Notes on the Club 20 Debates of 9/21, Part 1
By Mike Lynch
Sept. 25, 2024
(Full disclosure. I am a registered Republican in Montezuma County.)
Photo: Larry Don Suckla at debate.
There were some political debates that took place
on September 21 in Grand Junction. The program
was titled Western Colorado Candidate Debates 2024.
The host: Club 20. According to their website
Club 20 is a coalition of individuals, businesses,
tribes and local governments in Colorado's 22
western counties. The group is organized for the
purpose of speaking with a single unified voice on
issues of mutual concern. Its activities include
marketing and advertising, public education,
promotion, meetings and events and political
action. Their website is found at https://club20.org.
The venue: The debates were held at the William
S. Robinson theatre in the Moss Performing Arts Center on the Colorado Mesa University. This
auditorium seats 605 according to the campus facility list. There was plenty of parking next door in the parking garage. Lunch was provided in the campus cafeteria. Club 20 provided for the logistical details. A modest security presence at the entrance doors helped to remind people that disruptive behavior would not be tolerated.
They made sure the rules of the debate were made clear by reading them
before each matchup and by providing a written copy to all attendees.
They published a timeline and followed it closely. The rules for the
audience were also read before each match and made clear that disruptive
behavior would not be tolerated. Time keeping was done using large, easy
to read, digital displays, one for each candidate, facing them directly.
Campaign advertising was minimized to a placard on the front of each
candidate’s podium, while they were debating.
Opinion: This was the first Club 20 debate forum I have attended. I
thought Club 20 did a superb job. The reader may wonder why I am
including information about the venue and the host. I want to recognize
and praise Club 20 for the apparent effort and work they expended to make
these debates a worthwhile and enjoyable experience for the audience.
They were held in a professional, respectful way and in such a format that
highlighted issues important to western slope citizens and allowed the
candidates to spotlight their differences. My only complaint is that their
coffee was like tea and they couldn’t keep the coffee or the water filled.
Some of the debate contests included in this forum were as follows
(uncontested races and one person debates are not listed below even
though they were included in this forum):
Daytime
-HD 57 between Elizabeth Velasco (D) and Caleb Waller (R)
-HD 58 between Kathleen Curry (D) and Larry Don Suckla (R)
-HD 59 between Katie Stewart (D) and Clark Craig (R)
-HD 26 between Meghan Lukens (D) and Nathan Butler (R)
-HD 13 between Julie McCluskie (D) and Dave Williams (R)
-SD 5 between Cole Buerger (D) and Marc Catlin (R)
-SD 6 between Vivian Smotherman (D) and Cleave Simpson (R)
-CD 3 BOE between Ellen Angeles (D) and Sherri Wright (R)
Evening
-CD 2 between Joe Neguse (D) and Marshall Dawson (R)
-CD 3 between Adam Frisch (D) and Jeff Hurd (R)
I only attended the daytime debates. I was more attentive to the races that
will be on the ballots here in Montezuma County. I did not attend the
evening debates. I met Jeff Hurd at a meet and greet early in the primary
races. That was my only opportunity. He turned out to be a no show for
most of the events he was invited to during the primary. I guess you can
say I was a no show to his debate.
Here are some of my impressions on the debates pertinent to Montezuma
County.
HD 58
There was a definite difference in the energy levels between Larry Don and
Kathleen Curry. Kathleen seems quite soft spoken compared to Larry Don.
One of the first points that Larry Don made was that the rules would not
allow him to substitute a different message for his campaign sign that was
posted on the front of his podium. So he declared to the audience “Halt the
Dolores Monument !”
Kathleen said she is passionate about agriculture, water, and public
service. I hear people say that and I wonder what it really means, in terms
of serving in office. How does passion relate to hard work? How does it
relate to taking a stand for an important issue verses compromising to get
something done in the Assembly? I just don’t know.
She spoke of her previous experience as a Representative in Colorado
from 2005-2010, as well as her experience representing clients at our
capital (I think referring to her work as a lobbyist. She did not refer to
herself as a lobbyist). She did not offer any examples of success either as
a legislator or as a lobbyist.
Larry Don related his experience on the CCI (Colorado Counties, Inc.) as a
County Commissioner and during the debate he referred to several cases
where he had successful wins on behalf of his constituents. He gave two
examples of his experience communicating with and gaining the trust of
Democrats. He questioned why legislators write 500-600 bills each year
but they never go back and find out if those bills are/were effective. If they
aren’t effective he would want to repeal them. A specific example would be
the wolves. That should be repealed. Why can one group of people vote
to pass a law that affects another group of people but not them? He would
like to get the wolf delisted so ranchers can shoot them when they kill their
cattle. Ranchers are not getting just or appropriate compensation for their
livestock predation.
Kathleen pointed out that Larry Don has indicated that he won’t
compromise. She said the Democrats outnumber the Republicans in the
Assembly so how will he ever get anything passed? Larry Don answered
that he was trying to say he would not waiver on things that mattered, like
principles and constitutional rights, not that he would not compromise on
anything.
From my perspective, looking for qualities and points I find important, I feel
Larry Don was the winner of their debate. They each approached the
debate differently and I do believe that their approach to legislation and
consensus building would be different, not better or worse, but different.
What I heard from Kathleen was passion, care, and experience. What I
heard from Larry Don were examples of wins he accomplished and the
possibility of repealing ineffective or failed laws already on the books.
Watch a video of this debate at
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