One of the wonderful things about our Republic is that citizens step up to the plate and enter the political arena to fill roles both large and small. Sometimes they are asked to step up and other times they volunteer their services. Jefferson County voters have the choice of three such individuals on their ballot in the general election this fall. Erik Aadland is running in the 7th Congressional District, Joe O’Dea is running to become Colorado’s next United States Senator and Danny Moore was chosen by Heidi Ganahl to be her running mate as a candidate for Lieutenant Governor.
I do not live in the 7th Congressional District, but if I did I would be casting my vote for Erik Aadland to be our next Congressman. I endorsed his opponent, Tim Reichert, in the primary to choose the GOP nominee, but I must admit that it was a close call. Erik Aadland has the understanding that bread and butter issues like the high cost of living, gas prices and lack of employment will be defining issues in the 2022 election.
To have a good life, Joe O’Dea does not need to be a United States Senator. He has a fabulous life here in Colorado and to enter the fishbowl of politics must be something he regrets occasionally. But he is running for the right reasons because he does wish to serve and help improve the lives of all Coloradoans. Joe O’Dea and I disagree on a few things. That’s OK. I am voting for Joe O’Dea to help other Republicans with whom I share agreement gain positions of authority in the United States Senate. Someone like Joe O’Dea with whom you agree more often than not is someone you should vote to send to the United States Senate.
Danny Moore was selected by Heidi Ganahl to run for Lieutenant Governor this fall. Danny is a self made man who pulled himself up by his bootstraps and has lived the American Dream. His company provides work for many in Colorado. Danny says what he thinks and means what he says. I consider him a personal friend because I know him to be a good man who wants to make our state and country a better place to live.
All three of these men have entered the fishbowl of public life willingly. As citizen volunteers they have probably encountered a few stark realizations about the way things operate in the public arena. I urge you to vote for all three if you can. More importantly, I ask you to be grateful that such individuals are willing to sacrifice part of their lives for the common good.
Joe Webb is the former chairman of the Jeffco Republican party.
