Carole Murray

WOODLAND PARK - A host of Republican candidates, from the CD-5 and HD-45 races to those running for the city council, talked shop with the Home Builders Association of Teller County Wednesday night in Woodland Park.

CD-5 GOP primary candidates Jeff Crank and Bentley Rayburn each discussed homebuilding and other issues at the HBA meeting, held at the Shining Mountain Golf Course clubhouse.

One of the mild surprises in the Denver metro area during a weekend of Republican county assemblies was the results for State House 45, where former Douglas County Clerk and Recorder Carole Murray faced off against Teller County GOP Chair Mark Sievers.

In that contest, Sievers took 58% of the vote to Murray’s 42%.  read more »

Teller County GOP Chair Mark Sievers is jumping in the race for state Rep. Victor Mitchell's (R-Castle Rock) House District 45 seat, according to the Douglas County News-Press.

Sievers, a real estate attorney who lives outside of Cripple Creek, is the second declared GOP candidate in the race.

If elected, he would be the first state legislator from Teller County in more than seven decades. 

Former Douglas County clerk and recorder Carole Murray says she entered the GOP race for the newly opened 45th District state House seat because it "just seemed like a logical thing to do.

"I've lived in Douglas County for 20 years, I've always been interested in politics, and I have a lot of experience dealing with legislators," Murray said in a Friday evening phone interview.

Murray said she decided to enter the race only after State Rep. Victor Mitchell (R-Castle Rock) announced this week he wouldn't seek re-election for the seat. 

With state Rep. Victor Mitchell (R-Castle Rock) announcing Tuesday that he won't run for re-election this fall, several Republicans have indicated interest in the 45th District seat.

Former Douglas County clerk and recorder Carole Murray and Univ. of Colorado IT employee John Peterson have both said they'll enter the GOP race in the heavily Republican district, Republican sources said.

Castle Rock Mayor Randy Reed has also indictated interest in the seat and will meet with Republican legislators at the State Capitol on Thursday, said state Sen. Tom Wiens (R-Castle Rock).