local Republican party.

"With the atmosphere the way it is at the Capitol, being a conservative and trying to get the conservative principles across (would be hard) in a challenging way, no doubt," Partridge said. "But I'm certainly willing to work with Democrats to try and make it so that all of us in Colorado are happy with what comes across the governor's desk."

Peterson, a computer database administrator, said his campaign would focus on the issues of education the environment, energy and the economy.

"An open seat for (state) House or Senate that doesn't have an incumbent is pretty rare, so I'm just striking while I can," Peterson said.

Vanderbilt, who said he's designed Web sites for the National Hockey League and the PGA Tour, ran for Congress in 1988 in California's 1st Congressional District.

Vanderbilt already has a campaign Web site up at Vanderbiltforsenate.com.

As it stands now, the winner of the GOP primary will face Larkspur architect Joseph Alsup, the lone Democratic SD-4 candidate.