Randy Reed

Former Douglas County Republican Party Chair Mark Scheffel was the only one of four candidates to make the ballot from Friday's SD-4 GOP assembly.

Scheffel, a Parker attorney, won 65 percent of the assembly delegate votes.

Precinct 131 Committeeman Ed Brewer of Castle Rock won 25 percent of the vote, but since he did not submit petitions to the Colorado Secretary of State's office by the May 29 deadline, he's out of the race.

Castle Rock Mayor Randy Reed and computer consultant Mark Vanderbilt of Castle Rock are out of the race after receiving 7 percent and 2 percent of the votes, respectively.

Meanwhile, retired Air Force Colonel Bob Denny of Glen Eagle has submitted petitions to the Colorado Secretary of State's office. Two other SD-4 candidates who had planned to petition, Precinct 58 Committeeman Roger Partridge of Castle Rock, and SD-4 GOP Chair John Peterson of Castle Rock, did not turn in petitions by the May 29 deadline.

Every Friday, Inside Edge answers your questions about Colorado politics. This week: What's up with Randy Reed and Bob Schaffer? Any proof of a conspiracy to get rid of Doug Bruce?

ReedCastle Rock Mayor Randy Reed has jumped in the Republican race to succeed state Sen. Tom Wiens (R-Castle Rock) in the 4th Senate District.

Reed has a campaign Web site up at Randyreedforsenate.com.

Reed in the sixth Republican to enter the SD-4 race since Wiens announced last week he would not seek re-election this fall.

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).

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.

Could state Sen. Tom Wiens (R-Castle Rock) decision not to run for re-election this year be a prelude to a 2010 gubernatorial bid?

Maybe, says Wiens.

Wiens told PolitickerCO.com on Thursday that he hasn't decided whether to run for governor in two years - but he added that leaving the senate now would help his chances if he does decide to run.

Wiens also said "a bunch of people" have already indicated interest in replacing him as the SD-4 nominee, including Castle Rock Mayor Randy Reed; SD-4 District GOP Chair John Pederson, Colorado State Shooting Association Vice President Dave Gill, and Douglas County Planning Commission member Roger Partridge.

Charcie Russell, outreach coordinator for U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Littleton), was also talked about as a potential candidate, but she told PolitickerCO Friday she would not enter the race.

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).