News
FRISCO — Front-runner Mitt Romney swept the Summit County straw poll Tuesday night, landing 42.5 percent of the local GOP votes, as Rick Santorum pulled ahead statewide and won Republican caucuses in Minnesota and Missouri.
Santorum ran a distant second in Summit County, gaining 21 percent of local Republicans' support. Ron Paul followed close behind with 19 percent, and 15 percent of Summit County GOP voters backed Newt Gingrich.
At press time, Santorum, who saw landslide victories in the Midwest earlier in the evening, was leading Colorado as well, holding 48 percent of the vote with the first hundred precincts reporting.
Romney won Colorado and Minnesota in 2008, prior to the GOP's shift to the right with the emergence of the Tea Party in recent years.
More than 250 Summit County Republicans packed the Summit County Community and Senior Center in Frisco for the caucus Tuesday night.
Silverthorne business owner Kevin Mastin elicited cheers from the caucus announcing plans to challenge Summit County Commissioner Karn Stiegelmeier for the seat representing District 3. Both Stiegelmeier and Commissioner Thomas Davidson are up for re-election in November.
The two-hour caucus was the first in a series of GOP decision events leading up to the primary June 26.
Ahead of the straw poll vote, Summit County's right-wing voters heard from local candidates including Deputy District Attorney Scott Turner, who is gunning for the chief prosecutor position that will be vacated by term-limited Mark Hurlbert and Debra Irvine, a contender for Rep. Millie Hamner's seat representing the new state House District 61.
Supporters of Summit County's new state Senate District 8 hopefuls, Rep. Randy Baumgardner and incumbent Sen. Jean White, also gave remarks at the caucus, followed by local proponents of each of the four GOP presidential candidates.
Summit County Republicans vice-chair Lisa Knobel urged the precincts to support Newt Gingrich, calling him the only candidate able to articulate the GOP vision and values.
Former Marine and Dillon resident Mac Trench, who owns a business called Mac Services, touted Ron Paul's military service in Vietnam calling the other GOP hopefuls “chicken hawks.”
Breckenridge resident and owner of Peak Payment Professionals Del Bush pushed for a Romney win in the straw poll, telling the caucus the country needed a business owner in the White House.
Santorum was represented by Capt. James Fournier, who is retired from the U.S. Coast Guard and owns a second home in Silverthorne. Fournier likened Santorum to George Washington and lauded his commitment to conservative positions on social issues including same-sex marriage and abortion.
Republican voters were divided into 20 precincts to caucus and vote for a presidential candidate. The precincts also elected delegates to send to the county assembly — set for March 10 — and the state assembly in April, when local and state Republican candidates will be sanctioned.
Romney also came out on top in other ski communities such as Vail and Aspen, but overall it was Santorum winning the state Tuesday.
The Denver Post contributed to this article
Santorum ran a distant second in Summit County, gaining 21 percent of local Republicans' support. Ron Paul followed close behind with 19 percent, and 15 percent of Summit County GOP voters backed Newt Gingrich.
At press time, Santorum, who saw landslide victories in the Midwest earlier in the evening, was leading Colorado as well, holding 48 percent of the vote with the first hundred precincts reporting.
Romney won Colorado and Minnesota in 2008, prior to the GOP's shift to the right with the emergence of the Tea Party in recent years.
More than 250 Summit County Republicans packed the Summit County Community and Senior Center in Frisco for the caucus Tuesday night.
Silverthorne business owner Kevin Mastin elicited cheers from the caucus announcing plans to challenge Summit County Commissioner Karn Stiegelmeier for the seat representing District 3. Both Stiegelmeier and Commissioner Thomas Davidson are up for re-election in November.
The two-hour caucus was the first in a series of GOP decision events leading up to the primary June 26.
Ahead of the straw poll vote, Summit County's right-wing voters heard from local candidates including Deputy District Attorney Scott Turner, who is gunning for the chief prosecutor position that will be vacated by term-limited Mark Hurlbert and Debra Irvine, a contender for Rep. Millie Hamner's seat representing the new state House District 61.
Supporters of Summit County's new state Senate District 8 hopefuls, Rep. Randy Baumgardner and incumbent Sen. Jean White, also gave remarks at the caucus, followed by local proponents of each of the four GOP presidential candidates.
Summit County Republicans vice-chair Lisa Knobel urged the precincts to support Newt Gingrich, calling him the only candidate able to articulate the GOP vision and values.
Former Marine and Dillon resident Mac Trench, who owns a business called Mac Services, touted Ron Paul's military service in Vietnam calling the other GOP hopefuls “chicken hawks.”
Breckenridge resident and owner of Peak Payment Professionals Del Bush pushed for a Romney win in the straw poll, telling the caucus the country needed a business owner in the White House.
Santorum was represented by Capt. James Fournier, who is retired from the U.S. Coast Guard and owns a second home in Silverthorne. Fournier likened Santorum to George Washington and lauded his commitment to conservative positions on social issues including same-sex marriage and abortion.
Republican voters were divided into 20 precincts to caucus and vote for a presidential candidate. The precincts also elected delegates to send to the county assembly — set for March 10 — and the state assembly in April, when local and state Republican candidates will be sanctioned.
Romney also came out on top in other ski communities such as Vail and Aspen, but overall it was Santorum winning the state Tuesday.
The Denver Post contributed to this article
