Gates Throws in the Towel

Well, it looks like it may finally be over. Chris Gates has announced that he is not going to challenge the State Chair Election. See below for the press release.

I actually talked with a representative from the DNC when I was in Washington, DC recently. The rep did a good job of being very neutral and said that no challenge had been submitted at that time. However, I was told that the proxy rules (the key in this dispute) are VERY CLEAR, so I'm not sure why Gates was told that a challenge would have been successful. Sounds a bit sour-grapish to me.

Regardless, I'm sure we'll all be glad to move on.....

Denver, CO - Since the Democratic State Central Committee meeting was held on March 5th I have asked for a verification of the vote in order to remove the shroud of uncertainty that currently taints the election for State Party Chair. Specifically, I have asked that the ballots in the ballot box be cross-referenced with the State Central Committee registration list in order to certify the election's validity. Six members of the State Central Committee who attempted to vote by proxy have raised their concern as to why their votes were not counted that day. (If those proxy votes would have been counted, the result would have been Gates-190 and Waak-187.) Others have raised issues about how proxy votes and alternate votes were counted. Because of all of these uncertainties, US Senator Ken Salazar formally asked Pat Waak to allow an impartial committee to review the vote but she has refused. In a party where secret ballots are officially banned, and where the DNC By-Laws guarantee the right to inspect ballots, it is unsettling that we cannot abide by the party rules and verify the vote.

I have been urged by numerous party leaders and elected officials to move forward with a formal challenge directly to the Democratic National Committee. Throughout my conversations with DNC staff two things have become evident: First, if I were to challenge the election to the DNC I have been advised that my challenge would likely succeed. But second, and more importantly, the challenge process itself would take several months, and would no doubt further divide an already divided party.

Therefore, I have decided that I will not formally challenge the state chair election to the Democratic National Committee. While knowing that my challenge would likely prevail, I fear that challenging the vote would be too great of a hindrance to our party as we prepare for the 2006 elections. In light of our party's historic victories in 2004 it is important to me that the party not be distracted from the opportunities that that await us in 2006. While I have chosen to not challenge this election, I will continue to play an active role in promoting the Democratic Party's agenda both here in Colorado and throughout the nation.